WELCOME

Hi, I am Nico, a Computer Science student at Vancouver Island University. This website is part of my MEDI110 final project, showcasing a creative journey across Vancouver through photography and storytelling. My goal with this project is to explore how place, mood, and movement shape the way we create media. From quiet mornings on the VIU campus to rain or shine in downtown Vancouver, every image and section on this site reflects the experience of traveling, observing, and capturing the world as a student and emerging creator.

Building of Canada place convension center sign the waterfront sign

ABOUT NANAIMO & VIU

Nanaimo may seem like a quiet island city, but it carries a deeper story that becomes part of student life at VIU rain or shine. Once a coaltown in the 1850s built around the harbour. The city has grown into a peaceful place where nature and learning blend together. On campus, small moments shape our days: the white and black bunnies wandering across the lawns, the calm view of Departure Bay from the top floor of the library, and the feeling of studying while surrounded by forests and coastal air. These familiar scenes, rooted in both history and daily routine, slowly become part of Nanaimo and VIU personal story for students and people here.

a bynny sculpture at VIU a black bunny at VIU a white bunny at VIU view of the VIU library view of the parking lot of VIU

VANCOUVER

Vancouver offers a completely different energy that is fast, modern, and visually layered. The city began as a coastal trading hub in the late 1800s and grew quickly because of its harbour, rail connections, and its position on the Pacific. That mix of history and modern design shapes how the city feels today. Rain or shine, Vancouver creates its own atmosphere through movement, reflections, and shifting light. Downtown blends nature with architecture in a cinematic way: As someone who travels between the island and the city, I wanted to capture Vancouver in motion and show how its environment inspires creativity and ambition.

view from above image of a skycraper coal harbour coal harbour 2 cardero park street of Vancouver street of Vancouver way to canada place

EXPLORING YVR

Traveling from Nanaimo to Vancouver always creates a shift in perspective. The moment the seaplane lifts off, you can feel the transition between two very different environments one quiet and natural, the other structured and fast. This section focuses on that movement, using photography to show the journey from one place to another. Rain, clouds, and water become part of the experience, turning simple travel moments into visual stories that express how place influences emotion and creativity.

seaplane parked om the water seaplane taking off seaplane approaching vancouver christmass market christmass market olympic cauldron olympic cauldron

EXTRA

This page highlights the behind the scenes process of creating the project. Every photo required decisions about framing, lighting, and how to use the weather rather than fight it. The experience of moving through the city, capturing images, and building the website helped me understand how media shapes meaning. By combining my own photography with design, layout, and narrative, I discovered how much place, movement, and mood can influence visual storytelling.

wire framing on my ipad preview of my code preview of my website preview of mobile responsiveness me around yvr downtown