wherever you may be
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Janis Nicolay Janis is a photographer and native Vancouverite who shoots for magazines, designers and architects. She adores mid‑century design, baking, DIY and travel – and covers them all on her blog.
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Most of us live in cities. Even if a tiny part of us yearns for the country, it’s hard to deny the excitement of town. We ask one person – clearly in love with their city – to tell us what makes it so special. Through their eyes, we can take a fresh look at where we live too. How long have you lived in the city?
I grew up in a suburb about 20 minutes from the city, and I’ve lived in Vancouver for most of my “big girl” life. I’ve also lived in Melbourne, Toronto and Tokyo. What keeps you in the city?
My friends and family are pretty much all here and, really, it’s a pretty special place to live. My work is varied, and I do travel for shoots, so this is a perfect home base. Which season makes your city feel most alive?
Summer, definitely. There are festivals, markets and always a patio to sit on. Vancouverites flock to beaches and head to the mountains to hike. I’m not a huge hiker, but I do love a good picnic at the park or beach… maybe with a beer or two.
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1 A jewel in the middle of Chinatown, Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden is a perfect spot to relax and take a breather. 2 Janis loves to hang out at Jericho Beach on her Gallant & Jones chairs, enjoying the view of the Vancouver skyline. 3 Located in Gastown, Hotel Europe is a beautiful flatiron building. 4 The totem poles are a popular attraction at Stanley Park. 5 An organic fruit stand at Granville Island Market that sells mostly British Columbia-grown fruit.
breakfast is a must, so I’ll head to Lucy’s Eastside Diner, or Matchstick Coffee Roasters. Even if I’m not shooting I’m still up with the birds, sitting in our back garden drinking coffee and catching up with emails. I tend to get way more done super early in the morning. What’s the light like?
Vancouver has amazing light. It’s a photographer’s dream. We have daylight from 5am to 10pm.
What time of day do you most enjoy?
Crack of dawn. I shoot a fair number of garden stories for magazines, and the best time of day for that is dawn. The light is magical. After an early shoot a good Subscribe at www.thesimplethings.com
How does your city smell?
Well, that depends on which part of the city you’re in. If you’re in Chinatown, you’ll smell incense and dried » 43