Tag: ship photography

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Ship photography

Ships passing near Quebec City.

The Solar Sally from Shandong Shipping sailing south of Île d'Orléans. Summer 2023.
The Solar Sally from Shandong Shipping sailing south of Île d’Orléans. Summer 2023.

Above, Shandong Shipping’s Solar Sally photographed south of Île d’Orléans. I positioned the horizon according to the rule of thirds and gave plenty of room to the sky, filled with beautiful contrasts. The clouds let the sun filter through for a brief moment, bringing out the vegetation and horses. All that remained was to wait for the ship to enter the field of vision before taking the shot.

The Soulanges in front of Lévis in 2015.
The Soulanges in front of Lévis in 2015.

The photo above shows the Soulanges, a tug built in 1905, on the St. Lawrence River in front of the city of Lévis. Seen from a distance, this type of vessel always looks like it’s sinking. The water seems to be overtaking the stern of the boat, but there are very few waves.

The Barcelona Express and the MSC Tuxpan on the St.Lawrence Seaway 2023
The Barcelona Express and the MSC Tuxpan on the St.Lawrence Seaway 2023

The Barcelona Express and the MSC Tuxpan meet in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, off Île d’Orléans. Lacking a telephoto lens on hand, I captured the scene with a Canon Ef 85mm f/1.2L II USM lens and enlarged the photo. The boats were at a much greater distance than they appear here. I used an image processing software with artificial intelligence to improve the focus after cropping.

The Federal Skye and Mona Lisa ships on the St. Lawrence seaway near Quebec City
The Federal Skye and Mona Lisa ships on the St. Lawrence seaway near Quebec City

Above, the Mona Lisa (green hull) sails from Montreal to the port of Tanger Med in Morocco. The container ship sails under the Liberian flag. The port of Tanger Med boasts an exceptional geographical location when it comes to transshipping goods to Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa. Also visible in the photo, the Federal Skye arrives from Vila do Conde Brazil (BR VDC) and heads for Les Escoumins in Quebec, Canada (CA QLE). This port has a dry dock where major repairs can be carried out. The Federal Skye sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The MSC Tampa vessel by Quebec City in 2024.
The MSC Tampa vessel by Quebec City in 2024.

A final photo shows the MSC Tampa sailing between Liverpool, Great Britain (GB LIV) and Montreal, Canada (CA MTR). This 294.12-meter-long container ship sails under the Liberian flag. The photo was taken from the Grey Terrace in Quebec City’s Parc des Champs-de-Bataille.

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

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024 and the Martinique Tchalian.

The Martinique Tchalian sailboat and the Volendam during the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024
The Martinique Tchalian sailboat and the Volendam during the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024

Above, the sailboat Martinique Tchalian in the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024. Piloted by Jean-Yves Aglae, Jean-Marie Hervé and Moane Mangattale, the boat is off Île d’Orléans as the cruise ship Volendam approaches on its way to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

The Martinique Tchalian sailboat between the Alerce and the Frankopan during the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024.
The Martinique Tchalian sailboat between the Alerce and the Frankopan during the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024.

Above, the Martinique Tchalian is in the area of Berthier-sur-Mer, near two ships, the Alerce (on the left in the photo) and the Frankopan. In this section of the St. Lawrence River, the channel is narrow, and ships must use it to sail upstream to the Great Lakes.

The Alerce is a bulk carrier heading for the Port of Quebec, from the Port of Jorf Lasfar (MA JFL) in Morocco. The Frankopan tanker left the Port of Sainte Victoire in Quebec (CA SVD) a few hours ago, and is heading for the Port of Houston in the USA (US HOU).  

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

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Transat Québec St-Malo 2024 and cruise ships.

Sailboat and cruise ship Volendam on the St.Lawrence Seaway near Île d'Orléans during the Transat Québec St-Malo 2024.
Sailboat and cruise ship Volendam on the St.Lawrence Seaway near Île d’Orléans during the Transat Québec St-Malo 2024.

Marine traffic off Quebec City was blocked in anticipation of the departure of the Transat Québec Saint-Malo 2024. As soon as the sailboats got a head start, cargo and cruise ships summarized their operations on the St. Lawrence River. Pictured above is the Volendam rounding Île d’Orléans near Quebec City. It is heading for Charlottetown, capital of Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Its captain appears to put a little pressure on the captain of the sailing vessel ahead, but this is in fact an optical illusion caused by compressed perspective. In fact, I took the photo when the ship was still a long way off. I brought the subject closer using a Canon 70-200 f2.8L IS II USM lens, followed by a major crop from a 50.6 megapixel photo.

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

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

A Spring day in 2024 on Île d’Orléans.

Profiting from the strong winds at île d'Orléans 2024
Profiting from the strong winds at île d’Orléans 2024

A single-day visit to Île d’Orléans for a photography session was enough to capture a wide variety of cloudy conditions in April 2024. In spring, when unstable, humid air crosses the mountain range north of the St. Lawrence River, you can expect anything on the island. Above, a kitesurfing enthusiast practises his art between localized showers. All he cares about is strong winds.

Coloured houses of Île d'Orléans. Spring 2024.
Coloured houses of Île d’Orléans. Spring 2024.

A few kilometers from route du Mitan, colourful houses and a bit of blue-sky contrast with the showers elsewhere on the island. You can see that the cloud layer in the distance is not very thick.

Looking north from île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
Looking north from île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

Above, a towering cumulus (TCU) approaches the St. Lawrence River in the late afternoon from the north. It is likely to cross the river towards the island, if it has not lost some of its strength, in the meantime, due to subsidence, the phenomenon that forces air to compress and warm as it is forced down a mountain range.

Sailboats on île d'Orléans. Spring 2024.
Sailboats on île d’Orléans. Spring 2024.

The shape of the clouds in the photo above gives a good indication of the strength of today’s winds. You can hear it whistling through the ropes and between the masts of the sailboats at the marina in the municipality of St-Jean, île d’Orléans. At the time of my visit, some owners were preparing their boats for the warmer periods of May.

A house on île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
A house on île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

I really like the scene above, but I admit that some might find it dark, if not sinister. It was this slightly disturbing aspect that caught my attention and that I tried to capture.

A boat requires repainting on île d'Orléans, Spring 2024.
A boat requires repainting on île d’Orléans, Spring 2024.

In this last photo, the sky is practically clear. It is then easier to obtain better contrasts. A pseudo-HDR treatment brings out the paintwork on a boat that has seen better years.

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

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Photos of Quebec Ship photography

The liner Mein Schiff 6 in Quebec City

The cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 docked in Quebec City in 2023.
The cruise ship Mein Schiff 6 docked in Quebec City in 2023.

Autumn in Quebec City heralds the arrival of cruise ships in large numbers. Some days see the arrival and departure of as many as five ships. All these passengers disembark by the thousands in Old Quebec   and delight the merchants. For the first time in Quebec City, the liner Mein Schiff 6 was recently seen moored at Quay 22 in the Port of Quebec.

The Mein Schiff 6 cruise ship docked in Quebec City in 2023.
The Mein Schiff 6 cruise ship docked in Quebec City in 2023.

The inscription “Mein Schiff” on the side means “my boat” in German. Note the obligatory capitalization of the common noun “Schiff” in this language. Common nouns are written in lower case in English. There’s also the word “Wohlfüllen” on the side, evoking something like “feeling of well-being“.

This cruise ship from Europe has 15 decks and can accommodate 2,517 passengers. More than 1,000 employees provide onboard service. For this trip to Quebec City, it carries mainly Germans. The company supplying the liner in Quebec City is called Hapag Lloyd. It has an international reputation and is also German-owned.

Hapag Lloyd and the Mein Schiff 6 in the Quebec harbour in 2023.
Hapag Lloyd and the Mein Schiff 6 in the Quebec harbour in 2023.

Hapag Lloyd also owns container ships and cargo planes. I was working in Iqaluit (airport code CYFB and formerly known as Frobisher Bay), Baffin Island, when I spotted a brand-new Boeing 737 in the company colors. It was arriving from Boeing Field (KBFI) and passing through Canada for customs clearance and fuel before continuing on to Germany.

Hapag Lloyd D-AHLO B737-4K5 in its delivery flight in 1989, from Boeing Field (KBFI) to Iqaluit, and then towards Germany. It is being refueled during difficult weather conditions. This type of aircraft did not experience much problem with the cold weather, but it was not the case with smaller business jets
Hapag Lloyd D-AHLO B737-4K5 in its delivery flight in 1989, from Boeing Field (KBFI) to Iqaluit, and then towards Germany. It is being refueled during difficult weather conditions. This type of aircraft did not experience much problem with the cold weather, but it was not the case with smaller business jets

The Mein Schiff 6’s next destination after leaving Quebec City is Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island.

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

Categories
Ship photography

The ship MSC Maria Pia in front of Quebec City.

The MSC Maria Pia vessel on the St.Lawrence Seaway by Quebec City.
The MSC Maria Pia vessel on the St.Lawrence Seaway by Quebec City.

Here is a last picture of the winter of 2022 before going into spring mode. We can see the MSC Maria Pia sailing through the ice on the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Lévis, with a temperature of -27C.

The container ship Maria Pia belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). It was built in 1997 and flies the Panama flag. The ship passed by the Quai des Cageux at just the right time, as the very soft light of a late afternoon winter day is always more conducive to photography.

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

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Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

Cycling around L’Îsle-aux-Coudres

Bank of St-Joseph-de-la-Rive in Québec in 2021.
Bank of St-Joseph-de-la-Rive in Québec in 2021.

Cycling around L’Îsle-aux-Coudres is a good exercise and even a photography project for landscape photography enthusiasts. The following information will therefore help you both for the exercise and for planning a photography trip …

The ferry is taken at St-Joseph-de-la-Rive, just down the Côte des Éboulements. Transportation is free, but make sure you’re in the queue thirty minutes before departure: if you make it at the last minute, you’ll have to take the next ferry, an hour later. The trip only takes about 15 minutes to L’Îsle-aux-Coudres.

Once you have reached the island with the car, you drive up the hill (no other choice) to the first intersection and you immediately see a church on the left: this is where motorists carrying bicycles park, free of charge.

Man relaxing at L'Isle-aux-Coudres in 2021.
Man relaxing at L’Isle-aux-Coudres in 2021.

Cycling around L’Îsle-aux-Coudres is not really difficult, as the distance to be covered is only 23 kilometers. There are only a few hills to climb and they can be walked up alongside the bike if the challenge is too great. Along the route you will find rest stops, small craft shops and a few restaurants.

Bank of L'Îsle-aux-Coudres 2021.
Bank of L’Îsle-aux-Coudres 2021.

Driving around the island in the low season is ideal if you don’t enjoy driving in the presence of too many cars. I was there in September and really wasn’t bothered by traffic. The photo above shows the view in the fall, from the south side of the island. For several kilometers, the cyclist enjoys a perfect view of the St. Lawrence River and the road is directly on the edge of the banks.

The Îsle-aux-Coudres region in 2021.
The Îsle-aux-Coudres region in 2021.

There are some beautiful views along the way. Above, a view of the distant mountains that lie on the north shore of the St. Lawrence.

The MSC Annick vessel in front of l'Îsle-aux-Coudres in 2021.
The MSC Annick vessel in front of l’Îsle-aux-Coudres in 2021.

Wind is the main factor to consider when traveling around the island. In the photo above, the wind is strong enough for the smoke from the MSC Annick ship’s chimney to flow in the same direction as the boat, rather than gradually drifting astern.

This means that on days with high winds, there is a side of the island where you will have to put more effort as a cyclist, but you will then be rewarded with a good tail wind in the second portion of the journey.

Effect of the wind on the cirrus clouds over Baie St-Paul in 2021.
Effect of the wind on the cirrus clouds over Baie St-Paul in 2021.

One last photo taken on the return trip by ferry. Strong winds aloft visibly have an effect on cloud structure.

Have a good ride, and possibly a good photo shoot!

For other pictures of the province of Québec on my site: Québec, Québec City and Île d’Orléans in autumn, Québec City and Île d’Orléans in spring, Québec City and Île d’Orléans in summer, Québec City and Île d’Orléans in winter.

Categories
Photos of Canada Photos of Quebec

The Quebec Bridge by Bike.

The Promenade Samuel-De Champlain seen from the Quebec Bridge in 2021.
The Promenade Samuel-De Champlain seen from the Quebec Bridge in 2021.

Crossing the Quebec Bridge by bike allows you to stop and admire the surroundings at will, while observing the maritime traffic up close.

In the photo above, part of the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain is visible from the bridge. As for the photographic composition (for those interested), part of the bridge is included in the photo’s foreground to add to the height effect. The path to the right of the promenade, with its pronounced curves, also helps to energize the scene. I think it was a prime location, but tastes are debatable!

The Federal Clyde and MSC Brianna vessels on the St.Lawrence Seaway near the Quebec Bridge in 2021.
The Federal Clyde and MSC Brianna vessels on the St.Lawrence Seaway near the Quebec Bridge in 2021.

At the time of passage of the Federal Clyde and MSC Brianna vessels under the Quebec Bridge, the sound of the large diesel engines was clearly perceptible and it was even possible to feel the vibrations of the engines retransmitted into the metal structure of the bridge.

Inspection of the Québec Bridge in 2021.
Inspection of the Québec Bridge in 2021.

Above, an employee inspects the structure of an aging Quebec Bridge. Good risk management in this case is to rely on a part of the bridge that has not aged prematurely.

Inspection of the Québec Bridge. July 29th 2021.
Inspection of the Québec Bridge. July 29th 2021.

The wide-angle lens of the Canon 5DSr gives a better idea of ​​the delicate position in which inspectors find themselves when they are evaluating the work to be carried out on the Quebec Bridge. It’s not a job for everyone …

Click on the link for other pictures of Québec City in Summer on my blog.

Categories
Aviation photography

The RCAF flies by Québec City

The Snowbirds passing by Québec City in June 2021.
The Snowbirds passing by Québec City in June 2021.

The Snowbirds flew over Quebec City in June 2021, followed by many other jets and canadian military transport planes and helicopters. Until the last minute, a layer of low clouds and occasional showers worried event organizers.

A ferry crosses the St.Lawrence Seaway in front of Lévis in June 2021.
A ferry crosses the St.Lawrence Seaway in front of Lévis in June 2021.

Low clouds are visible over Lévis in the picture above taken from the Dufferin terrace in Québec City. On the St. Lawrence Seaway, the ferry bound to Lévis is approaching its destination.

Three canadian CF-18 fly by Québec City in June 2021.
Three canadian CF-18 fly by Québec City in June 2021.

The CF-18s initially flew in a formation of three. For photography enthusiasts, the full frame camera used to capture those photos was a Canon 5DSr equipped with an EF 70-200mm f / 2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens. For the photo above, the shutter speed was set at 1/4000 and the focal length was 200mm. Given the CF-18’s fast fly-by, I opted for the AI ​​Servo autofocus which quickly adapts to changes in the position of the objects to be photographed. Since the original image size was 50.6 megapixels, this allowed me to crop it in order to enlarge the military jets without losing quality.

Four canadian CF-18 flying by Québec City in June 2021.
Four canadian CF-18 flying by Québec City in June 2021.

Above, four CF-18s were photographed with a shutter speed of 1/5000.

The bulk carrier Spar Taurus is arriving in the Québec City harbour in June 2021.
The bulk carrier Spar Taurus is arriving in the Québec City harbour in June 2021.

Between each fly-by of the various military jets, the maritime traffic continued as usual on the St. Lawrence River. Above, the Spar Taurus vessel , a bulk carrier built in 2005 and sailing under the flag of Norway, is heading towards the port of Quebec, accompanied by two Ocean company tugs. In the background, the Île d´Orléans bridge, which will be redone in a few years.

A canadian C-17 Globemaster III flies over the Dufferin terrace in Québec City in June 2021.
A canadian C-17 Globemaster III flies over the Dufferin terrace in Québec City in June 2021.

A C-17 Globemaster III, military transport aircraft built by McDonnell Douglas, flies over the Dufferin Terrace. Canada owns five of these aircrafts.

A canadian Bell CH-146 Griffon at Québec in June 2021
A canadian Bell CH-146 Griffon at Québec in June 2021

Above, a Canadian Bell CH-146 Griffon military helicopter , slowly flies near the Château Frontenac. A soldier seated behind takes a picture of the crowd gathered on the Dufferin Terrace. To photograph a helicopter, the shutter speed must be drastically reduced, so that the movement of the blades can be observed. For the photo above, I opted for 1/250, but I could have gone down to 1/125 without too much risk of the helicopter being out of focus.

There were other aircrafts that flew over the seaway, such as the CP-140 Aurora and the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules, but the photos were not of sufficient quality to be published on the web.

Click on the link for other pictures of Québec City in Summer on my blog.