A Photographer's Lifestyle Guide to Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is a busy city, set within a gorgeous natural backdrop. With a huge multicultural presence, there are always new things to see and try. Go to the city for the arts and food scene, or journey to one of the city's parks or surrounding mountains for some amazing scenery. British Columbia is beautiful and we look forward to seeing what inspires our Lomographers about this striking city.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a 137-meter long and 70-meter high suspension bridge that sways as you walk across it. From it, you can see amazing views of the canyon and rainforest below it. It is a thrilling thing to do while in Vancouver – take along your ActionSampler for shots as you make your way across the bridge! Photo by bleucheese

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a 137-meter long and 70-meter high suspension bridge that sways as you walk across it. From it, you can see amazing views of the canyon and rainforest below it. It is a thrilling thing to do while in Vancouver – take along your ActionSampler for shots as you make your way across the bridge! Photo by bleucheese

3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1, Canada
The H.R. MacMillan Space Center is the perfect way to spend an afternoon under the stars. Visit the Planetarium to see a whole new dimension of space, as well as any of the interactive experiences that the center has to offer. Located in Vanier Park, there is also a panoramic view outside, perfect for when you take your Lomography Sprocket Rocket along. Photo by polkaroo

The H.R. MacMillan Space Center is the perfect way to spend an afternoon under the stars. Visit the Planetarium to see a whole new dimension of space, as well as any of the interactive experiences that the center has to offer. Located in Vanier Park, there is also a panoramic view outside, perfect for when you take your Lomography Sprocket Rocket along. Photo by polkaroo

1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9, Canada
The Vancouver Aquarium, the largest in Canada, is home to over 65,000 animals. It features species from the Amazon Rainforest to the Canadian waters, making it a perfect afternoon visit. Grab your Fisheye No.2 for some playful underwater perspectives of the aquatic life! Photo by ngocdo9520

The Vancouver Aquarium, the largest in Canada, is home to over 65,000 animals. It features species from the Amazon Rainforest to the Canadian waters, making it a perfect afternoon visit. Grab your Fisheye No.2 for some playful underwater perspectives of the aquatic life! Photo by ngocdo9520

845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada
Kitsilano Beach is home to the longest swimming pool in Canada, and has a great view of the coastline. It is a beautiful setting to spend the day, so grab your Simple Use Underwater Case and Camera for an excursion to the Canadian coastline. This area is also known for its restaurants and art scene, so check out the neighborhood after your beach day! Photo by mokochen

Kitsilano Beach is home to the longest swimming pool in Canada, and has a great view of the coastline. It is a beautiful setting to spend the day, so grab your Simple Use Underwater Case and Camera for an excursion to the Canadian coastline. This area is also known for its restaurants and art scene, so check out the neighborhood after your beach day! Photo by mokochen

Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Fancy a day trip? Whistler BC is about a two-hour drive along the Sea to Sky Highway and is a beautiful ski town that hosted events for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In the summer, you can go dirt biking, kayaking, and hiking, and in the winter, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding await! There are amazing shops in town, and we encourage you to try Poutine, a Canadian specialty, in a mountainside restaurant. Everything in Whistler is picturesque, so we recommend taking your favorite Lomography camera to capture the natural beauty around you. Photo by bendawes

Fancy a day trip? Whistler BC is about a two-hour drive along the Sea to Sky Highway and is a beautiful ski town that hosted events for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. In the summer, you can go dirt biking, kayaking, and hiking, and in the winter, skiing, snowboarding, and sledding await! There are amazing shops in town, and we encourage you to try Poutine, a Canadian specialty, in a mountainside restaurant. Everything in Whistler is picturesque, so we recommend taking your favorite Lomography camera to capture the natural beauty around you. Photo by bendawes

4295 Blackcomb Wy, Whistler, BC V8E 0Z8, Canada
The Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library resembles a Roman Colosseum and is one of the coolest libraries you’ll visit. Grab your Lomo LC-A+ to capture the unique curvature of the building, and try to find a book on photography! Photo by pixellatedspiff

The Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library resembles a Roman Colosseum and is one of the coolest libraries you’ll visit. Grab your Lomo LC-A+ to capture the unique curvature of the building, and try to find a book on photography! Photo by pixellatedspiff

350 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1, Canada
One of the most iconic buildings in Vancouver, The Marine Building, has beautiful art deco architecture with a marine-themed twist. Built in 1930, the intricate details are full of a rich history – perfect to shoot in a black-and-white film like our Kino B&W Family for a timeless feel. Photo by josephrandom

One of the most iconic buildings in Vancouver, The Marine Building, has beautiful art deco architecture with a marine-themed twist. Built in 1930, the intricate details are full of a rich history – perfect to shoot in a black-and-white film like our Kino B&W Family for a timeless feel. Photo by josephrandom

355 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G8, Canada
Old Vancouver meets new Vancouver in Gastown, with beautiful cobblestone streets, historic builds, and vintage light posts. The atmosphere is beautiful and is in proximity to the Vancouver Harbor as well. There are cute boutiques, art galleries, and great restaurants to choose from. Try visiting at night and capture a long exposure shot of the old-timey streetlights. Photo by reminymph

Old Vancouver meets new Vancouver in Gastown, with beautiful cobblestone streets, historic builds, and vintage light posts. The atmosphere is beautiful and is in proximity to the Vancouver Harbor as well. There are cute boutiques, art galleries, and great restaurants to choose from. Try visiting at night and capture a long exposure shot of the old-timey streetlights. Photo by reminymph

Gastown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Queen Elizabeth Park is located at the highest point in the city and has gorgeous views of the skyline. The gardens are beautifully maintained, with a rose garden, arboretum, and the Bloedel Conservatory has a plethora of tropical plants to admire. Photo by neptune1992tw

Queen Elizabeth Park is located at the highest point in the city and has gorgeous views of the skyline. The gardens are beautifully maintained, with a rose garden, arboretum, and the Bloedel Conservatory has a plethora of tropical plants to admire. Photo by neptune1992tw

Vancouver, BC V5Y 2N3, Canada
Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world, and there are a range of activities and things to see. Explore the famous seawall, check out the totem poles, or rent a bicycle to see as much as possible. We recommend taking your chosen LomoApparat loaded with LomoChrome Turquoise Film for some experimental, summery shots of the park and your surroundings through its wide-angle lens! Photo by troch

Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world, and there are a range of activities and things to see. Explore the famous seawall, check out the totem poles, or rent a bicycle to see as much as possible. We recommend taking your chosen LomoApparat loaded with LomoChrome Turquoise Film for some experimental, summery shots of the park and your surroundings through its wide-angle lens! Photo by troch

715 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver, BC V6G 3B3, Canada
From left to right: photo by sjvale and troch
From left to right: photo by sjvale and troch
From left to right: photo by sjvale and troch

Museums, Art, Photography and Culture in Vancouver

We’ve curated a list of our favorite museums, art galleries and cultural landmarks in Vancouver to give you an exhaustive guide to the best creative hot-spots to visit on your trip.

Vancouver Art Gallery
This public art museum is the largest in Western Canada and has an amazing photography collection. There are always new exhibitions to check out, and the permanent collection is also a celebration of art's legacy in British Columbia and the rest of the world.

Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC
Located at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the MOA is particularly focused on the preservation of artifacts from the First Nations of the Northwest Coast. The architecture is stunning, and so is the setting, with amazing objects from around the world.

Beaty Biodiversity Museum
This is Vancouver's natural history museum, with over two million specimens, and one of the coolest, being a blue whale skeleton. There are several interactive exhibits, all of which promote an understanding of biodiversity.

The Polygon Gallery
Located on Vancouver's North Shore, the Polygon is the largest photographic gallery in Western Canada. It is a one-of-a-kind space with a focus on photography, perfect for our Lomographers!

Contemporary Art Gallery
This public art gallery located in downtown Vancouver exhibits both local and international art that is diverse and cutting-edge. Stop by and explore the various projects and exhibitions on view!

From left to right: photo by troch and grandphilippe
From left to right: photo by troch and grandphilippe
From left to right: photo by troch and grandphilippe

Street Photography & Lomography Film Community Scene in Vancouver

The wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from the Lomography Community is simply unrivaled. In this section we share some of our community’s top-tips about Vancouver. This includes their favorite locations for visiting and photographing, along with some invaluable tips on shooting in analogue. We will also showcase some of our most inspiring Vancouver-based LomoHomes and Partners.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival
Located on Granville Island, this jazz festival is held every year towards the end of June and was originally inspired by the local jazz scene.

Beau Photo Supplies
This long-standing photography store has been a cornerstone of Vancouver’s analogue scene since 1982. Beau Photo Supplies offers a wide range of films and gear – perfect for Lomographers looking to stock up or try something new.

VanDusen Garden
A botanical garden in the Shaughnessy neighborhood, this is a fun stop for admiring some greenery! Grab your LomoChrome Purple Film to turn the green hues into purple!

East Van Vodville Cinema
This tiny theater is located in the fourth window from the alley and shows great film scenes and short films. It serves as an homage to the 1907 Vancouver Pantages Theater which was demolished in 2011 and is a funky little stop in Vancouver. Try Pinhole Photography to capture this tiny cinema.

From top left to bottom: photo by akula, terria58 and imgrossorg
From top left to bottom: photo by akula, terria58 and imgrossorg
From top left to bottom: photo by akula, terria58 and imgrossorg
From top left to bottom: photo by akula, terria58 and imgrossorg

A-maze-ing Laughter
These 14 statues created by the artist, Yue Minjun are both funny and slightly terrifying, but are one of Vancouver's must-sees. They are located in Morton Park, and we look forward to seeing your shared experiences with the Community. Try taking a photo with our Lomography Spinner 360° for fun effects of the statues.

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
This festival occurs for three weeks every January and takes place on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh first nations. There are amazing performing-arts events, all with different stories to tell.

Jack Poole Plaza
Located next to the Vancouver Trade and Convention Center, this landmark is home to the Olympic Flame Cauldron from the 2010 Winter Olympics as well as the Digital Orca sculpture. Grab your Sprocket Rocket to capture the panoramic views from the plaza and coastline.

Kerrisdale
This charming neighborhood is located on the western side of Vancouver and has an upscale shopping area, perfect for an afternoon walk!

From top to bottom left: photo by porkchopsandy, terria58 andbendawes
From top to bottom left: photo by porkchopsandy, terria58 andbendawes
From top to bottom left: photo by porkchopsandy, terria58 andbendawes
From top to bottom left: photo by porkchopsandy, terria58 andbendawes

Anything missing?

Got a favorite photo gallery, hidden photo spot or local tip we haven’t covered in this city guide? Help us make this the best analogue travel companion! Send your suggestions to travel@lomography.com and we’ll take a look.

Explore Stunning Photos from This City Amongst 17+ Million of Photos Uploaded

Tips from the Lomography School

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Where to Develop Film and Buy Analogue Cameras in Vancouver

Beau Photo Supplies Inc

1401 W 8th Ave #110, Vancouver, BC V6H 1C9, Canada
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