Snow blower at work on Île d’Orléans in the winter of 2026
On Île d’Orléans, snow blowers don’t stop clearing snow when a vehicle approaches from the opposite direction. They blow the snow across the road with enough force that you can quickly pass under the spray without getting too much debris on your car.
House on Île d’Orléans with Mont St. Anne in the background
The sun hits the trees sideways in the late afternoon on Île d’Orléans. From the Sainte-Famille parish, you can capture the island’s houses with an interesting backdrop: the ski slopes of Mont St-Anne.
Protest in Quebec City against Iran’s mullahs
Even in freezing temperatures, citizens of Iranian origin are demonstrating in Old Quebec against the dictatorial regime of the mullahs in Iran. All this at a time when an American fleet is positioning itself for a military intervention in Iran.
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
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
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.
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.
After an excellent meal at the beach restaurant in Berthier-sur-Mer, we finally reach our final destination, the beautiful city of Quebec City.
Ferry Baie Sainte-Catherine Tadoussac in the province of Québec, 2025
The ideal time to visit Tadoussac, the fjord, and the surrounding area is in May and June until Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, then immediately after Labor Day.
If travellers decide to go there during the summer anyway, they will see tourists everywhere.
View from Hotel Tadoussac in the province of Québec, 2025
If you can, book one or two nights at the Tadoussac Hotel, preferably with a room overlooking the river. In the morning, the space will be much brighter than a room facing the backyard. The hotel has undergone extensive renovations, which will continue discreetly in 2025.
The hotel is close to everything, and you can explore many local attractions without having to use your car. The docks are also a ten-minute walk away when it’s time to take a whale-watching cruise.
Beluga whale sculpture in front of the interpretation center in Tadoussac, Quebec 2025
Numerous chairs on the grounds in front of the hotel Tadoussac allow guests to enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding landscape and the St. Lawrence River. The hotel restaurant is decent and features a beautiful glass roof. However, don’t expect the same level of culinary experience as Chez Truchon in La Malbaie.
As for the tourist attraction of booking a cruise on the St. Lawrence River to watch humpback whales and beluga whales on the AML Grand Fleuve, I would advise you to pay the extra fee that gives you exclusive access to the upper deck of the boat. You will be much more comfortable there and able to take pictures of the marine mammals than if you find yourself crammed in with dozens of other curious people on the main deck.
Fin whale in the St. Lawrence river near Tadoussac, Québec 2025
However, I don’t think it’s worth paying extra to sit in the VIP lounge and have a glass of wine. If alcohol is your priority, skip the cruise and stop at one of the bars along the beach instead. You’ll save a lot of money.
Another tip: a cell phone won’t be very userul for taking pictures. In general, belugas and whales are not close enough to the ships for cell phones to capture them clearly. If you want to bring back a high-quality digital souvenir, bring a decent camera with a telephoto lens that can crop images without too much degradation.
Cloud formations near Tadoussac and the Saguenay River 2025
I can’t stress this enough: even if it’s warm or cool in Tadoussac when you set out on the river, the temperature will drop significantly once you’re out on the open water, sometimes by as much as 10 degrees Celsius. A hat and several layers of clothing will allow you to truly enjoy the experience and stay outside the cabin throughout the trip. Those who are less well-dressed focus on protecting themselves from the cold, stay inside the cabin, and see practically nothing.
KLM MD-11 airborne from Rotterdam The Hague virtual airport in Microsoft Flight Simulation
After Holland, France is stage 22 of the flight simulation tour of the world. The first airport of interest will be Paris-Le Bourget (LFPB), more specifically the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace du Bourget. Since this is a historical visit, we choose the aircraft accordingly.
So, departing from Rotterdam, passengers board an MD-11 in KLM colors. The last flight of KLM’s MD-11 passenger aircraft in the real world took place in 2014, departing from Montreal to Amsterdam.
Today, several MD-11s are still flying, but only in cargo versions. Airlines are progressively replacing them by more modern aircrafts.
TFDI produced this high-quality virtual aircraft. An updated version has further improved the aircraft. It can be seen below flying at 13,000 feet.
A KLM MD-11 climbs for FL210 towards Paris-Le Bourget (LFPB) with MSFS
Below, the MD-11 reaches flight level FL210. The virtual weather based on METAR reports from Rotterdam and Paris indicates no serious problems for the approach and landing.
Virtual TFDI KLM MD-11 about to reach FL210 enroute to (LFPB) Paris Le Bourget airport
For this flight, the MD-11 is carrying only about 100 passengers. The runway at Le Bourget offers plenty of room for maneuvering when landing such an aircraft. Thirty-five degrees of flaps will therefore be sufficient for the final approach to runway 25.
The approach axis is unusual in that it is offset by 26 degrees from the center of the runway. As Jean-Pierre Otelli so aptly puts it in his book, ” Piloter en sécurité ” : “If the localizer were in line with the runway, the final approaches at Le Bourget would pass 1,000 feet above Terminal 1 at Roissy” […]. Aircraft landing on 25 must make a final 26-degree turn after following the localizer.”
Le Bourget is not the only airport where a serious turn is necessary on final approach. We obviously remember the Hong Kong Checker Board Approach for runway 13 at the former Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. At that airport, the final turn was not 26 degrees, but 47 degrees.
Finally, we can also mention Ronald Reagan Airport, where the approach for runway 19 requires a final turn of 36 degrees to avoid the area surrounding the White House.
KLM MD-11 on final for the virtual airport Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) with Microsoft Flight Simulator
The MD-11 taxis down the runway after a smooth landing. After switching off the autopilot for the final approach, an alarm sounds in the cockpit. Even after the plane has touched down, no matter what I do to silence the alarm, nothing works. I still have several hours of study ahead of me to master this aircraft.
Virtual KLM MD-11 taxiing on rwy 27 Paris Le Bourget airport after landing with MSFS
The MD-11 taxis to a makeshift parking area near the museum after crossing the disused runway.
A KLM MD-11 de KLM arrives at the Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) airport with Microsoft Flight Simulator
Le Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace du Bourget (The Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget).
Virtual Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace du Bourget with Microsoft Flight Simulator MSFS
The next stage of our flight around the world with Microsoft Flight Simulator will also take place in France. The current weather conditions will once again dictate the choice of aircraft and destination.
After visiting the La Malbaie region, the Saguenay Fjord, Bagotville, and La Baie, all of which were featured in my previous blog post, we continue our journey to Saint-Gédéon, along the Lac-Saint-Jean, Alma, and then back to La Baie at nightfall.
Lac-Saint-Jean, September 2025
Lac-Saint-Jean has a circumference of 263 kilometers and covers an area of 1,003 square kilometers. When we were there, the wind was blowing moderately, and it’s easy to imagine the swells that boaters must face in the middle of this immense expanse of water. Some sources cite waves up to 4 meters high during extreme weather conditions.
Hay bales near St-Gédéon, Lac Saint-Jean 2025
In September, farmers store hay bales. Around 6 p.m. in the Saint-Gédéon region near Lac-Saint-Jean, the sun hits the field from the side, beautifully illuminating the hay still outside. An excellent opportunity for landscape photography.
Just before nightfall and our departure for Alma, we take a few shots of the wind turbines near the lake. The photographic composition requires a vertical frame.
Wind turbines at dusk in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec 2025
In Alma, we take the opportunity to eat at the restaurant owned by Mario Tremblay, a star hockey player for the Montreal Canadiens who is now retired. It was well worth the stop! I took a photo of the restaurant entrance where you can see the hockey player in action!
Entrance to Mario Tremblay’s restaurant in Alma
The journey continues in the next article, where we stop in Tadoussac for a whale watching cruise.
Sailboat anchored in the Saguenay Fjord in the province of Québec
Heading up the west coast of Saguenay from Saint-Siméon, you pass through Sagard (home to the Desmarais family’s huge estate and castle) and L’Anse-Saint-Jean. In L’Anse-Saint-Jean, you can book a shuttle for a few hours’ round trip on the Saguenay. This allows you to see Cap Trinité and stop off at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord.
I took the picture above from Baie Éternité. The cliffs rise up to 400 metres. A sailboat has chosen to anchor there for a while.
The Saguenay River at low tide near La Baie, Québec 2025
Just before La Baie, you can walk on the beach at low tide. There are several interesting opportunities for landscape photography, including a lighthouse, mountains, the town at night, and even cruise ships sailing up the Saguenay River in the fall.
Downtown in La Baie, province of Québec 2025
To achieve the above effect in La Baie, I had to remove a few poles and advertisements using digital processing software. The pseudo-HDR method enhances the impact of the clouds by defining them more clearly.
Seals resting on rocks in the Saguenay fjord, Québec 2025
This last photo shows seals resting on the rocks along the Saguenay Fjord. The captain of the ferry was able to approach the cliffs safely because of the great depth of the fjord at this point.
Today, rain and fog disrupt operations at Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport. The conditions are at their minimum for take off and landing. But the captain of this Air Transat’s flight decides to proceed as the weather improves momentarily.
The passenger jet will take off from runway 06. But the airstrip is soaked. When the pilot applies power, we will only see water spray across the entire picture. A better choice is to focus on the A321neo as it taxis slowly.
Photography Tips
Since the sky isn’t particularly captivating due to its uniform gray colour, it becomes imperative to find something else to increase interest to the scene. The runway lights will do the trick. By including them in the foreground of the photo, they add life and frame the aircraft as it joins the runway.
I avoid photographing the plane directly from the side or from behind, as the effect is a bit static. Entering the runway at an angle offers a better alternative. Furthermore, it is not necessary to show the entire fuselage of the Airbus for a good shot.
With just a uniform gray sky, part of the aircraft, and a few runway lights, it becomes possible to produce a shot with more dynamism.
Click on the link for more aviation-related photos on my blog. There are also photo galleries for enthusiasts in the menu.
In September 2025, another edition of Vintage Weekend took place in Quebec City. This year, more than 200 vintage cars were on display on Saint-Paul Street and on the grounds adjacent to Espace Quatre Cent in Quebec City’s Old Port.
Stéphane Lavallée’s 1959 Corvette at Quebec City’s Vintage Weekend
As usual, restaurant owners had their hands full serving the many curious visitors who came to admire the cars. In addition, they had to contend with the presence of travelers who had recently disembarked from the three cruise ships moored in the harbor. The next photo shows the energetic team at Bistro St-Malo hard at work feeding passersby.
The restaurateur of Bistro St-Malo at work on St-Paul Street at Weekend Vintage 2025
This year, musicians from Calgary entertained the crowd with songs from the 1950s. The audience was delighted by the excellent quality of the performance, both in terms of singing and music. The same can be said of the dancers, who took us back in time with a few hits from that era.
Retro dancing on St. Paul Street at the Quebec Vintage Weekend in 2025
Below, cars occupy the space surrounding La Vivrière, a fountain sculpture commemorating the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Gary Lynch’s Hudson Hornet Hollywood 7x at Quebec City’s Vintage Weekend
Burger Heaven Lights on for Service at the Weekend Vintage in Quebec City
Paul Forest’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air with modified color
1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday and Michel Savard at Quebec City’s Vintage Weekend
Above, Michel Savard poses proudly next to his 1952 Oldsmobile Super 88 Holiday. As for André Guillemette, he had original parts shipped from Great Britain to do justice to his 1962 Jaguar Mark II, which can be seen below.
André Guillemette’s 1962 Jaguar Mark II at Quebec City’s 2025 Vintage Weekend
Reflections in Michel Métivier’s 1967 Pontiac GTO at Quebec City’s Vintage Weekend
A final photo shows St. Paul Street with Charles Boisseau’s 1965 Corvette Stingray.
Charles Boisseau’s 1965 Corvette Stingray at Quebec City’s Vintage Weekend
During summer 2025, several large aircraft scheduled to land at Montreal Airport had to divert to Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport (CYQB). Numerous thunderstorms disrupted arrivals and departures at the main airports in the province of Quebec.
The extreme weather in the west gradually moved eastward. This delayed and even cancelled the departure of many planes in Quebec City.
When most of the storms finally passed over Quebec City airport in the evening, an Air Canada Boeing 777-300 ER took off from runway 24 to fly its passengers back to Montréal.
In the background, Air Transat aircraft can be observed. The Swiss Air logo can also be noticed on an Airbus A330-343. It had come from Zurich and was further diverted to Quebec City, along with an Air France Boeing 777-228 LR and a few others.
Below, we see the Boeing 777-300 ER refuelling at a time when extreme weather conditions have not yet reached the airport. Two Avjet tanker trucks are standing near the aircraft. The height of each truck is less than the internal diameter of the Boeing’s engines. For several years, this aircraft held the record for the largest engines on a civil aircraft. Now, the Boeing 777X has taken the crown.
Air Canada B777-300ER refueling at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport.
Photography Technique
Both photos required some compromises. Everything works if you accept being completely soaked and working with both feet in the water along a metal barrier with lightning flashing here and there. For some photos, the session lasted two hours.
I took the shots from a hole in the airport fence. My Canon EF 300 mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens was protected by a plastic bag tightly wrapped around the lens hood.
A frequency scanner provided data about air traffic. A controller informed an Air France pilot that such a situation of aircraft diversions during extreme weather had not been seen in several years.
I set my full-frame camera to produce only RAW images. Focusing was done in SERVO mode. I reduced the depth of field to optimize speed and limit the size of the photographic grain (ISO).
When selecting photos, I preferred the one showing the Boeing taking off, but where the Swiss airline’s logo is still visible. It was important to highlight the aircraft’s presence in Quebec City.
The Kingfisher is equipped with sensors that can locate objects or people up to a distance of 40 kilometers, even in low light conditions. Its range allows it to remain in flight for over 4,500 kilometers.
Photography tips
I arrive too late at Quebec City airport: the plane is already parked. However, information obtained from the pilots indicates that takeoff is scheduled within the next hour on runway 06.
Ground traffic provides excellent opportunities to photograph an aircraft while benefiting from an interesting background. The photography technique required for this first visit by the Kingfisher is really basic.
Communications with the control tower indicate when the CC-295 is starting up. It will stop just before entering runway 06. A 200mm telephoto lens would normally do the trick, provided the ISO is not too high. But today, I am trying out a recent acquisition: a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS II USM fixed telephoto lens.
In the middle of the day, a photographer deals more with the quantity of light than its quality. However, the goal here is not to capture a bouquet of flowers or a wedding, so the harsh light should be fine. The flamboyant color of the aircraft will distract attention from the lack of interest in the ambient light.
With the shutter speed reduced to 1/125 and the ISO set to 200, I wait for the moment when the Kingfisher is opposite the control tower. This will provide a high-quality background. Twenty photos later, the plane is nothing more than a memory.
