A roll arcus cloud in development ahead of a thunderstorm approaching Quebec in 2012
In the “Improve your pictures” section of this web site, there is a page titled “Photography and weather” . In few days, this page will hold about twenty pictures and information that can help photographers profit from the best that nature has to offer. The picture above represents a roll arcus cloud in development that is preceding a violent thunderstorm that was approaching Quebec City in 2012. The most interesting clouds were formed as the system was moving over the Val-Bélair hills near the airport.
An evening in the Petit-Champlain, Old Quebec 2014
Those two pictures have been added recently in the “photo galleries” section above. I take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays and hope that 2015 will be the year when some political leaders will finally “see the light” and start working seriously at reducing the carbon foot print of their country.
View from our hotel room in Schwanden, Switzerland 2013
Here are some of the pictures recently added to the Europe photo gallery. Schwanden, in Switzerland, was a superb discovery as the hotel was in the countryside but at a very reasonable distance from a big city like Bernes. This is an HDR picture, as the contrasts were just too important between the shadows under the balcony and the natural light of the sky. The Schwanden picture represents in fact five shots each taken with a different exposure. Photomatix is the software used to mix together all the pictures. Have a good visit in the photo galleries!
This flower is part of the new pictures added in the “Photo galleries” section. The photo was taken during spring 2012 in the parc du Bois-de-Coulonge, in Québec, with a Canon 5D MKII. I include the technical details, for the photographers who could be interested: speed 1/80 sec., aperture 5.0, ISO 100, focal 110.0 mm, Mode WB auto, Mode AF Autofocus One-Shot, lens Canon 70-200 mm F2.8L IS II USM, RAW file. There were other tulips all around but I chose to isolate one flower for maximum effect.
Here is a quick update regarding some additions of the last few weeks. Of course I continue to publish “the real stories as pilot and FSS” (so far 7 have been published out of 80). The most improved section is the photo gallery of the Canadian provinces (at least 30 pictures have been added). In the virtual flights section, I’ve added a flight with a glider (in the standard flights) and a flight with an helicopter landing on a cruise ship (challenging flights section). Coming soon, a little review on a surprising book: “The basic laws of human stupidity”. Here are three of the recently added pictures. Have a good visit!
Empress Hotel at dusk, Victoria Harbor, Canada 2014
Photoshop edition of a house, Fisherman’s Wharf, Victoria, Canada 2014
Photo of a part of Banff downtown, Alberta, Canada 2014
Montreal, 2012. Juste à temps pour prendre cette dernière photo, avant la démolition du bâtiment.
I was lucky to be able to take this picture. Being in Montreal for a winter photography session with a Canon 5D MKII, I went by a street where some employees were busy demolishing a building. There was an interesting scene to be taken but I had to get much closer before I could start shooting. The site was fenced and under surveillance while workers were active, so the access was forbidden.
As lunch time was approaching, I decided to wait a bit, hoping that the workers would leave the site for a quick bite. I was expecting the security guard to accompany the group and forget about locking the fence. That’s exactly what happened. As soon as the last employee had disappeared, I was on the site with my photo equipment. By the end of the afternoon, nothing was left of the building. I hope that you like this picture, as much for the scene as for the small murale done by the unknown artist,murale that is today only a souvenir.
1978. During my first trip to Europe , I am lucky enough to capture this picture of Concorde at Charles de Gaulle Airport , France, from the window of the Air Canada Boeing B-747 that flew us over the Atlantic. The arrival was punctuated by a missed approach due to adverse weather conditions.
1980. I fulfill my dream to fly a plane and sign-up for a private pilot course in St- Jean -sur- Richelieu. My first solo flight , which means without an instructor, takes place on a Grumman Cheetah (C-GVXO) on a sunny day. The landing is smooth and I can’t believe I will finally be able to fly unaccompanied. A dream come true !
As the private pilot course continues, a change in aircraft model is required to practice incipient spins because the Cheetah does not meet the criterias required by flight schools. If we would find ourselves in a complete spin during the exercise, it would take too long to correct. So a Cessna C-150 (C-GGNK) will be used . The transition is strange as students have to suddenly enter a whole new aircraft for this exercise only. Feelings and views are completely different.
Cessna C150 C-GGNK en 1980 à St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
All instructors do not have the same luck, one of them and his student eventually experience a real engine failure during take-off on their Cessna C-150. Fortunately, no one is killed or injured . However , the damage is considerable. The photo below shows what is left of the plane.
A Cessna C-150 following an engine failure at take-off. St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, 1981.
(Next story: Accidental night flying…without night rating).
The content of the “photography” section is now similar in both languages of the site. The same applies for the virtual links of the “flight simulation” section. This picture, taken during the summer of 2014 in Victoria, British Columbia, is now part of a collection that will increase progressively.
Tripod,16-35mm lens and polarizing filter were necessary in order to take this picture.
