Random Walks captures the beauty of New Westminster

There’s a recently released book that puts the contemporary beauty of New Westminster in the spotlight—and each photo in it was taken using an iPhone 12. 

Random Walks: New West from the Street was shot by Alan Haig-Brown, an award-winning photojournalist who spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic snapping photos as he walked the streets and alleyways of the city.

Haig-Brown says part of the inspiration for the project was actually Thailand—which is where he is as we correspond over emails. 

“For the past 20 years, my wife Ananya Surangpimol and I have owned condos in both Bangkok and New Westminster. While in Bangkok, it is my habit to go for a long daily walk,” explains Haig-Brown, who adds that he will often take about a half-dozen photos of what he sees. “Over breakfast I select one image to post to my Facebook page. Anya, who has lived over 40 years in Thailand, wrote captions for the photos and we published a limited edition for friends and family.”

When the pandemic hit in 2020, his wife chose to stay in Thailand while he returned home to Canada. Haig-Brown didn’t realize they would be separated for two years. Looking to fill the time, Haig-Brown continued his walks—this time in New West—taking photos, choosing one a day, and sharing the snap on Facebook. His posts caught the attention of Image West publisher Rick Blacklaws. 

“[Rick] suggested a book. He selected about 100 photos, and I wrote captions,” says Haig-Brown. 

Haig-Brown has spent plenty of time in New West: he came to the city from Campbell River in the 1960s as a commercial fisherman. He eventually bought a home in the West End in 1989 and raised his family there. In the early 2000s, Haig-Brown and his wife moved to a place along Quayside Drive. As is the case with many people from New Westminster, Haig-Brown says he has too many favourite places in the city to name.

“[I like] walking around the river, but 12th Street holds a lot of charm, and the heritage houses at the Brow of the Hill and in Queen’s Park make great areas for walking.” Haig-Brown also enjoys the Jewish cemetery in the West End, and the Friendship Garden at Tipperary. 

Haig-Brown mentioned some challenges when shooting photos on an iPhone. An experienced photographer, he’s travelled the world taking photos of tugboats and fishing boats. Those travels have included carrying two Nikon SLR camera bodies, three lenses, a flash, and other accessories—so it was a bit of a change shooting on a phone. 

“Before I got my iPhone 12, I felt limited by a lack of a telephoto on an older iPhone, but the addition of the wide angle and telephoto [lens] on the iPhone 12 made life easier.” Haig-Brown says there was very little editing done for the photobook—some of the post-production included cropping, and adjusting for sharpness and vibrance.

Haig-Brown stresses you don’t have to be an experienced photographer to capture the city. He says New West is very walkable, and all one has to do is think about what kind of photos they want to take. Taking lighting and angles into consideration can also yield some incredible results. 

“[Photographing while walking], we develop fresh views and photos of familiar objects and places. Don’t hesitate to walk the alleys. An old garage door of weathered wood looks different in different lights, so revisit places from time to time,” says Haig-Brown. 

You can grab a copy of Random Walks at Renaissance Books, or at Black Bond Bookstores.