The Wandering Photographer

Photo Friday: Wrestling a Cannon in Quebec

Earlier this week I presented some photos of Canada Day in Quebec City.  Today I have a fun scene that we came across as we were walking back from La Citadelle de Quebec.  We came across this row of old cannons that once protected the city.  As you can see a young boy and girl (his sister I presume) are showing their climbing prowess while their mother looks on.  The Citadel was built between 1820 and 1850 and currently houses the Royal 22e Regiment, an official residence of the Governor General of Canada and an extensive military museum.

Have a good Labor/Labour Day weekend everyone!

Thanks to Debbie of Delicious Baby for organizing Photo Friday and spreading such wonderful images across the Web.

© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved

Canada Day in Quebec City

Monday I showed off some of my pictures of Quebec City back in 2004.  The day we were visiting happened to be July 1^st, Canada Day.  Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day) is the celebration of the enactment of the British North America Act in 1867.  This act combined the British Colonies of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada (including what are now Quebec, Ontario, and the western provinces and territories) into a united country.  Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island were added later.

In the province of Quebec that unity is still controversial and Canada Day draws demonstrations.  There are a number of groups, political and otherwise, in Quebec that advocate a number of governance scenarios, from complete independence to sovereign association to keeping the status quo.  I’m not going to get into the issues here, I just wanted to show some of the protests I saw on Canada Day in 2004.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 70mm, ISO 125, 1/320 @ f/9

As we came around the corner we encountered a large group of pro-independence protesters.  The protesters were noisy but not violent and included men, women and Children of various ages.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135mm, ISO 125, 1/250 @ f/9

The protesters were surrounded by police but as you can see the police were not decked out in riot gear and did not appear to be interfering with the protest in any way.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135mm, ISO 125, 1/160 @ f/9

This picture shows a, seemingly, more militant protester.  He wears an armband with the initials (MLNQ) of a radical separatist group.  Again, the protest was completely non-violent. 

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 36mm, ISO 125, 1/250 @ f/9

In an interesting juxtaposition, a Canadian Armed Forces Band came down the street.  The police slowly moved the demonstrators away for the road and as the band passed, the music blended with the cacophony of protest from the demonstrators. 

People here in the U.S. tend to forget that we are not the only nation with a long and glorious history of free speech and protest against and in favor of our governments.

Come back for a “cute” Quebec photo on “Photo Friday.”

© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved

Wandering & Photographing Quebec City

Last week I presented some of my pictures from our 2004 trip to Newfoundland.  On the way we stopped for a couple of nights in Quebec City, QC.  What a wonderful city it is!  One of the oldest cities in North America, Quebec City, or Ville de Quebec in French, was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and was intended to be a commercial outpost to facilitate trade with the old world.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 56mm, ISO 125, 1/500 @ F/9

For a student of history, the most interesting part of Province Quebec’s second largest city is the fortified section of the city known as Vieux-Quebec (old Quebec).  Old Quebec is the only remaining walled city in the Americas north of Mexico and has been designated a UNESCO world Heritage site.  This view of the Old Quebec skyline gives a good idea of what the old city looks like.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 @ 18mm, ISO 125, 1/320 @ f/9

Buildings dating to the 18^th and 19^th century set on cobblestone roads are a common site in Old Quebec.

Nikon D1x, Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 @ 24mm, ISO 125, 1/200 @ f/9

Brightly decorated shops, cafés and homes line the streets giving the old town a European feel.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 100mm, ISO 125, 1/250 @ f/9

While walking down the street, the bright reds and yellows of this café attracted my attention.  Scenes like this one can be seen all over the old sector.

Nikon D1x, Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62mm, ISO 125, 1/320 @ f/9

Dominating the Old Quebec skyline is the luxurious and very expensive hotel, Le Chateau Frontenac.  Originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad it opened in 1893 and is now owned by the well known Fairmont chain.  

Quebec City is one of those places on my return-to list.  It is steeped in the history of Canada and the exploration of the Northern United States.

Wednesday I will present some images that display some of the controversy that shrouds Quebec and Canada, a different take on a Canada Day Celebration.

© 2009 Tim Marks all rights reserved