Head in the Clouds
The historic Bastion, Downtown Nanaimo, B.C - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
With the fourth month of 2025 nearly finished I’ve been reflecting on how busy I’ve been since New Years Eve. I’ve shot multiple concerts, six Pro Wrestling shows, two weddings, Portrait sessions and even some real estate. It’s been a bit crazy so far but I’m not complaining. Despite the long hours of editing and all the work on the backend of things, I’m feeling pretty grateful that all the hard work is starting to pay off. The best part is that we’ve made it through another long rainy winter and spring has finally sprung on Vancouver Island. When I’m not busy with photography I’ve been working in the yard and planning my garden. This has all resulted in a fair amount of time at home either on the computer or in the yard working. Yesterday I decided that I needed to get out of the house and take some photos. I loaded up my camera bag and my DJI Mavic 2 Pro and headed Downtown Nanaimo for the afternoon.
The Oddfellows Clock, McGregor Park, Nanaimo B.C - Dylan Phillips Photography
Driving up Front Street, I was stopped in my tracks by the cherry blossom trees at McGregor Park. I pulled a U-turn and got parked before making my way up to the Oddfellows Clock. A quick side note - The Fraternal Order of Oddfellows is a “secret society” lesser known than the Freemasons who meet nearby at the Ashlar Lodge. This clock was donated by members of the Black Diamond Lodge No. 5.
Tulips line the base of the Oddfellows Clock at McGregor Park, Nanaimo B.C - Dylan Phillips Photography
Nanaimos city workers do such a nice job landscaping in the spring and summertime. I mean, they probably do it all year but I really appreciate the work they put in to make Downtown beautiful in the summer months. It makes my job as a photographer so much easier. These tulips popped beautifully from the garden bed surrounding the clock. In the background I noticed two women frolicking in the fallen cherry blossom petals and taking iPhone selfies. I had a feeling they might ask me to take a picture of them. This is a common occurrence when you walk around with a DSLR. Sure enough they did. I felt a bit antisocial at first but I took a moment to evaluate the light and scenery and decided that I could offer them a few really nice portraits with a real camera rather than the iPhone they were using.
The impromptu portrait session was a nice little warm up for my creativity. I carried on down the waterfront enjoying the sights and smells of spring. I climbed my way up to the top of the parkade to get a favourite vantage point over the harbour. Seeing the American and Canadian flags beside each other invited in some intrusive thoughts. With the wake of the election fresh in my mind and the constant barrage of “51st State” rhetoric, I had intended for this walk to help clear my head. I took a moment before snapping a photo and moving on.
Canadian and American flags side by side, Nanaimo B.C - Dylan Phillips Photography
From the top of the staircase, brilliantly designed to look like a ships mast, I snapped a few shots of the boats in the harbour. This is one of my go-to spots when I’m down here. The adjacent area used to host a weekly farmers market. These days it is just an empty space.
Elevated view of Nanaimo’s waterfront and harbour - Dylan Phillips Photography
The next stop on my tour was the Bastion. Nanaimo’s most recognized landmark - an old fortress and the first permanent structure erected by the Hudsons Bay Company settlers. I’ve made many attempts at photographing this building. Today I wanted to try an aerial from Bastion Street. I took some time to make a flight plan before launching my DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
Aerial photo of Nanaimo’s historic Bastion - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
These days a lot of people choose to fly micro drones. The DJI Mini 4 Pro is a really neat piece of kit. Flying a drone under 250 grams isn’t regulated by Transport Canada making aerial flight available to more people. I took the time to get myself advanced licensed so that I could fly the Mavic 2 in advanced environments like the downtown harbour. Floatplanes and Heliports means constant awareness of your surroundings and having a detailed plan in place when flying. So why bother with the bigger drone? The Mavic 2 Pro boasts a one inch sensor on a Hassleblad camera. The resolution of any aerial photography taken from the Mavic 2 Pro will blow the Mini 4 Pro out of the water. I love my Mini 4 Pro when I’m packing light, but when I want professional grade photography (which is always) I will definitely use my Mavic 2 Pro.
Coast Bastion Hotel and Nanaimo Harbour - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
Satisfied with my aerial shots of the Bastion and the Coast Hotel, I brought the drone back to the ground. After packing up and finalizing my flight log I was back on the move. I tried a few different angles of the Bastion with my new wide angle lens. At the end of February I finally bit the bullet and purchased the new RF 15-35mm f2.8 L series lens from Canon. This lens has massively improved my capabilities in low light environments like Wrestling shows or Live Music performances. I’ve been so busy shooting indoors that I haven’t taken much time to use it for Landscape Photography yet! It was really interesting playing with the new angles of the Bastion that I could fit into my frame with this lens.
The historic Bastion, Downtown Nanaimo B.C - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
When I’m downtown Nanaimo, I can’t help but think of the history and the transformation that has taken the place over the last century. I wandered back down to the waterfront so I could walk on the docks and enjoy all of the boats. I’d love to have my own someday. Being the old fashioned guy that I am, I think I’d like a wooden sailboat or fishing boat. Something with some character.
Enjoying a book on a sunny spring day, Nanaimo, British Columbia - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
Eventually I had walked myself back to where I started in McGregor Park. I found a bench and took some time to people watch. An old man sat peacefully nearby reading his book in the afternoon sun. Passersby stopped almost constantly to admire the cherry blossoms and take photos with them. I didn’t realize how much I needed this break. Spring always invigorates me after a wet and dark winter. To me, it’s the real New Years.
People enjoying McGregor Park, Downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia - Photo by Dylan Phillips Photography
