Locations

Victoria is a very special city with diverse natural and man-created locations for photographing various scenes. In this section, I will give a brief description of my favourite locations in Greater Victoria.

Dallas Road

At the top of my list, Dallas Road is the most scenic waterfront for photographing beach, mountain, water, and sky scenes. Dallas Road stretches all the way from Ogden Point to Ross Bay. Since it stretches that far, it also includes Mile 0, Beacon Hill Park, and Clover Point Park. The best photo opportunities can be found in the early morning or when the sun sets. Gorgeous panoramas can be easily created. It is almost impossible to take a stroll down Dallas Road and not find a great photo opportunity. Ogden Point in particular is my most favourite destination. Amazing shots can be produced when walking out far on the breakwater. A tripod is an essential. It can be windy, so bring a sturdy good quality tripod, or you may need it for the many opportunities for long exposures.

Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary

Located in the surrounding developed urban area of the District of Saanich, this sanctuary contains the perfect location for wildlife and scenic shots. The large area houses a variety of unique birds, mammals and plants. The area consists of Christmas Hill and Swan Lake. Trails are all around the park, so every part of the hill is accessible by foot. The Nature Sanctuary is situated beside Swan Lake. Be sure to bring a long telephoto lens to get up close to the wildlife and a wide angle for the trees and scenery.

The Inner Harbour

The Inner Harbour is surrounded with elegant historic buildings such as the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Parliament Building as well as a diverse selection of boats and ships right in the pier. Since this is a major tourist attraction, tourists will flock this location. This is the perfect location to get portrait or candid shots. There is always a live performance of magic tricks and comedy, so be sure to check that out as well. Be sure to bring a telephoto lens since you don't want to get too close to people when taking candids. Model release forms are also a good idea to print and bring along.

The Butchart Gardens

This is not somewhere I go frequently, but The Butchart Gardens is the holy grail of flower photography. If you are a fan of flowers and you're not afraid to pay for entrance fees, I will almost guarantee that you get the best floral shots here. With 22ha (55 acres) of world class garden space, you'll find a vast selection of flowers to photograph as well as hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Be sure to bring a tripod and macro lens.

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