Street photography

Did I miss the onshore call?

There is nothing like a cruise to meet people...
There is nothing like a cruise to meet people…

They told me I would be able to socialize…

The ideal access to school in Quebec City.

The St-Louis-de-Gonzague school in Quebec City.
The St-Louis-de-Gonzague school in Quebec City.

By cropping very tightly a picture of the St-Louis-de-Gonzague school’s entrance, in Quebec City, it is possible to modify the access to the school.

To the right of the hole in the wall, you can see “Entrée des élèves”, which means “Entrance for students”. With this reinterpretation, the students are invited to leave school as soon as they arrive. At a time where the society promotes an alternative education and the environment, this is an ideal opportunity for the students!

Street photography and biking.

Street photography and biking.
Street photography and biking.

The owner of that bike above will be happy to learn that the inner tube is still in good shape as it can obviously hold the air. So in order to repair the bike, it is only necessary to change both wheels, the bike frame, the chain, the chain guard, the saddle, and both fenders.

Acrobatic performance in Quebec City.

A female acrobat in Québec.
A female acrobat in Québec.

The strange composition of the picture above was only possible because the lady was suspended in the air by a rope surrounding her body. The interaction between the two people is vertical: the young woman observes the man who looks somewhere else.

In the picture below, a woman stands in equilibrium upside down on one hand. Both pictures were taken during RDV Quebec 2017, while an impressive crowd was visiting Quebec City lower part of the town for the tall ships rendez-vous.

Acrobatic performance in Quebec City.
Acrobatic performance in Quebec City.

Parking is allowed but you cannot park.

Available parking space but not allowed to park.
Available parking space but not allowed to park.

(Stationnement disponible = Parking available)

(Défense de stationner = No parking allowed)

(Remorquage à vos frais = Towing at your own expenses)

Street photography is also about noticing anomalies in commercial signs. In the picture above, the commercial establishment offers parking space, but if you use the parking you will be towed because it is forbidden to park.

On the store’s door, you can see that many credit cards are accepted. So, if we follow the same reasoning, you will have problems if you use those cards. It is better to pay with Diner’s Club or American Express. The washrooms are also available for whoever does not need to go. The bankrupted establishment is also open except when it is closed.

You are either too cold…or on fire!

An excellent way of keeping warm...but not keeping your feet.
An excellent way of keeping warm…but not keeping your feet.

Street photography sometimes means having to take risks. But this time, it was not me who was at risk. During the Quebec Carnival 2018, I saw this young tourist who had found an original way of keeping her feet warm. With this method, it is never necessary to bother warming up your feet a second time!

Walking on the side of a wall in Quebec City

Teens are defying gravity in Old Quebec
Teens are defying gravity in Old Quebec

These teens from Quebec City work hard at walking on the side of a stonewall near the St. Louis Gate in Old Quebec. Their efforts deserved a picture.

The picture was taken from far away, that is from a point located on the other side of the St.Louis street.That way, they did not realize that they were being photographed, which allowed them to stay natural. That is one of the principles of street photography.

Behind the people is Quebec City’s lower town. The city lights are visible since it was close to 9 PM when the picture was taken.

I was able to take a sharp picture from really far away only with the help of a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens mounted on a Canon 5DSR full frame camera that is equipped with a 50.6 megapixel sensor. Some significant cropping was then necessary to bring the action even closer to the viewer.

Having fun on a beach in Parksville, British Columbia

Children are playing on a beach in Parksville, British Columbia
Children are playing on a beach in Parksville, British Columbia

The children in the picture above immediately reminded me of my youth. In the ‘60s, video games had yet to be invented and we were often outside trying to create new situations in which we could take risks without serious consequences.

The kids are playing on a beach in Parksville, British Columbia. For how long will the boy be able to stay dry in his rubber boots? His sister seems to realize more than him the situation in which he has put himself. Maybe it is already too late to return to the beach before the next wave…!

The scene was caught with a Canon 5DSR full frame camera.

Two pilots who will not give way to the other one

Two Porter Airlines Bombardier Q-400 on the Toronto Billy Bishop airport
Two Porter Airlines Bombardier Q-400 on the Toronto Billy Bishop airport

That is what happens when there is only one taxiway and both pilots refuse to give way…

You have certainly realized that there are no conflict here and that, a fraction of a second later, both Porter Airlines Bombardier Q-400 aircrafts continued taxiing, one towards the ramp and the other one towards one of the runways of the Toronto Billy Bishop airport in Ontario.

Few seconds before, I was watching both aircrafts getting closer with each other. Being of the same format, it was possible to get a special effect. Every fraction of a second counts when doing street photography so I took several shots and chosed the one that allowed the minimal space between the two aircrafts.

Each one in his own bubble in Willows Beach Park

Each one in his own bubble in the Willows Beach Park, Oak Bay, Victoria
Each one in his own bubble in the Willows Beach Park, Oak Bay, Victoria

In the foreground sits a man in the Willows Beach Park of Oak Bay in Victoria, British Columbia. He is totally in his bubble, absorbed by his book. I have been looking at him for few minutes wondering how I should position myself in order to get an interesting picture.

Suddenly, a bubble, very real this time, appears in the viewfinder of the camera. The bubble is moving, thanks to the efforts of a child that is walking inside of it. An adult is monitoring to situation to prevent accidents.

Street photography sometimes requires luck. For every successful photo, many opportunities are missed. The fraction of a second offered to a photographer to capture an unusual scene always imposes to have the camera settings already set for the ambient light and the expected use.

The picture was taken with a Canon 5DSR full-frame camera.

The boy with the man’s face.

In Canada, we cannot take the picture of someone who is the main subject unless we have obtained her permission. This is even more important with a child, where the authorization of the parents is required. But in the case of the picture below, it is different: it is a child whose face seems to belong to somebody else!

The child with a man's face. Terrasse Dufferin, Quebec City.
The child with a man’s face. Terrasse Dufferin, Quebec City.

I took this picture and enlarged it in the camera to understand what I was seeing. I realized that the child was holding the image of an adult man directly in front of his face.

The child with a man's face (enlarged photo)
The child with a man’s face (enlarged photo)

There was a group of adults that were standing nearby. One of the man called the child, who rapidly stepped down from the statue. They told me that the picture held by the child represents the sensei of a karate club that came all the way from British-Columbia for a national competition of Shotokan style karate being held at Laval University in Quebec City. The mystery was solved!

Chinese women playing cards in Hong Kong’s Jade Market

Le Jade Market à Hong Kong, en 1990

This picture of a group of Chinese women playing cards was taken during summer 1990 in Jade Market, Hong Kong, before the island was retroceded back to China.

Street photography requires that a photographer does not prearrange a scene, in order to protect the natural atmosphere. This is where the real information stands. Those women, totally absorbed by their game, offered a superb opportunity to capture a normal day life scene.

It was important to proceed quickly to avoid that one of the ladies looked at the camera and changed her attitude. That way, the natural effect was maintained.

The picture was taken with a Pentax SF1 camera equipped with a film made to be developed for slides.

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 Cargo and the London Eye

A Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747 and the London Eye in London (2015)
A Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747 and the London Eye in London (2015)

The photo above requires a very quick moment of reflection before being correctly interpreted. Most of the people who have seen the picture for the first time immediately had the feeling that the aircraft was heading toward one of the London Eye’s capsules.

The viewers referred to images that they had already seen during the 9/11 attacks, images that were printed in their memory.

The Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 cargo was inbound for the London Heathrow international airport while my family and I were waiting in line to live the London Eye experience, the Ferris wheel installed in the center of London, United Kingdom.

Instead of capturing a large scene, which would have given a far better idea of the scale of objects and eliminated any confusion, I opted for a close-up plan, leaving the viewer with the work of interpreting the photo correctly.

One of the pleasures of street photography is to find a second interpretation to what would normally be an ordinary scene.

In British Columbia, ships are in security

A lifeguard makes sure that the ships keep on floating...
A lifeguard makes sure that the ships keep on floating…

As I was completing a walk around Stanley Park, in British Columbia, I saw this lifeguard comfortably sitting in his chair and protected from the sun by a large yellow beach umbrella.

In the near distance, numerous vessels were anchored while waiting for the appropriate tide in order to reach Vancouver Harbour. Everything in the scenery was quiet.

However, reality was quite different since, when I got closer, I saw a huge beach loaded with swimmers in front of the lifeguard. The latter had to keep his eyes wide open.

A funnier approach was nonetheless to present the most tranquil scenery possible by avoiding to show the beach and the swimmers. This gave the impression that the lifeguard had the responsibility of watching the ships in the distance.

Slightly moving the skyline higher in the shot in order to only see the vessels and the lifeguard did the trick. This is the fun part of street photography.

Street photography in British Columbia: the florist.

Street photography: the florist
Street photography: the florist

In 2018, marijuana will probably become a legal substance in Canada. But for now, it is still considered an illegal drug by Canadian authorities.

In the picture above, a “plant” dealer, acting as a “florist”, does not hesitate to publicize his business in British Columbia. He chose to modify the reality until it finally meets his goal.

The “florist” above proceeds in the same way as Sean Spicer, the White House Speaker, who gives new meaning to words during his press conferences in order to make sense of some of Donald Trump’s electoral promises.

Street photography in Montreal: an extra-terrestrial musician

Street photography: an extra-terrestrial musician
Street photography in Montreal: an extra-terrestrial musician

Short of talented musicians, this military band finally decided to use an extra-terrestrial in its orchestra, hoping he would get by undetected. He is nonetheless betrayed by his eyes and teeth.

Street photography: touching the Toronto CN Tower

Street photography and the CN Tower, Toronto 2016
Street photography and the CN Tower, Toronto 2016

While I was walking around Toronto during a photography session, I found myself near the Rogers Center, facing a huge artwork installed on top of the building. One of the man in that artwork was pointing straight ahead with his index. The CN Tower being in the area, I could not resist an easy but efficient composition. Street photography offered the fastest way to touch the top of that tower.

Street photography in Quebec: a rental opportunity not to be missed

Street photography: a rental opportunity not to be missed
Street photography: a rental opportunity not to be missed

Apartment to rent (à louer) : the renter has access to an antique multicoloured spiraling iron staircase. Wishing to protect the environment, the owner used wood as the material to insure the structure’s stability. The second floor’s floor is built with different types of wood, following the modern architectural trend. The building’s facade is boarded up to insure your privacy as well as your security. All those advantages for a ridiculous price. Call now!

Street photography in Quebec: policemen and the Dunkin Donuts

Quebec police at the Francophone Summit, 2008.
Quebec police at the Francophone Summit, 2008.

There is a persisting rumor about the fact that policemen like to stop at Dunkin Donuts and Tim Hortons restaurants to indulge on donuts and coffees durant their daily breaks. This photo taken in Quebec seems to confirm the rumor. There is not enough parking in front of the restaurant to accommodate all the motorcycles side by side.

In fact, this photo is the result of a pure coincidence. During the Francophonie Summit that was held in Quebec, several motorcycle policemen had to park close to the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport while waiting for the limousines carrying dignitaries from around the world. They had chosen the local Dunkin Donuts parking for its proximity. Appearances are sometimes misleading…but they prove handy for street photography.

Street photography in Switzerland: a bike for everyone and every age

Street photography: a bike for everyone and every age!
Street photography: a bike for everyone and every age!

There is a motorcycle style for everyone and those two travelers seem to have found the model they would like best if they had the opportunity to get back in time and lose a few years. The street photography was taken in the Grimsell Pass, in Switzerland, in July 2013. Even during the summer, drivers must verify if the Grimsell Pass is cleared of snow before attempting a ride in the area…

Street photography in Florida

Disney World, Florida 2011.
Disney World, Florida 2011.

In an amusement park in the United States, this vacationing couple caught my attention because of the animal motif stools that they were sitting on. When stomachs are grumbling, people pounce on the first available seat. Great for street photography!

Street photography in London

Discussion between a London, United Kingdom, policeman and a pedestrian 2015
Discussion between a London, United Kingdom, policeman and a pedestrian 2015

It is essential to always carry a camera in order to profit from the rare opportunities and coincidences offered in everyday life. This is now getting easier with the miniaturization of cameras and the popularity of intelligent cellular phones.

The street photography above, that I took in London in 2015, offers a good example of an ephemeral subject that a street photographer should not miss.

A policeman posted in front of an embassy is having a chat with a citizen. This normally innocuous situation is suddenly rendered more interesting because of the difference in size and the relax attitude between both interlocutors. They have almost the same posture and are dressed in the same colors. Here, the skin color is not the dominating subject although it certainly adds some interest.

This street photography represents a good example of contrasts in photography.

Street photography in Toronto

Street photography in Toronto: love at first sight!
Street photography in Toronto: love at first sight!

While wandering through the streets of a big city like Toronto, in Ontario, it is quite common to see very interesting graffitis. A new visual experience can sometimes be created simply by shifting to the side.

By standing exactly in a position where the enraged animal will be right against the car, more tension can be created. The car is now positioned between a not so friendly animal and a panel clearly indicating that this is a tow zone.

This is one little creation allowed by street photography, since everything is about positioning oneself and seeing a possible new interpretation to a normal scene. The photographer must nonetheless respect the principle that demands that no objects be moved or no special requests be made to a person in order to obtain a desired effect. Everything has to be untouched and it is the photographer that has to position himself in order to create the desired effect.

The photo was taken with a Canon 5D MKII camera.

Street photography in Toronto, Ontario

Of graffiti and garbage cans

Of graffitis and garbage cans in Toronto
Of graffitis and garbage cans in Toronto

The lady on the wall seems to be annoyed by the smell coming out of those garbage cans that have been placed right under her nose. It would have been better if somebody had at least thought of closing the lid…

A safe bike…or maybe not

Street photography in Toronto: what's left of a bike that was locked for more security
Street photography in Toronto: what’s left of a bike that was locked for more security

There are two versions for this street photography taken in Toronto, Ontario in 2016. The first one, that is the positive side of the story, shows that people are locking their bike piece by piece. It takes more time, but at least the bike is safe…

The second version, less positive, represents what is left of a bike that was locked by the front wheel only…

Street photography in Quebec City

In Quebec City, this mannequin seems to be attacked by a wasp moving slowly along the shopwindow. The scene looked realistic enough to deserve a photo!

Street photography: mannequin under attack
Street photography: mannequin under attack

Street photography in Geneva

Street photography in Geneva : big wheels are for the kids
Street photography in Geneva : big wheels are for the kids

Street photography means always carrying a camera with you in order to avoid missing opportunities. As I was watching a little boy on his big wheeled bike in Geneva, the exact opposite zoomed by me riding a scooter with tiny wheels. I just had the time to take a photo for the comparison!

Street photography in Glasgow

Street photography sometimes depends on luck to capture unusual scenes. In Scotland, in downtown Glasgow, I saw this pedestrian who finished crossing the street using a different way of walking. The fact that he was so close to two road signs forbidding to turn left and right help to make for an amusing scene. It seemed that he did not know how to position himself in order to obey the law and continue his walk!

Street photography: two road signs seem to confuse a pedestrian in Glasgow
Street photography: two road signs seem to confuse a pedestrian in Glasgow

Street photography: parallel universes in Quebec City

Street photography: parallel universe in Quebec City
Street photography: parallel universe in Quebec City

This photo was taken in May 2015 in Quebec City, in Old Quebec, with a Canon 5D MKII. The store decorator has chosen a striking subject with this weird humanoid floating in silence in the presence of a green glass bottle in the foreground.

But a shot taken from the street would have only offered a simple picture with a weird subject. In choosing the side window to take the photo, many other dimensions could be integrated in order to increase the final impact.

1. From the side window, the photographer can add people’s reaction to the humanoid. But there is a bit of waiting involved until the appropriate persons pass by.

2. You can see multiple reflections from the front and side windows that are now visible in the sky.

3. The old architecture on the other side of the street offers a surprising contrast with the modernity of the main subject.

4. The eye naturally moving from left to right, the humanoid’s head has been positioned in the upper right corner of the picture. Once the viewer sees the head, he then follows the blue poneytail to witness the reaction of the two persons on the sidewalk. The loop then starts again.

5. The orange element facing the humanoid offers a strong orange-blue complementary color contrast that should not be neglected to increase the visual effect.

6. Finally, the converging lines help to add depth and increase the visual impact.

This is a photo that could have been much more standard if taken from the sidewalk. The fixed lens used was a Canon 14mm 2.8L.