… something I heard a few times on our recent trip to Quebec City and surrounding area… from Francophone people who seemed to be fascinated by this phrase… and they weren’t even excusing themselves after slipping out an F-bomb.

Chantal has been hinting lately that since I’m not computer coding anymore, I maybe should start worrying about becoming senile, and is suggesting other mind games to keep me in the picture. (But don’t all wives do that anyway?)

Alors, I’ve decided to get back into learning French, and am jumping right in with both feet. Signed up for a course at Sheridan College starting next month and one of the F-bomb people in Quebec City gave me a French learning book that I’ve already started.

Voici quelques photos de la ville de QuĂŠbec et les environs. (followed by the next 10 weeks of the dogwood2018 photography challenge… descriptions below Quebec photos).

[Click on any photo for the slideshow. Please leave comments at the bottom of the page]

Lac-Sergent

Lac-Sergent

Beautiful sunset at Lac-Sergent

Road leading up to the chalet at Lac-Sergent

 

Lac-Sergent – old steps at the church… Stairway to heaven?

Quebec City

Quebec City – church door

Quebec City

Quebec City – Googling for God?

Quebec City – Nosferatu’s limo

Quebec City

The next 10 weeks of the dogwood2018 photography challenge

Week 21 Technical: Product

 

Week 21 Technical: Product

Pop art at the AGO

 

 

 

Week 22 Creative: Door

 

 

Week 22 Creative: Door

 

 

 

 

Week 23 Vision: No Peeking

Week 23 Vision: No Peeking —  Look Ma! No Lens!

At first I was going to shoot a roll of film. But for 1 image, that would be too expensive and take too long because I’m not doing my own developing. So I decided to go “Wildcard” for this week and build a digital pinhole camera. I used the body cap for my Fuji X-E2S and drilled the pinhole with a sewing needle. What is a pinhole camera.

 

 

Week 24 Composition: Contrast

 

 

Week 24 Composition: Contrast

Contrast should get your attention. I think this shot from Slains Castle Dracula Pub in Aberdeen, Scotland should catch a little attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 25 Technical: Starburst. What was she thinking?

 

Week 25 Technical: Starburst

Sexy pair of high heels hanging on a wire in Galway, Ireland. What was she thinking?

This was technically challenging, using my backup camera, which only goes down to f/8.

 

 

 

 

Week 26 Creative: High Key

 

Week 26 Creative: High Key

Tired of looking at high key flowers, birds and babies, and I can’t shoot a flower like Robert Mapplethorpe can, so here’s my high key image.

 

 

 

Week 27 Vision: Flattery

Week 27 Vision: Flattery

For this challenge, I’m not trying to copy a master, but someone I follow on Instagram, who I think is a very good photographer. Name of “Just Northy”, not sure, but I think it’s a women. She lives in the same area as me, and some words I would use to describe her work are dark, monochrome, bleak, shadowy, can be scary, lensbaby-like. I hope she takes this image as a compliment. These are the Standing Stones of Callanish, about 5000 years old, on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

It is believed that “this was a place appointed for worship in the time of heathenism, and that the chief druid or priest stood near the big stone in the centre, from whence he addressed himself to the people that surrounded him.” I’m hoping to convey this mysteriousness with Northy’s style.

 

Week 28 Composition: Left to Right

Week 28 Composition: Left to Right

I had some trouble trying to think of something original for this challenge, so I decided to go what I think is completely out of the box. First time I’ve used burst mode, with zone focus, then Photoshop with 7 composites. Note that the white car is not parked, but is actually moving right to left.

 

Week 29 Technical: Twilight Zone

 

 

Week 29 Technical: Twilight Zone

 

 

 

Week 30 Creative: Circles – Anticipation

 

 

 

 

Week 30 Creative: Circles   –   Anticipation