Tag: photography

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Winter in Quebec City and the approach of Christmas.

On a beautiful day in December 2025, I spent a few hours in Old Quebec and its surroundings to take some pictures on the eve of the holidays.

Two pedestrians in Old Quebec during winter 2025.
Two pedestrians in Old Quebec during winter 2025.

At this time of year, the German market in Quebec City attracts residents from neighboring towns and tourists alike. Today, it’s -10°C and very windy, but people are still out and about.

Since photography requires the use of a tripod and often involves standing still, the priority is to dress as warmly as possible.

The photo below, showing part of a kiosk at the German market in Quebec City, was taken with a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM fixed lens. Why use a 300mm lens in an area where nothing really needs to be zoomed in on?

A stand in the Quebec German market in Old Quebec 2025
A stand in the Quebec German market in Old Quebec 2025

I challenged myself to work only with a 300mm telephoto lens for part of the evening, in order to isolate scenes that my eye would not automatically see. This method sometimes leads to beautiful visual discoveries, such as the close-up of the kiosk above.

The Christmas German market of Quebec City and the Glühwein Bar 2025
The Christmas German market of Quebec City and the Glühwein Bar 2025

In contrast to the previous photo, the above result cannot be achieved without the help of a wide-angle lens. A cell phone solved the problem of low light and captured this winter scene from the German market. It even allowed the “Glühwein Bar” to be included in the shot.

This year, the Alsace pavilion at the German market is still offering hot food and drinks, but like many businesses, it is ignoring official inflation and significantly exceeding it. Be sure to read the menu and associated costs carefully before ordering, or you may be in for a big surprise.

The Grande-Allée and some Christmas decorations in Quebec City 2025.
The Grande-Allée and some Christmas decorations in Quebec City 2025.

A final nighttime photograph shows a small section of Grande-Allée with some Christmas decorations, with the Le Concorde hotel highlighted in blue in the background. This part of Quebec City has received a lot of attention from retailers.

I will explore the city again in a few days to bring back more memories of this Christmas atmosphere before it’s too late.

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

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Photos of Quebec

A beautiful trip between Matane, Le Bic, and Berthier-sur-Mer.

September moon in Matane, Québec 2025
September moon in Matane, Québec 2025

Leaving Tadoussac, the road continues along the Côte-Nord (North Shore) and we pass through Forestville to reach Baie-Comeau and take the ferry to Matane, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

We arrive in Matane at dusk, just in time to set up the camera equipment on the beach. There’s no way I can take the photo above from the ferry, because a long exposure requires absolute stillness. I want to capture this beautiful September moon rising above the houses.

I miss a few shots by relying on autofocus. I quickly change my photography technique. Liveview (Live View) mode and manual focus will improve the sharpness.

Fishing boat at dusk in Matane, Quebec 2025
Fishing boat at dusk in Matane, Quebec 2025

The next day, a boat leaves Matane just before nightfall for a fishing expedition off the St. Lawrence River. The relative calm of the waters offers interesting reflections. The low light and distance of the boat require the use of a high-quality lens, in this case the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM.

On the way back from Matane to Quebec City, a stop at Bic National Park allows us to take a few photos, including this fishing boat returning to port. The sailors’ departure time varies constantly depending on the river tides.

Fishing boat in the Parc national du Bic, Québec 2025
Fishing boat in the Parc national du Bic, Québec 2025

Another location well known for its beauty is the municipality of Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer. Below, the colorful houses along the beach attract the attention of tourists and contribute to the area’s reputation. I preferred to capture an overall effect by including vegetation in the foreground. The few small low cumulus clouds also add to the dynamic of the scene.

The village of Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer and its colorful houses.
The village of Sainte-Luce-sur-Mer and its colorful houses.

One last photo shows the sunset in Berthier-sur-Mer. This area, along with the Kamouraska and Notre-Dame-du-Portage regions, regularly offers exceptional panoramas when the sun sets. So much so that some photos can look like they’ve been retouched.

I saw reds and purples so pronounced that it became obvious that the photographer would have been accused of oversaturating his shots.

Sunset at Berthier-sur-Mer en 2024.
Sunset at Berthier-sur-Mer en 2024.

After an excellent meal at the beach restaurant in Berthier-sur-Mer, we finally reach our final destination, the beautiful city of Quebec City.

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

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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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Graphic novels and comics

Author Guy Delisle’s superb new graphic novel

The new graphic novel from Guy Delisle: Pour une fraction de seconde.
The new graphic novel from Guy Delisle: Pour une fraction de seconde.

Guy Delisle clearly hits the nail on the head with his new graphic novel “Pour une fraction de seconde – La vie mouvementée d’Eadweard Muybridge”. The book introduces us to a colorful character, famous for having advanced photography by leaps and bounds through the study of animal movement. These innovations consequently led to the development of cinema.

Guy Delisle’s drawings and script work perfectly. This time, the teaching of the story clearly takes over, but without ever boring the reader – on the contrary. A subject that could have turned out to be dry becomes fun and full of surprises. This book is a little more serious than the author’s usual offerings, but in a relaxed, well-presented form.

When someone stands out in an astonishing way in a field, we often hear the expression: “He was born to do that”. This is certainly not the case with Muybridge. And yet, he succeeds where many fail or lack the tenacity and character to face adversity.

Before achieving fame for his success in photography, the main character took many paths, some of them seemingly contradictory. He started out as a bookseller and became entrepreneur, genius inventor, assassin, businessman, writer and lecturer. He traveled extensively to further his projects. That took him to England, the United States, France, Germany and Italy.

A page from Guy Delisle's new graphic novel "Pour une fraction de seconde"
A page from Guy Delisle’s new graphic novel “Pour une fraction de seconde”

As a result of Guy Delisle’s reputation as a cartoonist in Quebec and France, he knows he can choose any subject he is passionate about without risking to lose his public. There is undoubtedly a lot of research in his new book. In a way, he’s doing us all a favor, as we learn a bit of history while we’re entertained.

Along the way, you’ll meet the likes of Tesla, Edison and the Lumière brothers, and discover who was behind the name “Stanford” at the famous American university.

Happy reading!

Title: Pour une fraction de seconde — La vie mouvementée d’Eadweard Muybridge

Author: Guy Delisle

Publisher: © 2024 Éditions Delcourt

ISBN: 978-2-413-08585-0

Click on the link for other graphic novels and comics on my blog

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Old Quebec in photos (2)

Old Quebec heading to St-Paul street.
Old Quebec heading to St-Paul street.

Old meets new in this photo of Old Quebec. On the right, the headquarters of the Norplex group, real estate developer. This is the former Canadian Bank of Commerce building, designed in 1914 by architect V. D. Horsburgh. The rounded shape is reminiscent of the Bank of England’s Tivoli.

In the foreground, the sculpture-fountain La Vivrière, a more modern creation inaugurated in 1995 on Place de la FAO to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the FAO in Quebec City in 1945, under the aegis of Lester B. Pearson.

In terms of photographic composition, the sculpted waves in the foreground gradually direct the viewer’s eye towards the main building at the top right of the photo. The rounded columns are only straight thanks to the use of Canon’s ultra-wide-angle EF 11-24mm F/4L lens.

Quiet evening in Old Quebec during Summer 2024
Quiet evening in Old Quebec during Summer 2024

Above, a view of the newly restored Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville. In the distance, the tower of the Price building. Rotating spotlights create moving shadows for the couple in the foreground.  

Old Quebec buildings seen from Côte de la Montagne, 2024.
Old Quebec buildings seen from Côte de la Montagne, 2024.

Above, a five-shot HDR photo of buildings in Old Quebec. In the foreground, a wall stands at the intersection of Port Dauphin and Côte-de-la-Montagne streets. In the middle ground, we see the shops and buildings on rue De Buade. In the background, the Price Building, the only skyscraper permitted in Old Quebec.

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

Autumn colours on île d’Orléans.

Autumn colours on île d'Orléans, 2024
Autumn colours on île d’Orléans, 2024

This photo was taken in autumn from the wooden tower at the eastern end of Île d’Orléans. Late in the season, there are fewer leaves left on the trees, but the sun hitting the vegetation from the side breathes new life into the landscape.

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

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

The full harvest moon of September 2024.

The full harvest moon rises in the Matane sky in September 2024.
The full harvest moon rises in the Matane sky in September 2024.

The photo above was taken in Matane, Quebec, in September 2024. It’s more a matter of chance than planning. I was on the beach photographing the sunset, and when the sky got too dark, I turned around to see if there was anything interesting left to capture. And I came across this full harvest moon rising in the firmament.

Photographing a full moon is a good challenge. We often capture only an almost white, very bright disk, losing the nuances of colour and the details of the lunar geography.

The advice available on the Internet on how to successfully shoot a full moon with a normal camera goes in all directions. But one thing’s for sure: to improve your chances of success, it’s best not to wait until nightfall, because then the very high luminosity of the star becomes impossible to attenuate while still retaining a view of the planetary topography.

Most of the time, the choice is between an excellent photo of a full moon, but a very dark surrounding earth relief where nothing is discernible, or a visible earth relief of acceptable quality, but a moon that represents nothing more than a large, white circle of light.

The method that works for the photo above is as follows: you have to be on the spot at the right time, i.e., during the blue hour and not the whole night. So, in my case, I was lucky because it wasn’t planned.

You need a tripod and an extension cable. There are two reasons to avoid long exposures: firstly, the moon is a moving object. The longer the exposure, the more the disk moves. You end up with an oval rather than a round moon. A long exposure also picks up more light, and the moon’s disk turns completely white.

Full harvest moon rising in Matane, Québec 2024
Full harvest moon rising in Matane, Québec 2024

Compromises become necessary. Trying to get a perfect moon and foreground at exactly the right brightness is quite a challenge. By the time every attempt has been made to achieve a flawless result, the moon is already too high in the sky. We have to act quickly.

We’re advised to lower the ISO to 200, but if I do that, I’m increasing the exposure time and introducing too much light into the camera. Instead, I use a higher ISO to reduce exposure, and use all the camera functions likely to reduce the amount of light entering the camera: higher shutter speed, if necessary, strong negative exposure compensation, and so on.

By not overdoing the settings and using RAW files, there’s still enough flexibility to bring out the foreground, in this case the houses lining Matane’s beaches and the surrounding lights.

In short, shoot during the blue hour, act quickly, accept compromises, limit exposure time in every way possible and use RAW files to facilitate post-production work.

Click on the link for more photos from the province of Quebec 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 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.