The North Shore of Vancouver stands as a meeting ground of industrial progress and unspoiled natural beauty. This image, taken through the spectral lens of an infrared filter, brings out the dramatic dichotomy of this region. The Neptune Terminals, Vancouver’s principal bulk shipping hub, occupies the foreground, with towering cranes and cement silos lined up against the backdrop of the North Shore mountains.

Neptune Terminals specializes in handling various bulk commodities, most notably coal and potash. The cranes in the photo are primarily used for loading ships with these materials, destined for markets across the Pacific. The cement silos, which are essential to the local construction industry, symbolize the industrial pulse of Vancouver, working to support the city’s infrastructure needs. Built to endure, these silos stand like sentinels at the foot of the mountains, efficient and imposing.

What’s unique about the North Shore is its location. Directly behind the terminal, the mountains rise sharply, creating a near-immediate transition from sea-level industrial activity to lush wilderness. This mountainous backdrop isn’t merely scenic—it brings dynamic, often unpredictable weather patterns. Clouds frequently descend from the mountain tops, shrouding the trees and structures below, and sometimes, during storms, the clouds give the whole region a feeling of ancient, almost mythical energy. It’s not unusual to see dense mist enveloping both cranes and trees alike, connecting the human and natural elements under a veil of Pacific Northwest mystery.

This image’s extended exposure blurs the water in the foreground, softening the otherwise harsh lines of industry, while the IR filter highlights contrasts—giving the trees an ethereal glow and making the cranes and silos seem even more solid and fixed. In this light, the Neptune Terminals and the surrounding wilderness appear almost timeless, captured in a moment where industry and nature stand in a powerful, evocative balance.