Tag: Old Quebec

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

The umbrellas of Old Quebec.

Series of colorful umbrellas in Old Quebec, 2024
Series of colorful umbrellas in Old Quebec, 2024

Umbrellas cover part of Rue du Cul-de-Sac in Quebec City. Most tourists are unaware of this installation when they set foot in the Petit Champlain   area. Surprised, they whip out their cell phones and capture the moment as best they can. Since they’re just passing through, most don’t have the luxury of choosing the most appropriate light for their multiple shots.

The situation is different for someone who has easy and frequent access to the location. They can wait for the “blue hour” on a fine summer evening, and at the same time capture the golden hue of the lights in front of the many restaurants lining the alleyway.

The main challenge in taking the above shot, however, is the sharp contrasts in light.

For example, the tourists in the foreground are standing in the half-light, but the viewer still wants to see the details. Just above the people, the lighting contrasts sharply with the shaded area at the bottom of the photo. It’s hard for the camera to decide which brightness to prefer.

To top it all off, the soft blue light of late evening illuminates the umbrellas from above, while the restaurant lights illuminate the installation from below.

Image processing software is used to optimize the information contained in the RAW file of the photo, helping to highlight the different areas of brightness in the scene while avoiding areas that are too light or too dark.

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

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Photos of Quebec

McWilliam Street in Old Quebec at night.

Corner of Saint-Stanilas and Saint-Jean streets in Old Québec in the evening Summer 2024.
Corner of Saint-Stanilas and Saint-Jean streets in Old Québec in the evening Summer 2024.

The photo above shows an evening view of the intersection between rue Saint-Stanislas and rue Saint-Jean in Old Quebec. For several months a year, a section of rue Saint-Jean is reserved for pedestrians only. This attracts many tourists. Just behind this popular street is McWilliam Street, with a radically different feel, especially late at night.

The McWilliam street behind the Cochon Dingue restaurant in Québec City.
The McWilliam street behind the Cochon Dingue restaurant in Québec City.

To produce an HDR effect of the location, I plan to stack five photos. I set up the tripod and begin the session. Just as I’m about to finish, a door suddenly opens. A man steps out and lights a cigarette.

I need to capture this very brief moment when the individual is just a stealthy shadow in motion with the intense fluorescent lighting in the background. In this rather dark alleyway, this could generate an interesting effect.

The smoker asks me what I’m doing. It’s an employee on break working for the popular Cochon Dingue restaurant on Rue St-Jean. What a contrast between the modern façade and the back of the same building on McWilliam Street.

At home, HDR processing begins. But it’s impossible to use all five shots together as planned initially. The software combines a closed and an open door at the same time. The result is a kind of butchered wicket door, with almost no light filtering through.

I abandon the idea of an HDR montage and fall back on the single photo where the man is standing in front of the door. I wasn’t counting on this presence, but it adds a touch of humanity to a scene that’s still not very inviting.

Life often presents photography enthusiasts with unexpected opportunities. It’s all about being flexible and capturing the moment, even if it’s not part of the initial planning. Click on the link for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Summer on my blog.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Old Quebec in photos (1)

Old Quebec during Spring 2024
Old Quebec during Spring 2024

Above, a view of the Sainte-Famille Street in Old Quebec with, on the right, a section of the government office of the Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques.  

The curb in the lower left corner of the photo serves as a prompt to integrate the scene. The door covers the first right-hand third of the photographic composition, preventing the observer from moving too quickly into the background. The rounded shape of the door and the old stones manage to occupy almost 50% of the image, while the rest shows an entire artery, mountains and a portion of the sky.

To energize the scene, I waited for an automobile to drive down the street.

The Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec and the Price building in Old Québec.
The Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec and the Price building in Old Québec.

Dating back to 1647, this Basilica-Cathedral has been renovated on several occasions and includes a historic crypt and holy door, attracting believers from all over the world.

Note that in this shot, the close-up of the tower does not prevent us from obtaining perfectly vertical lines, which are usually difficult to achieve in photography. This result is due to the use of a Canon EF 11–24 mm F/4L USM ultra-wide-angle lens, the only one on the market that allows such results without correction and without the fisheye effect taking over.

The Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec in Old Quebec.
The Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Québec in Old Quebec.

Above is the Basilica-Cathedral seen from another angle.

Click on the links for more photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans in Summer on my blog and for photos of the province of Quebec and Canada.

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

An HDR photo of the Dauphine Redoubt in Quebec City.

Dauphine Redoubt buildings in Quebec City, 2024.
Dauphine Redoubt buildings in Quebec City, 2024.

The HDR photo of the Dauphine Redoubt above comprises seven pictures with different apertures. The Photomatix software stacks them one on top of the other to create a single shot. This allows the darker regions to stand out, while controlling the lighter areas as much as possible.

For a successful effect, the following factors need to be taken into account: type of camera (ideally full frame), use of an appropriate wide-angle lens, focus, time of day, cloud types, tripod, extension cable, camera mirror vibrations, wind, visibility, photographic grain, depth of field, moving obstacles in front of the camera and photographic composition.

I use a Canon 5 DSr with a Canon EF 11–24 mm F/4L super-wide-angle lens. Focusing with the camera’s backlit screen improves accuracy. It is better to avoid nighttime and take advantage of the blue hour. The clouds don’t prevent the capture of a distant background, and allow the city lights to be reflected in the sky.

I opt for a sturdy tripod. Its extra weight cancels out minor jolts and supports fairly heavy photographic equipment. The extension cable prevents the photographer from touching the camera when taking seven photos.

For mirror-equipped cameras like the Canon 5 DSr, it is important to activate the mirror lock function. This means that vibrations caused by the mirror rotation will have two seconds to fade before the actual picture is taken. A light wind also reduces the chance of vibrations.

Moderate visibility allows better graduation of colours and reflections. Tonight, the mist plays its part well. By using a tripod, I greatly limit the photographic grain. ISO is therefore set at 200. Depth of field is not a problem, as the tripod will prevent movement caused by long exposure.

As many people visit the site in the evening, I try to take each of the seven photos between two crosswalks. This isn’t always possible, but Photomatix can remove “ghosts” when compiling the shots. There is, however, a limit to this function.

The final point concerns photographic composition. The photo above is divided into three roughly equal horizontal zones. Oblique lines on either side at the bottom of the photo direct the eye towards the centre of the image. The five lights of the Dauphine Redoubt and those of the city capture the attention. All the shots have visible details and are not lost in the darkness. For better balance, the composition ignores another imposing building at the right of the scene.

These are just some of the precautions taken when capturing the scene in HDR night photography.

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

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Photos of Quebec

Young woman in the night in Quebec City.

Young woman in the night in Quebec City.
Young woman in the night in Quebec City.

In photography, it’s not just planning that makes for interesting results. Luck also plays an important role. But you need to get out frequently, in all kinds of light and weather conditions. The photo above is a good example of it.

I’m in a district of Old Quebec that is shunned by tourists late at night, because it’s less well lit. The location is close to Rue St-Jean, a popular thoroughfare lined with restaurants and other businesses. The contrast in traffic is striking.

I visited the area to try my luck with HDR photography. The photo session being over, I am preparing to head home quietly as nighttime falls.

Suddenly, a woman on a bicycle stops under a lamppost. The scene, with its plants, old bricks, neon sign and play of shadows, looks promising. But a quick reaction is needed, because with so little light, even the slightest movement will result in a blurred picture. Fortunately, the woman consults her cell phone, which immobilizes her for a few seconds.

HDR photography is out of the question here. She’ll never be still long enough in this subdued light for me to take multiple pics with different apertures. I snap twice, quickly. The young woman puts her phone away and disappears from the scene. There’s only one quality shot, the other being too blurred.

This photo session shows me once again the importance of getting out frequently to try one’s luck. Combined with an acceptable reaction time and the right equipment for working in low light, you’re likely to come home with one of life’s unexpected gifts.

Click on the link for more summer photos of Quebec City and Île d’Orléans 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 Europe Photos of Quebec

In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Parisians chat in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower
Parisians chat in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower

Ten years ago this year, I took this photo of Parisian life in relaxation mode. I wasn’t interested in the main subject that we find on every postcard, but in the normal parallel life of citizens living close to such a well-known tourist attraction.

In the photo above, these Parisians are taking it easy on their barge moored along the Seine, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

A relax evening for local citizens living near the Château Frontenac.
A relax evening for local citizens living near the Château Frontenac.

The same is true for Quebec City residents living near the Château Frontenac. They find a way to reserve a little peace and quiet for themselves, away from the tourists, quietly seated on their verandas at the end of the day.

Click on the links for more photos of Europe or Québec City and île d’Orléans on my blog.

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Photos of Quebec Ship photography

The Explora 1 cruise ship in Quebec City.

A "pilote du St-Laurent" leaves the Quebec harbour and heads towards the Explora 1 cruise ship in 2023.
A “pilote du St-Laurent” leaves the Quebec harbour and heads towards the Explora 1 cruise ship in 2023.

As the St. Lawrence River is a fairly difficult waterway to navigate, Canadian law obliges the captains of certain large vessels to accept local pilots, who are fully conversant with the particularities of the seaway, on board for the riskiest journeys.

Above, a Laurentian pilotage authority’s boat leaves the port of Québec to join the cruise ship Explora 1 before it enters the most demanding passages.

Once the Quebec pilot has helped the Explora 1 captain, the ship continues on its way to Quebec City, rounding the Île d’Orléans, as shown in the photo below. After playing its role as a sea cab, the little boat belonging to the St. Lawrence Pilots pulls away from the ship and returns to the Bassin Louise in the Port of Québec.

The Explora 1 cruise ship sails around île d'Orléans and a "pilote du Saint-Laurent" comes back to the Québec harbour in 2023.
The Explora 1 cruise ship sails around île d’Orléans and a “pilote du Saint-Laurent” comes back to the Québec harbour in 2023.
Returning to Quebec harbour after a change of pilot in the Explora 1 cruise ship. 2023.
Returning to Quebec harbour after a change of pilot in the Explora 1 cruise ship. 2023.

Serena Melani, “the first woman in the world to steer a cruise ship out of a shipyard“, ensures a smooth approach for the Explora 1 to Pier 30 in the Port of Québec. This brand-new vessel completed its sea trials in April 2023, and Quebec City is among the first destinations scheduled for 2023.

The Explora 1 approaching Quebec City with Mont St-Anne in the background 2023
The Explora 1 approaching Quebec City with Mont St-Anne in the background 2023

Every captain would love to dock at the popular Pier 22, as it offers a perfect view of the Château Frontenac. But on this fine October day, the Norwegian Sky is already occupying the spot.

The Norwegian Sky cruise ship docked in Quebec City.
The Norwegian Sky cruise ship docked in Quebec City.

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