Giampietro Balia

9 April 20259 April 2025Photography

Chasing Cherry Blossoms: A Spring Stroll Through Vancouver

As soon as the weather gave us a break from the rain, I grabbed my camera and hit the streets with a clear mission: find and photograph cherry blossoms. Not just any blossoms—I was hoping for that cinematic shot, the kind where trees on both sides of a narrow street form a soft pink tunnel overhead. I wanted branches to meet, petals to fall, and light to filter through in that magical, fleeting way that only happens in spring. Spoiler alert: I didn’t quite find the spot I had in mind, but the adventure was still very worth it.

2 March 20258 April 2025Photography

An Evening at Minnekhada

The other day I packed up my camera, tossed on my hiking shoes, and made my way to Minnekhada Regional Park. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a bit of a hidden gem tucked away in Coquitlam—just far enough from the city buzz that you can hear your own thoughts (and maybe a few frogs croaking).

Exploring Cleveland Dam with My Camera

This past weekend, I set out for a photo walk at Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver — a choice driven partly by curiosity, partly by the price tag on the Grouse Mountain gondola. Let’s just say, $70+ for a ride up the mountain felt a little steep, so I rerouted toward the dam, and I’m glad I did.

17 February 20258 April 2025Photography

Whytecliff Park: Cold Hands, Golden Light

I made it out to Whytecliff Park just before sunset — that sweet, golden sliver of time where everything looks like it was made to be photographed. The sky was glowing, the ocean was doing that silvery-blue shimmer thing, and I was out there trying to make the most of it… while also lowkey freezing and keeping one eye on the time because I didn’t really want to pay for parking. Priorities.

4 February 20258 April 2025Photography

Shoreline Trail: Winter Light and Quiet Encounters in Port Moody

In February, the Shoreline Trail in Port Moody, British Columbia, wears a quieter mood. The air is cold, the trees bare, and the surface of the inlet sometimes catches a skin of ice — like glass holding its breath. That’s when I decided to take a walk with my camera, bundled up against the chill, drawn to the contrast of winter’s stillness and the subtle stirrings of life along the water.