West Cordova Street View
This classic urban corridor shot looks west down West Cordova Street through Vancouver's Gastown neighborhood, where the canyon of heritage brick buildings creates a strong natural leading line toward the mountains in the distance. The combination of late 19th-century architecture on either side and the snow-capped North Shore Mountains framing the end of the street is what makes this view distinctly Vancouver. Plant yourself in the middle of the road or on the centerline of the sidewalk and shoot with a moderate telephoto, around 50 to 85mm, to compress the perspective and bring the mountains closer to the buildings. Early morning gives you the softest light and empty streets, which dramatically improves the shot by removing traffic and pedestrians. Blue hour also works well here, when the warm glow of streetlights contrasts with the cool sky. Watch for wet pavement after rain, as reflections add another layer to the composition. (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
