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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

The new houses of Sillery

Sillery was a formerly self-governing municipality that is now part of Quebec City. The architecture of the houses that have been built there in recent years contrasts greatly in style and format with the older dwellings.

The more recent constructions are somewhat surprising in their gigantic size. The new owners want buildings with a modern look and very imposing dimensions, sometimes doubling and even tripling the size of the traditional homes in the area.

The photo below shows the difference in size between a traditional property (on the far right of the photo) and a more modern home. 

Modern Sillery house in winter, 2022.
Modern Sillery house in winter, 2022.

Below, a traditional house in Sillery simply decorated for the holiday season. The blue light of the little tree is reflected on the front of the house and it looks really nice.

Traditional Sillery house in Québec City 2022.
Traditional Sillery house in Québec City 2022.

The traditional house above and its Christmas decorations contrast strongly with another one two streets away (photo below). It’s hard to miss the house (of which we can only see one section) and especially the huge tree decorated in its entirety and which must have required the use of a crane equipped with a telescopic arm.

Modern Sillery house with Christmas decorations in 2022.
Modern Sillery house with Christmas decorations in 2022.

A final photo (below) shows another traditional house in Sillery with interesting architecture.

The old and the new are in stark contrast in the area, so I thought it was important to capture some memories of properties with unique architecture before they disappear to make way for modernity. Because today, the fashion favors demolition rather than renovation.

Traditional house of Sillery in Québec City with Christmas decorations. in 2022.
Traditional house of Sillery in Québec City with Christmas decorations. in 2022.

The pictures are from a Canon 5DSR full frame camera with a Canon EF 24-70 lens, all mounted on a tripod to avoid blur. The ISO was set to 200, in order to limit the photographic grain.

Click on the link for more pictures of Quebec City in winter on my blog.

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Photos of Canada

A picture of the Kelowna Yacht Club at dusk.

The Kelowna Yacht Club in British Columbia.
The Kelowna Yacht Club in British Columbia.

For this picture of the Kelowna Yacht Club, in British Columbia, I was more interested in capturing the general atmosphere rather than the whole yacht club with all its boats and installations.

The words Kelowna Yacht Club and the boats being  obvious in the midground, there was no need to add more details. It was nonetheless important to position the tent in the superior right corner of the picture since the name of the yacht club was showing and it was well lighted.

The photographic composition includes elements of the surrounding natural environment that made Kelowna’s reputation. The boats are framed between the rocks and the plants in the foreground while the mountains are visible in the background.

In order to achieve a good photo at this time of the day, a tripod was necessary. It was nonetheless mandatory to limit the exposure time due to the winds, in order to avoid a blurred picture. The shutter speed was limited to 3.2 seconds and the ISO adjusted to 320 to limit the photographic grain. An aperture set at 13 allowed a sufficient depth of field to offer a sharp image.

A Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens mounted on a full frame Canon 5DSR was used for the picture. The focal was limited to 32mm. The visibility was somewhat limited due to the active forest fires in the region, but the additional condensation nucleis in the air helped to obtain beautiful colors in the sky.

For other pictures of Canada, click on the following links in my blog:

Other Provinces and Territories of Canada Photos
Province of Quebec Photos
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Photos of Canada

A summer evening near the Columbia River in Revelstoke, British Columbia.

A view of the Columbia river near Revelstoke, Alberta 2018.
A view of the Columbia river near Revelstoke, Alberta 2018.

While passing by Revelstoke, in British Columbia,walking along the pathways near Columbia River is a must. The surrounding mountains offer a very interesting view and the changing colors provide great photo opportunities.

In the picture above, I thought appropriate to add a touch of life by waiting for a duck to reach the center of the frame and by including the two bikes in the foreground.

Since I was not walking with a tripod, I adjusted the shutter speed to 1/250 and the ISO to 2000. The aperture was set to 9.0 and the exposure modified to + 1/3 to compensate for a bright background. The 50.6 megapixel RAW file allowed for further adjustments with Photoshop.

A Canon 5DSR full frame camera was used, coupled with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens. The chosen focal length was 70mm.

For other pictures of Canada, click on the following links of my blog :

Other Provinces and Territories of Canada Photos
Province of Quebec Photos
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Photos of Canada

On the road to Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.

On the road to Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.
On the road to Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.

Arriving from the southeast on Highway 1 to Lake Louise, Alberta, you can choose to exit at Castle Junction and drive along an interesting road that is parallel to Highway 1. The road is called Bow Valley Parkway (1A). There is less traffic on that road so it is easier to get out of the car and take a few shots of the area.

The picture above shows Castle Mountain. I waited for a car to come up the road, to add a “human” dimension to the scenery. The shutter speed was adjusted to 1/250, the aperture at 5.0, the ISO to 200 and the focal length at 70mm. I used a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens with a Canon 5DSR full frame camera.

For other pictures of Canada, click on the following links of my blog :

Other Provinces and Territories of Canada Photos
Province of Quebec Photos
Categories
Photos of Canada

Reflections on Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.

Reflections on Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.
Reflections on Lake Louise, Alberta 2018.

This hand held picture was taken as we were starting to climb towards Lake Agnes, near Lake Louise , Alberta, during Summer 2018. It was one of the rare days where the visibility was not reduced by forest fires that were raging across the province.

The picture was taken with a Canon 5DSR full frame camera. The shutter speed was adjusted to 1/250, the aperture to 13, the ISO to 1000 and the focal was set to 24mm. The lens used was a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.

For other pictures of Canada, click on the following links of my blog :

Other Provinces and Territories of Canada Photos
Province of Quebec Photos
Categories
Photography

The Quebec Bridge is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2017

The Quebec Bridge, the longest cantilever type bridge in the world, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. For the occasion, several activities were organized in Quebec on  September 23rd 2017, culminating with fireworks near the bridge.

Reflections on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge was celebrated with fireworks.
Reflections on the St. Lawrence Seaway. The 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge was celebrated with fireworks.

Several workers lost their live while attempting to build the bridge. A Wikipedia article resumes its history: The Quebec Bridge

In 2017, the safety issue was brought back in the news. This time it was about the lack of maintenance that favored an increasing amount of rust on the metallic structure.

The funds that would allow to paint the bridge on a regular basis seems hard to find. The bridge owner, the Canadian National Railway Company, and the different levels of government are attempting to find a solution that would be acceptable for all. This discussion has been going on for years. While the bridge holds on, everything is fine.

September 23rd 2017 celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge.
September 23rd 2017 celebration for the 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge.

 

About the photography

During the fireworks several boats equipped with an additional lighting system approached the bridge.

It was impossible to get really sharp shots of the boats since they were constantly moving due to the strong current of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The fireworks lasted about thirty minutes and attracted a huge crowd, both along the St.Lawrence Seaway and on the higher grounds of both Lévis and Quebec City.

Fireworks for the 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge
Fireworks for the 100th anniversary of the Quebec Bridge

Frequent adjustments of the camera’s aperture and ISO were needed since it is always very demanding for a camera to deal with sudden burst of lights appearing in the darkness. It was necessary to limit the exposure time in order to avoid an accumulation of blurred light trails.

The Quebec Bridge is 100 years old in 2017
The Quebec Bridge is 100 years old in 2017

The pictures were taken with a Canon 5DSR full frame camera mounted on a tripod. A Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM was used to capture the fireworks.

Categories
Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Landscape photography: Quebec City in winter

Quebec City in winter, in the Cap-au-Diable area (2016)
Quebec City in winter, in the Cap-au-Diable area (2016)

The picture above was taken in December 2016 at Cap-au-Diable, in Quebec City, with a Canon 5DSR full-frame camera equipped with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L US telephoto lens. A polarizing filter was not really needed here due to the soft light and the sun being in line with the lens. The exposure was still corrected by +1/3.

At this time of the year, the temperature is not too cold for the photographer’s bare hands and the light intensity is ideal throughout the day. The temperature hovering around 0 °C favors wet snow showers. This snow lightly sticks to the tree branches and, as long as the wind does not increase too much, it is possible to take interesting winter pictures. But it is necessary to act quickly

For the photo above, I was able to profit from a St-Lawrence Seaway that was still unfrozen, which allowed to capture the winter sun reflection. I had to proceed rapidly since there were clouds moving from the west, visible to the right of the picture. One minute later, the sun and its reflection were no longer visible.

The photos below were taken during in the same park.

Parc du Cap-au-Diable, Quebec City (2016)
Parc du Cap-au-Diable, Quebec City (2016)

A house in the Cap-au-Diable park, Quebec City (2016)
A house in the Cap-au-Diable park, Quebec City (2016)

For other photos on the province of Quebec and also Quebec City, click on the following links from my blog:

Province of Quebec Photos

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Autumn

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Spring

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Summer

Categories
Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Photography with the Canon 5DSR in the Port of Montreal

In June 2016, I spent a few days in Montreal to look for photo opportunities in the city and in the Old Port. I had never seen so many construction projects going on at the same time in that city. We could feel that the city managers wanted everything to be perfect for the 375th anniversary of the city in 2017. Here are 2 percent of the photos that were taken during that photography session. (The files were in RAW and JPEG).

Photography and architecture. Habitat 67 in Montreal
Photography and architecture. Habitat 67 in Montreal

The picture above represents Habitat 67, created in time for the 1967 Universal Exhibition by the architect Moshe Safdie. You can click on the following link if you wish to obtain supplementary details in regards to the conception and construction of Habitat 67: Moshe Safdie and Habitat 67

To take the photos, it was better to wait for the evening, a few minutes before nightime, in order to benefit from a better luminosity and prioritize the reflection of light sources on the water. Several boats passed by while I was taking the pictures and it momentarily diminished the quality of the light reflections. Eventually, after several trials, I benefited from a flat water surface. With ISO at minimum, I was able to limit the digital noise that would unavoidably become visible after cropping the images.

Habitat 67 Montreal
Habitat 67 Montreal

A photographic exposure lasting a few seconds helped to flatten the water surface and emphasize the light reflections. I made sure to keep the tugboats in front of the buildings since I consider that they added some dynamism to the scene. As usual, the use of a tripod, remote trigger and mirror lock-up helped to reduce the camera vibrations. Liveview was activated and the focus was done manually to ensure optimal image sharpness.

The picture below shows the abandoned grain silos in the Old Port of Montreal. They are protected since 1996 and will possibly be given a new role next year, just in time for Montreal 375th anniversary.

Grain silos in the Old Port of Montreal in 2016. Photo taken with a Canon 5DSR.
Grain silos in the Old Port of Montreal in 2016. Photo taken with a Canon 5DSR.

The bulk carrier Venture (formerly called Balder), built in 2002 and belonging to the CSL company, was docked in the Old Port. I tried a few shots, among them one with a telephoto lens Canon 14 mm 2.8L.

The Bulk Carrier Venture (CSL) in Montreal in 2016
The Bulk Carrier Venture (CSL) in Montreal in 2016

To get a privileged access to the harbor installations, where all the loading and unloading operations are performed, would have been really interesting, but, since it was not the case, I had to try to capture an idea of the Port activities from a distance. I wanted to include the wagons loaded with containers and the ships. The use of a polarizing filter allowed the enhancement of the colours of the wagons. I thought necessary to include the venerable Molson Brewery building in one of the shots.

View of the Montreal Harbor, Molson Brewery and the Jacques-Cartier bridge in 2016
View of the Montreal Harbor, Molson Brewery and the Jacques-Cartier bridge in 2016

Then, profiting from the cancellation of the low pass filter in the Canon 5DSR DSLR, as well as the impressive enlarging capacities offered by the 50.6 megapixels full frame sensor, it was possible to capture a bit of the Port activities by cropping the photo later on, without any loss in quality, using an image editing software. The picture was taken with a telephoto lens Canon EF 24-70 mm f/2.8L USM at 70 mm.

Port of Montreal with ships and containers. Photo taken with a Canon 5DSR in 2016
Port of Montreal with ships and containers. Photo taken with a Canon 5DSR in 2016

For other photos on the province of Quebec and also Quebec City, click on the following links from my blog:

Province of Quebec Photos

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Autumn

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Spring

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Summer

Categories
Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Photography: the Canon 5DSR DSLR camera and its 50.6 megapixel full frame sensor

The container ship Maersk Pembroke under the Quebec Bridge, May 2016
The container ship Maersk Pembroke under the Quebec Bridge, May 2016

Choosing what is important in a camera

Since there is actually no camera that has everything, whatever the brand, the buyer of a new camera must make choices: the type of sensor, the number of megapixels, the weight and size of the camera, the automatic focus’s speed and ability to follow a subject, the number of images per second, the performance under low light, the possibility to greatly enlarge a picture while maintaining its quality, advanced video functions, electronic communications with other devices, an extensive choice of lenses, etc. The list can be quite long…

The Canon 5DS(R): a specialized camera

A photographer happy with the Canon 5DS or 5DSR is one who needs a specialized camera offering both sharp images and the possibility of greatly enlarging the pictures it takes while maintaining the initial quality. This camera allows for more creativity as the possibility of extreme cropping beats, for now, everything that is on the market in the DSLR format.

Testing the potential of the Canon 5DSR when it comes to enlarging a picture

Here is an example of what this means: the photo below shows the yellow M of the McDonald’s restaurant photographed with a 50mm lens. Not easily visible…

Mc Donald's restaurant's yellow M captured with a 50 mm lens. Hard to see, of course!
Mc Donald’s restaurant’s yellow M captured with a 50 mm lens. Hard to see, of course!

Then the next photo was taken with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens set at a 200mm focal length.

Testing the Canon 5DSR: the Mc Donald's restaurant's yellow M enlarged through a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens. Focal length used: 200mm.
Testing the Canon 5DSR: the Mc Donald’s restaurant’s yellow M enlarged through a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens. Focal length used: 200mm.

But the picture can be enlarged a lot more using the amazing resolution of the Canon 5DSR. The following picture shows the result after cropping the 200mm image: the yellow M now takes the whole vertical space available in the picture without any loss in quality.

The Mc Donald's restaurant's yellow M, after having been enlarged (focal 200mm) and cropped within the Canon 5DSR.
The Mc Donald’s restaurant’s yellow M, after having been enlarged (focal 200mm) and cropped within the Canon 5DSR.

From my position on the hill, the yellow M was barely visible with the naked eye. By using a 200mm focal length, followed by serious cropping, I was able to obtain the result above. So it is possible to photograph a subject that is almost invisible without a telephoto lens and transform it into the principal subject of the picture without any loss in quality.

I chose the 5DSR because the anti-aliasing filter has been neutralized in the model R to offer even sharper images, although there is a risk of occasional moire effect when there are repetitive patterns in a scene. This is the compromise that Nikon users must also have to deal with.

Rethinking photography

The 50.6 megapixel full frame sensor in the Canon 5DS or 5DSR allows a new approach of photography for those who do not have access to a much more expensive and larger medium format camera that does not necessarily give really superior pictures.

When I go outside for a photo session, it seems to me that I now carry a huge telephoto lens without the weight and the cost. A lot of what seemed to be unavailable possibilities are now accessible.

Taking pictures of people in the street is now less complicated: there are no more suspicious looks, artificial poses or people hiding their face. This is an ideal camera to capture people acting naturally without disrupting their routine. Gone is the feeling that you are bothering them in any way.

Quartier Petit-Champlain Old Quebec May 2016
Quartier Petit-Champlain Old Quebec May 2016

The photo below was taken while I was standing at least 300 meters from the scene, just after sunset. For those who are from Quebec City, I positioned the tripod on a high wall on the other side of Chemin St-Louis, near the St. Louis Gate. I had to slightly brighten up the picture to make the details more visible, risking at the same time to increase the digital noise. It was a May 2016 warm misty evening, which is clearly visible by the lack of details in the background as we look in the distance.

Quebecers defying gravity in Old Quebec, May 2016
Quebecers defying gravity in Old Quebec, May 2016

But those are not the only possibilities of this camera. The Canon Company, in its promotional video, explains what exactly the camera was designed for:

How can someone maximize the use of a 50.6 megapixel full frame sensor

In order to bring a subject closer to you while fully benefiting  from the Canon 5DSR 50.6 megapixel full frame sensor, it is obvious that there must be absolutely no vibrations. The photographer must therefore use a tripod, a remote control release and the mirror lock-up function. This allows for a very low ISO setting while avoiding a blurred picture.

The mirror lock-up function is very well thought through, with the possibility to choose a totally automatic processus according to a timing chosen by the photographer (between 0 and 2 seconds). The system eliminates any secondary micro vibrations.

In order to ensure an even better picture, the photographer must use Liveview and set it to the 16X enlargement available on that camera (versus 10X on my Canon 5D MKII) to manually adjust the focus. It is then possible to see the slightest vibrations caused by the wind. Doing so, I realized that my camera strap, lightly swaying in the wind, was causing some minimal vibrations. Every detail taken into consideration will improve the final result.

One must then ensure to immobilize the strap and even diminish the tripod height if possible when the wind is blowing. These steps will allow an incredible enlargement of a subject while maintaining the initial quality of the image offered by a full frame sensor.

Superior mirage effect (cold mirage)

The photo below shows a ship being helped by two Ocean tugboats on its way towards the Quebec Harbour. The ship was at a good distance from the harbour; it is then possible to witness the superior mirage effect (cold mirage) resulting from a temperature inversion immediately over the water. The boats are deformed but the important close-up has not lowered the image quality. It has instead allowed to increase the atmospheric phenomenon effect.

Superior mirage (cold mirage) effect. Vessel and two Ocean tugboats on the St-Lawrence seaway heading to the Quebec Harbour, May 2016.
Superior mirage (cold mirage) effect. Vessel and two Ocean tugboats on the St-Lawrence seaway heading to the Quebec Harbour, May 2016.

Once closer to the Quebec Harbour, the cold mirage effect decreased, as shown on the picture below:

Quebec Harbour, May 2016
Quebec Harbour, May 2016

The Canon 5DS or 5DSR without the use of a tripod or mirror-lock

Obviously, a tripod is not necessary if you do not intend to use a lot of cropping to enlarge a photo. You will obtain excellent results with the hand-held camera providing that you remember that this Canon DSLR is a specialized tool.

So many megapixels on a sensor of that size require that the photographer adapts his technique. But, as you can see from the picture below, it is totally possible to capture an aircraft in movement, even at dusk (May 11, 19:49), when the camera’s parameters are correctly adjusted. A higher shutter speed than normal is, in this case, absolutely mandatory.

The photo below shows an Air Canada Express Bombardier DHC-8-402NG (C-GSJZ) on final for runway 29 at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport (CYQB).

Bombardier DHC-8-Q-402NG (C-GSJZ — Air Canada Express) on final for the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport, May 2016. Photo taken with a DSLR Canon 5DSR.
Bombardier DHC-8-Q-402NG (C-GSJZ — Air Canada Express) on final for the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport, May 2016. Photo taken with a DSLR Canon 5DSR.

The Maersk Pembroke with the camera hand-held

The photo below shows the Maersk Pembroke container ship photographed with a hand-held camera using a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens during Spring 2016 near Quebec City. The focal length was only 140mm and the shutter speed 1/1000. The lens was equipped with a polarizing filter and the photo taken when the vessel was approaching the Quai des Cageux.

The Maersk Pembroke container ship on the St-Lawrence seaway near Quebec City, May 2016
The Maersk Pembroke container ship on the St-Lawrence seaway near Quebec City, May 2016

The colours produced by the Canon 5DSR

The digital processing of the image and colours produced by the Canon 5DSR require different adjustments than what was necessary with the Canon 5D MKII. I am still learning how to handle the results produced by this camera so I will wait a bit before commenting.

View of Old Quebec from the St. Louis gate. Quebec City, May 2016
View of Old Quebec from the St. Louis gate. Quebec City, May 2016

Night photography

Here are two photos taken during the evening in Quebec City. The photo below required a 200mm focal, an ISO set at 4000 and a shutter speed at 1/30 in order to obtain something else than trailing lights. Luckily, the traffic was moving slowly…

Night photography, Grande-Allée avenue, Quebec City, May 2016
Night photography, Grande-Allée avenue, Quebec City, May 2016

The picture below, taken with a 200 mm focal, required an exposure time a bit longer that one second with the ISO set at 800. To take the photo, I took advantage of the fact that the cars were momentarily stopped at a red light, so that they would be clearly visible.

Night photography, Tourny fountain and Quebec lower town, May 2016
Night photography, Tourny fountain and Quebec lower town, May 2016

The images per second of the Canon 5DS(R)

The Canon 5DSR is so far quite an impressive camera. I would have appreciated that Canon offer a higher rate of images per second (7 instead of 5) to make it more versatile.

The camera allows taking pictures with smaller formats than 50.6 MP, the two other options being 28 MP and 12 MP. If the camera can deliver five images per second with 50.6 MP RAW files, we can deduct that it is able to offer more speed for smaller formats. But the camera is blocked at 5 IMS so that it, I suppose, does not compete with other existing Canon models of the same category…

Nonetheless, Canon says that the rapid sequence of shooting lasts longer if the photographer uses the smaller files provided. So it is not faster, but it keeps on firing for a longer period. My guess is that it would only require a new firmware version to improve this camera’s number of images per second.

For other night pictures, click on the following link to my site:

Night Photography

For other photos on the province of Quebec and also Quebec City, click on the following links from my blog:

Province of Quebec Photos

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Autumn

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Spring

Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Summer

Categories
Aviation photography

Aviation photography: plane spotting at the Toronto Lester B. Pearson international airport (CYYZ)

Air Canada Airbus A330-343 C-GHLM in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Airbus A330-343 C-GHLM in Toronto 2016

Here is some information aimed at helping tourists visiting Toronto, who like photography and aviation, and would think of booking one day during their visit to head to the Toronto Lester B. Pearson international airport (CYYZ) for a plane spotting photo session.

Initial planning

If you can, get a scanner or download an app on your cell phone to get real time information on air traffic around the airport: you will then know in advance the type and nationality of inbound or departing aircrafts.

http://www.torontopearson.com/app/#

Search for websites giving you access to Toronto airport VHF frequencies and program your scanner if you decided to get one.

http://www.canairradio.com/yyz.html

Have a look at different plane spotting websites for the Toronto airport: there are many precious advices from experienced plane spotters that will prove useful in heading to the best spots and avoiding common mistakes. I used the two links below:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zdHrYLKKTr6s.kVyJADEEDD94&hl=en_US

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zoK-gCuBpw20.kihycrsJLTH8&hl=en

Print two or three maps of secondary routes around the airport so that you can orient yourself when there is a change in runway use due to different winds or if you use a taxi ride to move around the airport: the driver will always ask you details on how to get there since those secondary routes are not a common destination for him (and chances are that he will not know where to go if you ask him to head to threshold of runway 05. Basically, he needs road names, not runway numbers).

Cessna 560XL S5-BAV Toronto 2016
Cessna 560XL S5-BAV Toronto 2016

British Airways Boeing 777-236 G-ZZZA in Toronto 2016
British Airways Boeing 777-236 G-ZZZA in Toronto 2016

Before leaving your Toronto hotel

Before you leave the hotel, look at the Toronto weather forecast, among them the TAF, to know the wind pattern for the day. The Nav Canada site has everything you need to know and there is a possibility to choose between coded or plain aviation language.

https://flightplanning.navcanada.ca

The Environment Canada site is also very useful:

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/on-143_metric_e.html

Don’t forget to bring many snacks as well as a bottle of water since you will possibly be at a good distance from a restaurant for many hours, depending on which runway is in use. The same goes for additional batteries and memory cards for the camera.

Don’t forget the scanner, the cell phone (to call a taxi driver or get access to the arrivals and departures information) and all the photo equipment needed, as well as an abnormally high number of clothing layers necessary in case of winter photography: eight hours almost immobile outside in February calls for an appropriate preparation if you want to appreciate your experience. If you economize on clothing, it is certain that you will have to shorten your photography session.

I chose February for its very interesting light and not for its temperature! Most of the shots in this article were taken in only one day at the Toronto airport, between 10h30am and 18h30.

American Airlines MD-82 N482AA final 05 Toronto 2016
American Airlines MD-82 N482AA final 05 Toronto 2016

From the hotel to the airport

If you chose to stay at a downtown hotel in Toronto, the best way to get to the Toronto international airport is to use the UP Express train, from the Union Station on Front Street. Its use is very simple and departures are made every fifteen minutes. In February 2016, the cost was CDN $44.00 for a return trip to the airport, while a taxi ride cost $130.00.

UP Express Toronto 2016
UP Express Toronto 2016

The UP Express ride only takes 25 minutes and the train stops at Terminal 1.

It is preferable to avoid using your car around the Toronto international airport since some secondary roads are private and no stopping is allowed. You will take more time to look for police than to enjoy your plane spotting photography session.

Once you are at Terminal 1

Once you exit the UP Express at Terminal 1, get your scanner and monitor the ATIS frequency (120.825) to get the latest information on the runways in use for take offs and landings. For my photo session, the ATIS announced that runway 05 and 06L were in use, both for arrivals and departures. I took a taxi, showed the map with secondary roads to the driver and within few minutes I was where I needed to be and started the photo session.

Air Transat Airbus A-330 C-GTSN Toronto 2016
Air Transat Airbus A-330 C-GTSN Toronto 2016

A preliminary internet search allowed to discover that heavies mostly arrive from Europe during the afternoon et that runway 05/23 is favored for Emirates Airline Airbus A-380 arrival. I thus decided to position myself near runway 05 instead of 06L.

There are two or three quite isolated spots around the airport that provide interesting point of views for aircraft photos but that can present security problems for a photographer working alone with expensive equipment. Experienced plane spotters suggest that you should be accompanied by friends if you decide to opt for those spots (see the “plane spotting” internet sites suggested at the beginning of this article).

Emirates A-380 final for Toronto (CYYZ)
Emirates A-380 final for Toronto (CYYZ)

Emirates A-380 on final for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016
Emirates A-380 on final for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016

Emirates A-380 on final 05 for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016
Emirates A-380 on final 05 for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016

Technical advices

For precise photos of aircrafts in movement, I use the following parameters with my Canon 5D MKII camera:

1. Only the central AF Point of the auto focus system is selected and not the surrounding ones in order to avoid that the camera sets the focus on other objects than what I desire (trees, ILS structure, buildings).

2. The AI Servo setting is more efficient than the AI Focus or One Shot. The aircraft will be followed precisely.

3. If I want to include surrounding objects in the photo, I adjust the aperture to 7.1 or 8, instead of 11 or 13. I thus avoid increasing the ISO too much, which would affect the picture’s quality if it has to be enlarged with Photoshop.

Westjet Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSV Disneyland Livery in Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSV Disneyland Livery in Toronto 2016

4. To take pictures of an approaching propeller powered aircraft, a speed adjusted to 1/125 is generally adequate. You must pivot according to the aircraft movement so that it looks like it is immobile in your viewfinder. The picture is easier to take when the aircraft is farther away but becomes more of a challenge when it gets closer and flies by you since you must constantly change your pivoting speed.

Porter Q-400 C-GLQD on final for Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ) 2016
Porter Q-400 C-GLQD on final for Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ) 2016

Air Canada DHC-8-102 C-FGQK Toronto 2016
Air Canada DHC-8-102 C-FGQK Toronto 2016

5. A shutter speed that is too high will immobilize the propeller of an aircraft and make it look like the engine is not working, which will take away realism.

6. Throughout the day, position yourself so as to have the sun behind you (if there is any sun!), unless you are looking for special effects.

Global 5000 GL5T C-GJET in Toronto 2016
Global 5000 GL5T C-GJET in Toronto 2016

7. A very high quality lens, like the Canon 50mm 1.4, allows for beautiful pictures during the evening since there is no compromise on ISO, as the lens does not need much light. The grain size stays relatively small.

Air Canada Boeing 777 final 05 Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 777 final 05 Toronto 2016

8. I use a very low ISO if the photo includes an interesting but far away aircraft, in order to be able to crop the picture with Photoshop. Since I cannot compromise on the speed to avoid a blurred picture, it becomes obvious that it is the aperture that pays the price.

Air Canada Airbus A-330 final 06L Toronto 2016
Air Canada Airbus A-330 final 06L Toronto 2016

9. If the situation allows it, add visual references other than clouds to get a bit more variety in your aircraft photo collection.

Air Canada Boeing 777 final runway 05 Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 777 final runway 05 Toronto 2016

10. Try a black and white photo if the cloud formation is particularly interesting.

C-GQBG CL-415 and cirrus clouds on a black and white picture
C-GQBG CL-415 and cirrus clouds on a black and white picture

11. RAW+JPEG files allow for important adjustments when necessary. A JPEG only photo gives you little leeway when you want to correct mistakes or during problematic lighting conditions.

12. Variable sky conditions and constant direction winds are preferable for your photo session since the runway in use will not be changed in the afternoon and your pictures will benefit from different light intensity and cloud formations.

13. If you want to take the aircraft in relation to the ILS poles and you are looking for a symmetrical photo, just move few inches to the right or left while the aircraft is approaching or going away from you. You will also want to avoid that the horizontal poles of the ILS cut the plane and make it difficult to see.

Westjet Boeing 737-800 final 05 Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-800 final 05 Toronto 2016

14. Have fun experimenting, like taking a shot just above your head while including other objects for added interest.

On the ILS 05 for Toronto 2016
On the ILS 05 for Toronto 2016

15. Instead of always showing the whole aircraft, try a close-up view.

Air Canada Boeing 787-9 C-FNOI in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 787-9 C-FNOI in Toronto 2016

16. The close-up view might be such that even passengers of an aircraft on final will look at you while you immortalize them.

United Express on final at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport.
United Express on final at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport.

17. Chances are that you will meet other enthusiast plane spotters in the same area as yours since they also prepared themselves for a successful photo session.

Westjet Boeing 737-800 C-FYPB in Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-800 C-FYPB in Toronto 2016

18. Since you are in Toronto, head to Toronto Harbour when you are back downtown. You will witness the air traffic surrounding the Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ), formerly known as Toronto Island, and possibly take some original shots.

Porter Q-400 C-GLQM and C-GLQB at Toronto CYTZ 2016
Porter Q-400 C-GLQM and C-GLQB at Toronto CYTZ 2016

19. This is the photo equipment used for my Toronto airport plane spotting session: Canon 5D MKII camera and the following Canon lenses: EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. No polarizer was used that day since I wanted to increase my margin of manoeuver with fast moving aircrafts under the February low intensity light.

Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER final 05 at Toronto 2016
Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER final 05 at Toronto 2016

American Eagle CRJ-701ER N523AE Toronto 2016
American Eagle CRJ-701ER N523AE Toronto 2016

Aviation photography requires much planning for successful photos. But all your efforts will rapidly bear fruits once you are on site and you will not see time pass! Have a great plane spotting session and give me some news of your experience if you can!

Air Canada Boeing 767-375 (ER) C-FCAB in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 767-375 (ER) C-FCAB in Toronto 2016

You can have access to other aircraft photos taken at Toronto through this link on my site:
photo galleries/aviation only

For other articles on aviation and photography, click on the following link: Aviation photography