Lynn Valley: How Has It Been Affected?

This is a photo of a sign stating that the most iconic spot in the canyon, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, is closed. The bridge is the reason why most people come to the park, so it was not a huge surprise when they decided to close it, but it was still a shock to realize that, wow, tourists aren’t going to be coming here anymore. The trees and the plants look beautiful in this photo, and I think that the sign really stands out.

This is another photo of 30 Foot Pool. Usually I wouldn’t even be able to take this photo because of the amount of people. I love the angle, and how you can see the water going over the rocks. When I went to the pool to take these photos, I wasn’t expecting there to be nobody else there. It’s like the Eiffel Tower for my community, it’s such an iconic spot, and to see it empty is just crazy. It really puts things into perspective that a place that you have known all your life as being full is suddenly empty, and this is just a pool of water.

A paragraph explaining a bit about the photo and how it relates to the project

And a button that plays a short clip of audio from the corresponding location.

This is a photo of a slug! Something that I have noticed is that animals are coming out more, because of the lack of people. Usually slugs, and squirrels, and other small animals and insects stay off the main trails. But this slug was just living its life right in the middle of a huge staircase. It’s interesting to see how things are changing, even small things like a slug. I also think that this slug has a little face, and it’s kinda cute in that it’s so ugly it’s cute way. Maybe?

This is another one of the canyons iconic spots, 30 Foot Pool. As the name suggests, areas of this pool are 30 feet deep, and it is a popular spot for cliff diving. Even at this time of year, this place is usually packed with people, and in the summer it is crazy. Now, it’s empty, and that is not just because of the rain. I love how I captured the droplets of water on the surface of the pool. The little sandy beach area is typically full of people from all over the world, but now, it sits empty.

This is a photo of a sign that has a cougar on it, reminding people to stay 2 meters apart. These signs are all over the trails. I chose this photo because it shows how nature, something so relevant in my community, is being brought into ways to enforce social distancing. I have noticed that all of the photos that I have taken with signs have one thing in common; the signs look out of place. In the beautiful greenery, the stark white sign really stands out, but I find that it takes away from the nature.

When I was walking along a trail to get one of my photos, I just saw the spot and I thought it was really really pretty. I actually walked past it, and then I literally did a double take. It was just an area in the bushes where they separated and I just saw the creek and I thought it was really pretty. It’s crazy because I probably wouldn’t have noticed that if the trail wasn’t empty, and I don’t have to worry about people behind me, so it was very peaceful.

This is a photo of sign reminding people about physical distancing guidelines at the Suspension Bridge. It has been graffitied, and I wonder what the culprit was trying to convey with the tag. A huge problem is that most of the trails are not 6 feet (2 meters) apart, so it is hard for people to properly practice physical distancing. Sure, you can walk on the side off the trail, but some trails are only a boardwalk, or extremely mucky.  This sign is on a tree at the platform for the now blocked off Suspension Bridge.

These are signs to enforce physical distancing on Varley Trail, which is a very popular trail that leads to many other trails. The sign that really resonated with me is the one that says, “KEEP PARKS OPEN”. Lynn Canyon is part of my daily life, and I can’t imagine not being able to just go walk, or skateboard, in the forest, and just breathe in the fresh air. So, if you are reading this, please follow physical distancing guidelines, and even if you think you can’t get it, other people can. Please think of vulnerable people.

How can we, as photojournalists, tell stories of our community during this period of physical distancing?

This was the question that we were tasked with answering through our Photo Essays. I am telling the story of my community, Lynn Valley, through an immersive experience of photography and sound. Lynn Valley is known for its trails, and the world famous Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. I decided to focus on some of the most popular spots, like the Suspension Bridge, 30 Foot Pool, and Varley Trail. I hope you enjoy this book, and I am so happy to be able to share my beautiful community with the world!

When I saw this piece of garbage on a tree stump, I knew that I needed to take a photo of it. This stump is just on a random trail. I found it interesting because it looks like it was recently put there, and since not many people have been walking on this trail, it is definitely weird to see that. Sure, there is typically garbage on trails. But this one just stuck out to me, maybe because of the stump that is so beautiful, and that it is growing it’s own little baby tree, or the fact that someone couldn’t just put the Kool Aid packet in the garbage.

This is where there is the main connection between the trails and the road to get out of the trails. I just thought it was interesting how there were the safety barriers and how it was very clear about where you were supposed to go. It definitely shows how worried people are and how paranoid people can get. I wonder who wrote this sign, because it is obviously handwritten, if it was a park ranger, or a local, or a officer.

click on the photo to learn more about PLP!

Hi! My name is Amy. I am in the Performance Learning Program 8 at Seycove Secondary! I love making animations, photography, fashion, and painting. I live in Lynn Valley, as you could probably tell from the theme of my book. When I am old enough, I want to either be a graphic designer, a film director, or a teacher. Maybe all three. I guess we will have to wait and see. Hey, that rhymes! I’m a poet. Yay. I like to think that I have good music taste. It’s a vibe. I have a dog named Pippa. My favourite colour (oh sorry, *shade*) is black. My favourite artist is Lana Del Rey. I hope you enjoyed my book!

Here it is! The iconic, world famous, Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge! As you can see, the bridge is blocked off on both sides. The bridge is such a popular spot, especially for tourists. Since nobody is really travelling anymore, almost nobody even goes to the bridge. It is also very, very, VERY, thin, so there is no way that physical distancing policies would be followed. The closure of the bridge is advertised basically every where in Lynn Valley, as you saw in the photo with the sign.

This is a photo of the physical distancing policies being put into place at one of the canyons most used foot bridges, Pipeline Bridge. This bridge is used by countless hikers, runners, and cyclists every single day. It is a narrow bridge that is definitely not 6 feet wide. Basically you have to wait for the people on the other side to cross, and then you can go. I like this photo because it is showing how the government is responding to the pandemic, and in the top you can see two hiker who are seemingly oblivious to the line up.

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