Street Photography on Vancouver's Commercial Drive, Little Italy

Jesse kindly introduced me to the joys of street photography on Vancouver's Commercial Drive.  In decades past, this formed the heart of the city's Little Italy.  It now offers a mixture of cultures and is a favourite gathering place for a cross section of classes.  The day offered fairly harsh sunlight and dark shadows, both on the ground and in the sky.  Most of these photos were taken in a span of about four blocks north of East 1st Avenue.

Thinking of Genie and her loved ones.

Since I was shooting with Jesse, I entitle this "The Tree of Jesse".

As spring slowly appears, we can still celebrate the beauty of past plants, now but a shadow of themselves.

Vancouver is famous for its Japanese cherry trees. More are now being planted as a tribute to those who are suffering in Japan.

Waiting and rushing

Lost in thought

Skate board as backrest.

 

Regulars, I'm told.

Fortune teller

Vintage Oldsmobile

New flowers in late March in Vancouver

More signs of spring (other than my golf clubs) . . . .

Lungwort, Pulmonaria, Pulmonaire

Ladies mantle, Alchemilla (leaves just came out)

Forsythia

 

Rhododendron bud

Purple Crocuses in Vancouver

Andrea thoughtfully shared with me how appropriate she felt the purple crocus is for Lent.  Since this may be our last day without rain before the crocuses fade, I donned my flower-shooting rain pants, selected a flower or two, got down into the dirt, got everything ready, and waited semi-patiently until the wisps of wind would momentarily fade. 

 

Graffiti and aerosolefrafia (wall spray painting) in Vancouver

Why, on the Feast of the Annunciation, I feel like posting graffiti beats me.  Every now and then, it is interesting to see whether that which is not beautiful can become more art-like through macro photography.  Some photos show walls painted legally in the international style, but possibly water is seeping through, changing things.  Sometimes the paints run (intentionally?)  Sometimes I simply enjoy seeing the tiny dots of paint sprayed, and magnified through a macro lens.  And sometimes we simply have an example of good old-fashioned graffito.

Crocuses in late March, Vancouver