Tag: Quebec City

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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.

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Ship photography

The Euronav Cap Pembroke oil tanker in the ice of the St. Lawrence River.

Oil tanker Cap Pembroke near Quebec City April 2026
Oil tanker Cap Pembroke near Quebec City April 2026

Sailing from Ingleside (US YIG) in the Gulf of Mexico, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Cap Pembroke is heading toward the Valero Energy facilities in Lévis (CA QUE). The crew leaves the Gulf of Mexico in T-shirts and arrives in the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River a few days later.

The tanker can be seen as it rounds Île d’Orléans at high tide, assisted by two tugboats from the Ocean Group.

At very low speeds, the steering efficiency of a ship like the Cap Pembroke is greatly reduced. Measuring 277 meters long and 48 meters wide, it relies on tugboats to avoid obstacles and navigate the tides and winds of the river near Quebec City.

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

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Aviation photography

Aviation Photography: Air Transat A321neo in Quebec City

Air Transat Airbus A321neo in Québec City
Air Transat Airbus A321neo in Québec City

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.

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Aviation photography

Aviation photography: The Fantastic Snowbirds visit Quebec City.

Snowbirds in formation over Quebec City
Snowbirds in formation over Quebec City

The day after Quebec’s national holiday, the Snowbirds make a few flybys over Quebec City. Although not an air show per se, their formation flights always dazzle the crowds.

The Quebec flag, the Price Building and the Snowbirds in flight in Quebec City
The Quebec flag, the Price Building and the Snowbirds in flight in Quebec City

Photography technique.

As the flight over the city takes place at around 17:00, it’s a good idea to position yourself so as not to have to pose against the sun. Normally, a photographer located in Lévis captures excellent shots of Snowbirds passing by the Château Frontenac. But at 5:00 p.m. with the sun directly in front of you, all plane photos taken from the south shore mean uninteresting washed-out skies and far too strong contrasts. Snowbirds deserve better.

Considering the position of the sun, the citadel is the best location for a successful photo session. The light comes from behind as the aerobatic team flies over the St. Lawrence River, around the Château Frontenac and towards the Dufferin Terrace.

The Snowbirds are in flight formation near Château Frontenac in Quebec City.
The Snowbirds are in flight formation near Château Frontenac in Quebec City.

Spectators know that the performance will only last about fifteen minutes. A photographer needs to prepare accordingly to maximize the chances of getting some memorable shots.

Photography theory

I use a Canon 70-200 mm f2.8L IS II USM lens to give me better leeway between the distant and close passages of the nine military jets. Coupled with a Canon 5 DSR full-frame camera, a quality zoom produces surprising results. You can crop at will without losing definition, provided the initial ISO is 200 and the shutter speed is fast enough. You don’t really need to go beyond 1/1000.

The Snowbirds in flight formation approach the Dufferin terrace in Quebec City.
The Snowbirds in flight formation approach the Dufferin terrace in Quebec City.

With Canada Day a few days later, I now have an interesting photo of the Snowbirds and the Canadian flag.

Snowbirds in flight and the Canadian flag over the citadel of Quebec City.
Snowbirds in flight and the Canadian flag over the citadel of Quebec City.

Click on the link for more aviation-related photos on my blog.

Categories
Aviation photography

Photography and aviation: the Antonov An 124-100M in Quebec City.

Antonov An 124-100M on the ground at the Québec Jean-Lesage international airport (CYQB)
Antonov An 124-100M on the ground at the Québec Jean-Lesage international airport (CYQB)

We were treated to a pleasant surprise this week at Quebec City’s Jean Lesage International Airport (CYQB). An Antonov An 124-100M cargo plane scheduled to land in Montreal had to change its destination. The reason was the Montreal Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Of the 55 aircraft of this model built in the 1980s, only 26 remain in service worldwide. The Antonov 124 can carry a load 17% greater than that of the C-5A Galaxy.

I took the first photo in close-up to emphasize the enormity of the aircraft compared to a human. Note also the “Be brave like Kharkiv” logo on the nose of the aircraft, in reference to the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Antonov AN 124-100M departing the Québec Jean-Lesage international airport (CYQB) for Harrisburg (KMDT) in the United States.
Antonov AN 124-100M departing the Québec Jean-Lesage international airport (CYQB) for Harrisburg (KMDT) in the United States.

Tips in photography

The aircraft took off from runway 24 bound for Harrisburg (KMDT) in Pennsylvania. As the runway was wet, a photographer positioned at the threshold of runway 24 to observe the takeoff would have seen only water being lifted by the engines.

The thresholds of runways 06 and 29 were therefore an excellent choice. Runway 29 provided a nice side-on shot with no visual contaminants. Curiously, while many photography enthusiasts were massed near the thresholds of 06 and 24, I was alone near 29. This made it possible to get a shot from an original angle.

As the cargo plane was quite a distance from my position, I used a Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens. An acceptable shutter speed to avoid motion blur meant sacrificing depth of field.

The full-frame sensor’s 50.6 megapixels then made it possible to crop the subject sufficiently without compromising photo quality.

Photography technique

A good photography session goes hand in hand with proper planning. Listen to ground frequency 121.9, control tower 118.65 and terminal 127.85 to improve your chances of success.

A cell phone allows you to use the Flightradar24 application (for scheduled arrivals and departures and current trajectories). Flightaware  is also an excellent choice. The cell phone can also be used to find out if there are any road closures around the airport that would prevent us from getting to our desired destination. It also provides information on current weather conditions and forecasts. In Canada, the AWWS site is a mine of information for aviation enthusiasts.

Click on the link for more aircraft photos and technical advices on my blog.

Categories
Photos of Quebec

A pedestrian takes a break in Old Quebec.

A pedestrian takes a break in Old Quebec, with the Price building in the background.
A pedestrian takes a break in Old Quebec, with the Price building in the background.

A pedestrian rests in the evening in the shadow of the Price building in Old Quebec. Many residents and tourists alike appreciate the safety of the Old Town. Accompanied or unaccompanied, even the elderly feel at ease here late in the evening.

The Price building is the only skyscraper allowed in Old Quebec. During my photography sessions in this area, I enjoy finding different vantage points and special lighting to feature this unique building. At the time I captured the scene, there was still a bit of blue in the sky. This color blends delicately with the surrounding orange-yellow.

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

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Environment

A creative solution for a problematic tree!

A creative solution for a problematic tree.
A creative solution for a problematic tree.

The photo above is a good example of appropriate human behavior and an original way of avoiding the eternal fence squabbles between neighbors.

Why argue about a tree that’s too close to the property line? Two Quebec City neighbors decided to work together and trim the fence to facilitate the growth of a tree that has been growing over the years.

It’s a minimal effort that preserves good relations between neighbors while taking care of the environment. Intelligence is the ability to adapt!

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

Categories
Photos of Quebec

Old and new in Quebec City night shots.

Effect of inversion fog on architectural styles in Quebec City.
Effect of inversion fog on architectural styles in Quebec City.

Photography theory

In March, a heat wave sweeps through Quebec City while there is still snow on the ground. The warm air floating above the snow favors the appearance of fog or mist in places. But if the wind picks up even a little, visibility will quickly improve.

For lovers of night photography, now is the time to get busy! I arrive on Grande-Allée just as the fog begins to lift. The scene presents several types of contrast. Visibility varies at different heights and in the presence of buildings with very different styles.

I position myself so that the old house is directly in front of the more modern building. By framing tightly, I eliminate all distractions. The light fog accentuates the impact of the tower’s numerous lights. This further enhances the chiaroscuro effect. One hour later, the fog has totally disappeared.

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

Categories
Photos du Québec Photos of Canada

White Birch Paper Company by night in Quebec City.

White Birch Paper Company by night in Quebec City
White Birch Paper Company by night in Quebec City

The photo above shows the White Birch Paper mill in Quebec City. I took the shot handheld with a Canon 5 dsr full-frame camera equipped with a Canon EF 85 mm f/1.2L II lens.  

Here’s what artificial intelligence has to say about an industrial scene: “An industrial scene can evoke a variety of feelings, often linked to the urban environment and human activity. For some, it may inspire a feeling of power and dynamism, due to the energy and activity that prevail. Others may feel melancholy or nostalgic about the impact of industrialization on the environment and communities.

The textures, colors and shapes of industrial structures can also evoke a sense of strangeness or raw beauty. In short, the emotions that an industrial scene can generate depend largely on one’s own perspective.”

Photography theory

On the original RAW file, colors faded due to insufficient brightness, preventing the desired dramatic impact. Digital processing was the best solution to solve the problem.

I chose a single tone of steel blue to accentuate the effect of strangeness, prevent distractions of any kind and highlight the central tower, smoke columns and light contrasts around the installations.

To respect the age of the White Birch Paper buildings, I kept the digital grain fairly high. Polishing an image too much makes it look more modern, which I wanted to avoid.

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

Categories
Photos of Quebec

Château Frontenac and the winter wonderland of Old Quebec

Old Quebec in winter seen from Parc Montmorency in 2025
Old Quebec in winter seen from Parc Montmorency in 2025

It’s time for another winter outing in Old Quebec. The night photography session will be devoted to architecture.

The temperature is about -14 C and the winds are blowing at 15 km/h. Without gloves in order to manipulate the little buttons on the camera, the skin feels -22 C. A regular break is essential to thaw out the fingers!

I took the photo from Parc Montmorency, just up the côte de la Montagne. This historic site is a major tourist attraction in Quebec City. Louis Hébert, Canada‘s first farmer, cultivated the land here on his arrival in New France. It’s important to understand, however, that the natives knew about farming and cultivated the soil long before the arrival of the French settlers.

On the left is a sculpture of Sir Georges-Étienne Cartier, one of the Fathers of Confederation. The Château Frontenac and Price Building are also visible in the distance. In the foreground is a building that has changed function many times. It was originally the first Episcopal Palace.

Photography technique

For this shot, I planted my tripod in 40 centimetres of snow. I used a Canon 5 DSr camera equipped with a Canon EF 11-24 mm F/4L USM ultra wide-angle  zoom lens. I could have set the ISO to 200 thanks to the stability of the tripod, but the wind demanded a faster result due to possible vibrations. ISO and shutter speed are therefore dictated by ambient weather conditions rather than low light.

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