A Walk Down 4th Ave – Picking On Complete Strangers

While waiting for the car to get an oil change, I found myself wandering 4th Avenue near Burrard street again with a Canon 1DX Mark III. The plan wasn’t to do a lot of “Picking On Complete Strangers,” but when the moments are right there…

I spotted this man leaning against a tiled wall under the shadow of a disused billboard frame. His posture and the subdued tones of the background gave the scene a stillness. The vast, empty space around him made the moment feel even more isolated, yet strangely balanced.

A man standing against a tiled blue wall under an industrial billboard frame. — A solitary figure leans against a blue-tiled wall beneath a weathered billboard structure, embodying urban isolation.

The Canon 1DX Mark III isn’t exactly the tool of a stealth photographer—it’s a tank of a camera, both in size and presence. Yet somehow, I managed to go unnoticed, or at least ignored, which was all I needed to capture these fleeting slices of life.

A woman walking a small dog with neon green leashes in an alley. — A casual alley stroll brings vibrancy with the bright neon green of the dog’s leash, cutting through the muted surroundings.
**Camera**: Canon 1Dx Mark III
**Lens**: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART

I noticed a man walking briskly past a weathered white brick wall, steam rising from a vent above. The aged window frames and the quiet plume of steam gave this photo a spot more life. It was the kind of scene that could go unnoticed by most but held a strange beauty.

Man walking past an old white brick wall with industrial windows. — A man walks briskly along a worn white brick wall featuring vintage industrial windows and subtle signs of decay.
**Camera**: Canon 1Dx Mark III
**Lens**: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART

Next was this scene at the carwash on 4th where a man in a bright red coat sat with his back to me, a stark contrast to the muted tones of the surrounding buildings. Another man working in the background, seemingly oblivious to the little tableau they were part of. The layering of actions and colours makes this photo.

A seated man in a red jacket beside bright orange traffic cones near a car wash. — A man in a red jacket sits pensively near a car wash, framed by bold orange traffic cones and urban clutter.
**Camera**: Canon 1Dx Mark III
**Lens**: Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART

These are the kinds of fleeting scenes I love to find—raw, unposed, and full of what ever meaning you would like to imbue.