rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

One topic you will see repeated every few months somewhere at the UHH is how modern PP allows the photographer to combine a series of pictures at a tourist site to create just one image - with no people in it. When I was younger, that would have seemed like a good idea to me, but as I have become older I understand how people help to make a place special, and these days I kind of feel that a train station with no passengers or a church with no worshipers is kind of missing its point.

Just about a month ago, my wife and I returned from a trip that included 4 nights, 3 days in Quebec City and 2 nights, 1-1/2 days in Montreal. I now have a tentative collection of pictures from that trip, including the following three.

Towards evening of our second day in Quebec City, we were climbing up from the river front to the center of Old Quebec when I stopped, took a picture, and then continued on; when my wife asked "What was that all about?", my only answer was "a picture was demanding to be taken". The more complete answer was that I had been wondering how I was going to get a satisfying view of the iconic Chateau Fontenac, and then when I saw this woman taking a picture I realized that she plus her picture were what I wanted.

Looking through the pictures I've selected, I realize that set a pattern for the rest of the trip. In Montreal, I'd taken an "obligatory" picture of the cathedral; as we left the area, I kept glancing back, wondering how I could do it better, when I saw a couple taking a "selfie" from "my spot", and again I realized that they plus my picture was much better than what I already had. The Montreal free jazz festival was taking place just a few blocks from our hotel, and that is where I took the third picture in this collection.

Quebec City - Chateau Fontenac

(Download)

Montreal - Notre Dame Cathedral

(Download)

Montreal - free jazz festival {from next to stage}

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I have visited both cities. For Chateau Frontenac, not only did you beautifully emphasize the architecture and high hill location, but to include a tourist framed by the stone, and wearing a flashy red coat? Awesome!

The idea to embrace the fact you're photographing a must-see/must-do-selfie tourist location is brilliant IMO. Though I prefer nature over people, I get the excitement and energy you found from including the crowds rather than trying to avoid them.

Thanks so much for the thoughtful conversation, rehess, and your terrific photos.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Me too!

I spent quite a few years grumbling about tourists in photos, trying all kinds of tricks to get them to vanish. Then, a couple of years ago, as I fumed about a woman posing at length for a selfie in front of the Peggy's Cove lighthouse, I had an epiphany - the shot was going to be more interesting with her in it. Ever since, I've looked for interesting people to include in compositions. I call them my Little People shots because I typically keep the people very small in the frame.

The Little People give a sense of scale to landscapes and a counterpoint of interest in the city and landmark shots. And I'm disappointed when I can't find them.

Thanks for sharing your photos and your story.

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

Hey, I like my shots pristine. But you know what? I think you have a point. I might just have to reconsider my position - and in the absolute worst case, an opportunity to make lemonade perhaps!!

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Another topic you see from time to time, and currently running, is Can A Photograph Tell A Story? It's no matter what I think on the subject as I want to keep this on topic, but needless to say you've answered the question and answered it well. I can't say that I've been to that part of Quebec, but at the very least you've peaked my interest and it's on The List!

Thank you for sharing, and welcome to the eclectic group we call home! S-

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

People generally don't bother me in city scenes...it's natural. In some landscapes they don't fit but some they do, such as those of the boardwalk in yellow stone posted by minniev. I enjoyed your shots and look forward to more.....welcome to the section.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Good job with good perspective...philosophical besides photographic!
I like and take your point.
Let's see more!

Dave

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you for your comments.

I do photograph nature, but even then I tend to prefer something with fauna as well as flora. With the exception of a really big lake a few miles north of here, the only "nature" around here is miles and miles of corn / maize. My daughters say the only way I can get models is to "bribe" birds to visit our feeder, but I guess I figure whatever works. {however, the only squirrels I've been able to photograph recently have been away from our yard - even after I put out a feeder just for them, I guess they remember the conflict when I informed them that they were not "birds"}.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Yes, my thinking on this subject has changed over time .... as I realized that they just plain weren't going away. The pictures below are ones I took in 1973 as my brother and I rode a steam train across Indiana; when I got the slides back, I realized that the people actually added something to the scenes. In recent years my understanding has expanded further as I realized that cameras, flashes going off, etc are our modern cues that something important is happening.

My wife is 4'10" tall {I usually describe her as 4'10" short} I've been known to ask her to stand on an edge of my picture to provide scale.

preparing to leave Chicago, IL


water stop at Argos, IN

Chuck_893 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

Three excellent pictures, especially the first two. I love the red coat! Makes her stand out, plus she is looking into the scene, taking her own picture, so she provides scale and interest simultaneously. The couple taking their selfie at the cathedral is also wonderful. Of course, one thing I notice about that is that they become the center of interest and the cathedral becomes background. Depending on what one is trying to say with a particular shot that could be a problem. I usually want the structure itself, but when the turistas are thicker than pigeons, well, if ya can't beat 'em... 😄

I do sometimes look for that person like Red Coat who is looking into (or better) shooting into the scene, though, because s/he does give it scale and interest without necessarily becoming the center of interest.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

This is a really interesting point. And similar to the idea of one Minnie posted of Iceland that had a photographer (relatively small in the frame) shooting the falls, with the falls being the subject.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Cool you have a ready-made "prop" and that she's willing to do that

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

RE - you did that absolutely fabulously. When I was there last, I was too far away with the lens I was using at the time to do it justice, in the far shots ... and when I moved in too close, that wall kept me from getting a decent angle on it ... for one helluva diff shot to make ... you really made one that worked! Good for you!!!!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Thank you. This kind of situation is why I have come to prefer zoom lenses. I wander around looking for the perspective I want, and then zoom to get the framing I want; early in our marriage {38 years and counting}, my wife learned that a "5 minute photo stop" might actually take five minutes ... or it might take close to an hour as I wander around looking for the perspective I had in mind when I stopped.

In this particular case, I originally intended to take my shot closer in and to the left, but when I saw this couple I just had to hustle over and get them in the picture also before they were satisfied with their selfie.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

I'm sorry, RE ... I was making reference to the Chateau Fontenac shot in Quebec. Clearly, you thought I was making ref to the Notre Dame Cathedral shot in Montreal. The more difficult one to shoot is the Fontenac. And, yes - I do agree ... sometimes, it takes an hour, to get it right, rather than the 5 minutes you thought it might take. But, Montreal is a comparatively easy place to get fantastic shots. Quebec City, on the other hand - being mostly on a tiny island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, and enclosed with ultra-high stone walls - now, that's quite a tricky situation ... but, you've proved it can be done. Again ... beautifully shot, RE ... Congrats!