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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

The parc national de la Jacques-Cartier in Spring (2)

Fishing in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Spring in Québec.
Fishing in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Spring in Québec.

A fisherman sits quietly in the river of the Jacques-Cartier national park  casting his line, while his companion watches from the shore. Here, everyone has as much space as they want to enjoy their hobby.

Some photographers use Photoshop’s “dehaze” function to keep the background sharp to infinity. I prefer to retain the natural feel of the scene. The violet-blue landscape visible at the top of the shot helps to capture the distance.

Forest in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Spring in Québec 2024.
Forest in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Spring in Québec 2024.

People prepare for their outing in the huge ancestral canoe known as a rabaska. In the foreground, but no longer visible in the photo, was originally a group of vacationers launching an inflatable raft. But all these people were distracting from the main subject. Tight framing eliminated this obstacle.

Nature in the Jacques-Cartier National Park in Québec.
Nature in the Jacques-Cartier National Park in Québec.

I use the frame-within-a-frame technique to present the multicolored reflections of the river in the photo above. There’s blue, orange and green, outlined by two vertical trunks on either side of the photo and an oblique branch at the top.

I use the same technique in the shot below, but in a less obvious way, as the frame in the foreground remains blurred. Attention is immediately drawn to the canoeists who are just finishing their trip and getting ready to dock.

Canoeing on the Jacques-Cartier river in Québec 2024
Canoeing on the Jacques-Cartier river in Québec 2024

Click on the link for more photos of the province of Quebec on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec

The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 2024

The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie returns every year to raise funds for the Fondation du Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, which supports many causes including research into orphan diseases.

Police blocking the traffic in Sillery before the arrival of the GDPL cyclists.
Police blocking the traffic in Sillery before the arrival of the GDPL cyclists.

Cyclists pay to take part in the challenge, and the public can also make a monetary contribution to support the riders. Participants benefit from fully protected circuits where car traffic would normally cause problems. Above, police officers prohibit access to cars as cyclists arrive on Avenue des Gouverneurs in Sillery, Quebec.

Cyclists arriving in Sillery at the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 2024.
Cyclists arriving in Sillery at the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 2024.
Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL) 2024 cyclists on avenue des Gouverneurs in Quebec City.
Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL) 2024 cyclists on avenue des Gouverneurs in Quebec City.
The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 2024 cyclists in the Sillery sector in Quebec City.
The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie 2024 cyclists in the Sillery sector in Quebec City.

Cyclists take it in turns to cover a series of circuits totalling 1,000 kilometers in the Quebec City region over three days. Depending on the route chosen, the difference in altitude ranges from 199 metres to almost 900 metres.

Each route starts and finishes on the Université Laval grounds in Quebec City.

The first stage of the GDPL 2024 took place on June 14. It was only a 21-kilometre warm-up circuit, and I photographed the participants as they completed their journey and headed for their base camp at Université Laval. There are just 979 kilometers to go between now and the afternoon of June 16… 

Group of cyclists in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL) 2024 in action at Québec.
Group of cyclists in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL) 2024 in action at Québec.
GDPL 2024 cyclists wearing the Montreal Canadians hockey club jersey.
GDPL 2024 cyclists wearing the Montreal Canadians hockey club jersey.

Photos were taken with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens.

Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Spring on my blog.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Spring in Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier.

Spring in the Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier in Québec.
Spring in the Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier in Québec.

Normally, a 3:2 or 4:3 ratio is used to display in vertical mode. But the 16:9 aspect ratio of the photo above shows both the reverberations in the water and a significant portion of the landscape. So, whatever the conventions and what makes purists happy, we use what does justice to our first impression.

What caught my eye in this scene? The very wide range of green tones, the alternation of light and shade in the landscape and the reflections, the roundness of the deciduous trees and the tips of the conifers, the atmosphere of the place and, last but not least, the human presence. All this can be seen in a fraction of a second, and the shot is taken before the canoe enters the shaded area on the left.

Historic lodge in Spring in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Québec.
Historic lodge in Spring in the Jacques-Cartier national park in Québec.

The photo above shows a historic chalet in Jacques-Cartier National Park in Spring. It’s no longer available for rent, but it’s a great asset for photography enthusiasts. At this location, paddleboarding is safe thanks to a very weak current.

Tourist attraction in the Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier in Québec.
Tourist attraction in the Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier in Québec.

On the same day and on the same river, but a few kilometers upstream, a group of people attempt their first descent in an inflatable boat on a rougher stretch of water.

The first group takes the plunge, while the second watches, waiting its turn and trying to learn from the others’ mistakes. Occasionally, paddlers get stuck on top of a flat rock flush with the water, and have to use their initiative to free themselves and continue their journey. Sometimes canoeists find themselves in the water, and Sépaq staff  have to help them out.

Click on the links for more photos and other articles about the province of Quebec.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

A Spring day in 2024 on Île d’Orléans.

Profiting from the strong winds at île d'Orléans 2024
Profiting from the strong winds at île d’Orléans 2024

A single-day visit to Île d’Orléans for a photography session was enough to capture a wide variety of cloudy conditions in April 2024. In spring, when unstable, humid air crosses the mountain range north of the St. Lawrence River, you can expect anything on the island. Above, a kitesurfing enthusiast practises his art between localized showers. All he cares about is strong winds.

Coloured houses of Île d'Orléans. Spring 2024.
Coloured houses of Île d’Orléans. Spring 2024.

A few kilometers from route du Mitan, colourful houses and a bit of blue-sky contrast with the showers elsewhere on the island. You can see that the cloud layer in the distance is not very thick.

Looking north from île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
Looking north from île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

Above, a towering cumulus (TCU) approaches the St. Lawrence River in the late afternoon from the north. It is likely to cross the river towards the island, if it has not lost some of its strength, in the meantime, due to subsidence, the phenomenon that forces air to compress and warm as it is forced down a mountain range.

Sailboats on île d'Orléans. Spring 2024.
Sailboats on île d’Orléans. Spring 2024.

The shape of the clouds in the photo above gives a good indication of the strength of today’s winds. You can hear it whistling through the ropes and between the masts of the sailboats at the marina in the municipality of St-Jean, île d’Orléans. At the time of my visit, some owners were preparing their boats for the warmer periods of May.

A house on île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
A house on île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

I really like the scene above, but I admit that some might find it dark, if not sinister. It was this slightly disturbing aspect that caught my attention and that I tried to capture.

A boat requires repainting on île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
A boat requires repainting on île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

In this last photo, the sky is practically clear. It is then easier to obtain better contrasts. A pseudo-HDR treatment brings out the paintwork on a boat that has seen better years.

Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Spring on my blog.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

The Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier during winter.

Hiker entering the Jacques-Cartier National Park's forest, Winter 2024.
Hiker entering the Jacques-Cartier National Park’s forest, Winter 2024.

The province of Québec offers in 2024 a free admission to Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier a few days a week. This means more visitors than ever before head for the park. Hikers seeking absolute peace and quiet should opt for the paid days.

Even so, if you look carefully, it’s always possible to spot a lone walker, as in the photo above. Most people take the marked trails for ease, but others, like the individual above, venture out on snowshoes near the Jacques-Cartier River, which is completely covered in snow at this time of year.

Jacques-Cartier National Park's landscape, Winter 2024.
Jacques-Cartier National Park’s landscape, Winter 2024.

Approximately three kilometres from the Discovery and Services Chalet is a bridge. From here, the hiker can capture some very beautiful scenes. In winter, an interesting effect can be achieved by positioning yourself close to the banks.

November in the Jacques-Cartier National Park in Quebec, 2023
November in the Jacques-Cartier National Park in Quebec, 2023

This scenery relaxes me so much, yet there are no spectacular elements. Rather, all the components are in perfect harmony: reflections in the water, some bluish snow here and there, brushes and a few leaning trees lit from the side by a soft late afternoon light. As the large trunks occupy the majority of the scene, I chose a vertical format for the photographic composition.

Photo of the Jacques-Cartier national park, Winter 2024.
Photo of the Jacques-Cartier national park, Winter 2024.

Above, the landscape attracts the eye with its combination of horizontal, vertical and oblique lines, as well as its alternating black and white in the foreground. I positioned myself to include in the scene a large branch that enters the photo from the top right-hand corner.

The foreground features open water, snow-covered ice, pure ice and snow-covered ice again. In the middle ground, coniferous and deciduous trees. In the background, a forest revealing the snow on the mountain floor. I’ve left only a hint of sky, as the latter offers no particular interest on this cloudy February day, other than to add some white to complete the alternation of colours.

Click on the link for more photos of the City of Québec and Île d’Orléans in Winter on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec

Students from Singapore in Jacques-Cartier National Park.

Students from Singapour visiting the Jacques-Cartier National Park during winter 2024
Students from Singapour visiting the Jacques-Cartier National Park during winter 2024

During my hike in the Jacques-Cartier National Park today, I met some French people, a Polish woman and seven students from Singapore. They are part of an exchange program with Canada and are currently studying at an Ontario university. They are taking advantage of their reading week to make a little trip to Quebec.

A group of students from Singapour on a trail in the Jacques-Cartier National Park winter 2024
A group of students from Singapour on a trail in the Jacques-Cartier National Park winter 2024

You couldn’t ask for a better day for the long excursion they’ve planned. It was -13C early this morning, but a new air mass entered Quebec and by the time I took these photos, we’d already reached +1C with beautiful sunshine and almost no wind. But I reckon they’ll have much walking to do to complete their excursion before the park closes for the evening.

Birds on a window at the Jacques-Cartier National Park winter 2024
Birds on a window at the Jacques-Cartier National Park winter 2024

Bird decorations are glued to the windows of the Discovery and Service Center at KM 10. I attempted a photo from inside the building, while including the forest in the background.

Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec

Mild winter weather in Quebec City.

Grande-Allée in Quebec City just before nightfall.
Grande-Allée in Quebec City just before nightfall.

We’ve had some very mild weather recently in Quebec City. A rainy day in the middle of winter melts the snow at an accelerated rate and creates widespread fog over the region. Just before nightfall, this weather phenomenon combined with road traffic and the imposing trees on Grande-Allée prompted me to take a photo from the moving car. Digital processing was then applied to achieve the desired effect.

St. Louis street under rain in winter in Quebec City 2024
St. Louis street under rain in winter in Quebec City 2024

Here’s another shot of rue Saint-Louis in Old Quebec in the rain in the middle of winter. I took the photo at the end of 2023, when the Christmas decorations added a little cheer for lack of snow, which is fairly rare for Quebec City. Many tourists had to readjust their plans for outings with children during this period.

Click on the link for more Winter photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans on my blog.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Sailing through ice on the St. Lawrence River.

Two ferries across the ice in front of Quebec City and Lévis winter 2024
Two ferries across the ice in front of Quebec City and Lévis winter 2024

The photo above shows two ferries shuttling between Quebec and Lévis through the ice in winter 2024. It doesn’t take much to immobilize a ferry in ice, but this year the layer is fairly thin due to a very mild January.

Practicing for the canoe race at the Quebec City Carnival 2024
Practicing for the canoe race at the Quebec City Carnival 2024

Taking advantage of a ferry crossing that has cleared a section of the St. Lawrence River, a crew is training for the Quebec Winter Carnival’s ice canoe race, which takes place every year between Quebec City and Lévis.

Ferry crossing the St.Lawrence Seaway near Quebec City in winter 2024
Ferry crossing the St.Lawrence Seaway near Quebec City in winter 2024

Above, the ships continue their work at dusk. The routes recently taken by the vessels can be seen. I took the photo from the Dufferin Terrace   with a tripod-mounted Canon 5 DSr camera.

Click on the link for more Winter photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec

The carnival and the Dufferin Terrace slide.

Bonhomme Carnaval on the Dufferin terrace in 2024.
Bonhomme Carnaval on the Dufferin terrace in 2024.

Bonhomme Carnaval regularly strolls along the Dufferin Terrace in Old Quebec to greet passers-by, and he never fails to attract many curious onlookers who rush to give him a hug. Further along the terrace is the famous slide, so popular with tourists. You have to queue for a long time before you can get your place on a toboggan.

The slide of the Dufferin terrace during the Quebec City winter carnival 2024.
The slide of the Dufferin terrace during the Quebec City winter carnival 2024.

The photo above shows the Dufferin Terrace slide in the early evening. I used a tripod to keep the ISO at 200 for a sharper image.

The Dufferin Terrace slide during the winter Carnival in Quebec City.
The Dufferin Terrace slide during the winter Carnival in Quebec City.

You can see the fun in the children’s and adults’ eyes when full speed is reached. For the photo above, the focus was taken on a precise point on the slide before the festival-goers were visible in the camera lens. When people reached the predetermined spot, I triggered the shutter. This made it easier for the autofocus system to focus on a fast-moving target.

Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec

Going out at Carnaval de Québec 2024.

Get out and move at the Québec Winter Carnival!
Get out and move at the Québec Winter Carnival!

This passer-by faces the high winds near Quebec City’s Dufferin Terrace. Behind her, the Québec Winter Carnival is advertised, taking place between January 25 and February 11, 2024. The ad invites people to get outdoors, using a local expression: “Déguédine pis sors“, which roughly translates as “Stop procrastinating and go play outside!

Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Winter on my blog.