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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

A quick outing in foggy weather in Quebec City

The Château Frontenac in the evening with low clouds during Spring 2026
The Château Frontenac in the evening with low clouds during Spring 2026

In Quebec City, we had several consecutive days of rain in April while there was still snow on the ground. The warm rain melts the snow quickly, saturating the air with moisture and leading to fog and low-hanging clouds. Night photography enthusiasts know that this is an opportunity not to be missed for capturing special effects.

In the photo above, you can see low-hanging clouds above the Château Frontenac in Old Quebec. Fortunately, the central tower remains clearly visible. This is the perfect moment to capture the light reflecting off the clouds and onto the street.

Photographic Composition

Train in foggy weather in Quebec City during Spring 2026.
Train in foggy weather in Quebec City during Spring 2026.

Tonight, the wind is blowing less strongly near Gilmour Hill than in the Port of Québec. A persistent fog covers this section of Champlain Boulevard.

For the composition, I use the stationary railcar as the focal point between the lit road on the left and the headland on the right. It serves as a link for an imaginary diagonal line that cuts the image in half, running from the lower left corner to the upper right corner of the frame.

The Boulevard Champlain in Quebec City in fog, April 2026
The Boulevard Champlain in Quebec City in fog, April 2026

The fog softens and unifies the elements of the scene above. The photographic composition takes into account the path that guides the eye toward the center of the photo. There, a strategically placed fir tree prevents the gaze from wandering off toward the horizon. On either side of the image are two contrasting elements, differing in height, color, and state (nature vs. industry).

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

Categories
Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Paddleboarding in Jacques-Cartier National Park

A paddleboard enthusiast on the Jacques-Cartier River in Quebec 2025
A paddleboard enthusiast on the Jacques-Cartier River in Quebec 2025

An excellent spot for paddleboarding (SUP) in the Quebec City area is located at kilometer 25 (EKWATEK) of Jacques-Cartier National Park. There are no services as such at this location, but a large free parking lot provides easy access to the riverbank, which is only a few meters away.

The natural surroundings are breathtaking. Bring a good camera (or at least a cell phone) in a waterproof bag. There are several splendid spots for landscape photography.

As summer progresses, the water level drops. However, even in fall, the river remains deep enough to enjoy your sport in complete peace of mind. At first, paddleboarders follow the gentle current of the Jacques-Cartier River southward. So there’s no need to paddle vigorously! You can just let yourself go. You’ll know when it’s time to turn back when you see small waterfalls in the distance. To avoid damaging the board, you turn around.

On the return trip, the effort required is greater, but not excessive. In strong north winds, bring a paddle to which you can attach an oar in place of the handle, giving you the feeling of paddling like a kayaker. Sitting or kneeling on the board, you will return to your starting point more quickly.

In the event of a southerly wind, the energy required to return is minimal. This allows you to make several round trips and spend a few hours on the river without getting exhausted!

A beautiful summer day in Jacques-Cartier National Park
A beautiful summer day in Jacques-Cartier National Park

On your way to kilometer 25, you can admire several scenes like this. The surroundings are magnificent! Green, yellow, and orange are the colors of autumn. There is very little red in the area. The orange color is concentrated mainly at the beginning of autumn, while the yellow persists much longer. The photo above was taken at the beginning of August.

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

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Environment

The Scorpion Stick Insect at the Montreal Insectarium.

A "Giant prickly stick insect" is on my hand at the Montreal insectarium.
A “Giant prickly stick insect” is on my hand at the Montreal insectarium.

What a wonderful experience this week at the Montreal Insectarium! While we were visiting one of the pavilions, an attendant offered to hold a Extatosoma tiaratum, also known as tiara snail, scorpion stick or Australian walking stick.

The insect gets its scorpion-like reputation from the fact that it curls its tail in the same way as a scorpion when it feels in danger. But it doesn’t sting. You can then put your hand upside down and it will grab you effortlessly. This is its natural position under a branch.

As someone who rarely carries his cell phone around with me, I was delighted to have the opportunity to take a photo of him that day!

Part of the insect collection at the Montreal insectarium.
Part of the insect collection at the Montreal insectarium.

The diversity of shapes and colours of insects in the environment is astounding. Nature never ceases to amaze.

Superb specimens at the Montreal insectarium.
Superb specimens at the Montreal insectarium.

In addition to the central pavilion, home to a large number of colourful insects, visitors can also take a stroll through the butterfly aviary. The butterflies wander around the visitors, but it is forbidden to touch them.

Among Quebec’s tourist attractions, the Montreal insectarium is well worth a visit.

Click on the link for more articles and photos on the environment in my blog.