Photo expedition to Quebec. Worth it?

[Dave Krueger]

Dave. Live the life man. Go out and rip it and don't think about g'dammed lawyers, rights usage crap
etc. Travel, have fun and enjoy it. If this is your last hurrah, I'd think bigger than Quebec. Head to Europe...
go to Paris, Milan, Rome, Brugge, Netherlands, Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw.

I'm out.

I don't like long plane rides.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you [the OP or other US citizen] would like to return to the US after your walk about, bring a valid US passport with you.

 

[MattKing]

If you [the OP or other US citizen] would like to return to the US after your walk about, bring a valid US passport with you.

Actually, the Canadian officers at the border won't let you into Canada unless you have the necessary documentation.

A US passport works no matter what. If you are a member of the NEXUS program that will work as well.

If you are travelling by land or sea, an enhanced drivers license will work as well.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hmm ... the Canadians do not want us to stay there to live, but they are quite happy to stick us with Justin Beiber!

 

[FrancoisM]

I seem to be the only one here actually living in Quebec and yes there's the law and even a jurisprudence as already mentionned. Fine.
Please do yourself a favor and come to Montreal and/or Quebec City !
You will enjoy 2 fantastic cities, each with its own particularities. Quebec being wayyyy better than Montreal (Small inside joke here )
As far as the street photography goes, I must be on hundreds of pictures from tourists from anywhere in the world.
Due to my celebrity ? Nope. Due to my sexiness ? Nope again. Just because I'm there in the city where boatloads of people are taking pictures.
The people you will freeze in your photos are iether locals or other tourists like you. How on earth would those people know you, your blog, your website, etc. ?
Unless you took a picture of a person and publish it in a local ad, there's no any chance you will run in any problem.

Nous sommes friendly

 

[Tony Egan]

Spent a week in Quebec City in 2012. Photographed their famous viva la France annual parade (exact name escapes me) and many people on the street incidentally. No issues and no complaints. It's a tourist town especially in the uptown and downtown areas. Every second person waving a camera around. Posted a lot on FB for family and friends; no one has tracked me down to sue me yet!

 

[Dave Krueger]

If you [the OP or other US citizen] would like to return to the US after your walk about, bring a valid US passport with you.

Just had mine renewed which, in Alabama, is easier than getting your driver's license renewed.

 

[Doc W]

Quebec City and Montreal are quite different and both are extremely photogenic to anyone with as good an eye as yours. Brings LOTS of film. There are so many tourists in Quebec City that it will be hard NOT to have someone in your photos.

 

[skorpiius]

Hmm ... the Canadians do not want us to stay there to live, but they are quite happy to stick us with Justin Beiber!

And Celine Dion

 

[skorpiius]

Spent a week in Quebec City in 2012. Photographed their famous viva la France annual parade (exact name escapes me) and many people on the street incidentally. No issues and no complaints. It's a tourist town especially in the uptown and downtown areas. Every second person waving a camera around. Posted a lot on FB for family and friends; no one has tracked me down to sue me yet!

St Jean Baptiste day?

 

[ignatiu5]

Ok, thanks to all those who commented. I was considering going to Vancouver instead, but you guys talked me out of it. I also looked at Dead Link Removed and realized that I rarely even have any people in my pictures.

If anyone wants to offer any further suggestions, please feel free. The 8-day trip will be in late May and we will be walking (no car rental). We're planning to stay downtown, but haven't picked a hotel yet. I'm assuming we'll want to stay near a Metro station. The plan is to take the train to Quebec City and spend a say or two there. Not sure if reservations are required for that or if we can make that trip on the fly.

Thanks again for all the discussion and advice.

I’m Canadian and lived and studied in Montreal for 7+ years. While it’s not my favorite city in the country by a long shot, it is the place that I recommend that Americans visit if they could only choose one Canadian city, mostly because Quebec is so culturally different from almost any other place in North America.

I’ll offer you the one piece of generic advice that I give to anyone who asks: learn even the smallest amount of French. Please. Thank you. Good morning. How do I…? Where is the…? Take a phrase book.

It doesn’t matter how much you butcher the pronunciation, truly. What will matter is that you made an effort. Everyone in Montreal (a little less so in Quebec City) is bilingual, if not trilingual. Everyone speaks English. Very little will infuriate a Quebecois(e) more than a tourist’s assumption that they speak English. If you massacre a phrase in French, they will likely answer you in English, but they will respect that you tried. Your service will be better, cab rides will be shorter, directions and suggestions will be clearer.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hmm ... the Canadians do not want us to stay there to live, but they are quite happy to stick us with Justin Beiber!

And Celine Dion

and Alanis Morissette

 

[skorpiius]

and Alanis Morissette

And Ted Cruz..

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hmm ... the Canadians do not want us to stay there to live, but they are quite happy to stick us with Justin Beiber!

And Celine Dion

and Alanis Morissette

And Ted Cruz..

 

[skorpiius]

But hey you also get: Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Rachel McAdams, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen, Norm Macdonald

 

[FrancoisM]

Rather "Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France". They have a small parade

St Jean Baptiste day?

 

[Tony Egan]

Rather "Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France". They have a small parade

Ah yes, that rings a bell. Lots of papier-mache creatures, period costume, stilts, drums etc.

 

[gzhuang]

What's the point of visiting a place as a tourist when you can't take pictures of normal street life?

 

[lauffray]

Montrealer here. Do drop by, we don't bite. Lots of misinformation about what that infamous photography ruling actually is, I shoot here all the time and never had a problem. I'll take the advice someone mentioned above about learning a few words of French.

Personally I find Quebec city a bit boring, but that's maybe because I live here, it'll give you that "Paris without the jetlag" stuff Americans are crazy about. The region around Quebec city is more interesting. Montreal is also a lot of fun (obvious bias )

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I guess my next question will be whether there are areas of the two cities that are best avoided. I didn't experience that when I went to Toronto, but I've wandered into dangerous parts of town in some American cities, so I'd rather know about them in advance.

We are not so called "So Cal" or how California is called. We don't have places to avoid. Seriously. This is where one of major difference between two counties is.

Just be carefull and show respect to people even if they looks like no reason to respect. We don't have ghettos, but in Montreal as in any central Canadian city where are social housing and addicts, shelters. Mind your own business and act with dignity if you'll have to interact. You could walk anywhere in central Montreal. From mountain to old Port and on the bridge across. Montreal is amazing for walk.
Old Griffintown is under construction and it is interesting landscape because of this.

But. If you ever come on location by car, get everything ready before driving. If you open trunk on the parking lot or leave anything exposed in the locked car... Do not do it. Have tripod, cameras, bag on you before you arrive. Also watch for parking signs. They are not in English and some will say "parking only with permission". And here is no right turns on red light in Montreal. This is why drivers in the city are little bit crazy on pedestrians sometimes.

 

[MattKing]

What's the point of visiting a place as a tourist when you can't take pictures of normal street life?

You are welcome to take pictures of normal street life.

There are a few more restrictions on publishing the results.

 

[Dave Krueger]

I’m Canadian and lived and studied in Montreal for 7+ years. While it’s not my favorite city in the country by a long shot, it is the place that I recommend that Americans visit if they could only choose one Canadian city, mostly because Quebec is so culturally different from almost any other place in North America.

I’ll offer you the one piece of generic advice that I give to anyone who asks: learn even the smallest amount of French. Please. Thank you. Good morning. How do I…? Where is the…? Take a phrase book.

My choice of places to visit is heavily dependent on how much I can see completely on foot or using public transportation, so I tend to stick with urban areas. For example: I've been to California cities many times, but never to one of the vineyards.

I was wondering about whether it would be good to learn a little French for exactly the reason you mention. While not widely traveled, I know that what you say is true in Europe. I was wondering if it would be the same In North America.

 

[Dave Krueger]

Montrealer here. Do drop by, we don't bite. Lots of misinformation about what that infamous photography ruling actually is, I shoot here all the time and never had a problem. I'll take the advice someone mentioned above about learning a few words of French.

Personally I find Quebec city a bit boring, but that's maybe because I live here, it'll give you that "Paris without the jetlag" stuff Americans are crazy about. The region around Quebec city is more interesting. Montreal is also a lot of fun (obvious bias )

Thanks, Jerome.

I'm guessing we will be spending more time in Montreal. My understanding is that, while more picturesque, there is less to see in Quebec City on foot and it's more heavily tourist oriented. What really matters for me is how interesting (photographically) I find the urban scenery. I'm not really into cuisine or souvenirs or guided tours.

 

[Dave Krueger]

We are not so called "So Cal" or how California is called. We don't have places to avoid. Seriously. This is where one of major difference between two counties is.

Just be carefull and show respect to people even if they looks like no reason to respect. We don't have ghettos, but in Montreal as in any central Canadian city where are social housing and addicts, shelters. Mind your own business and act with dignity if you'll have to interact. You could walk anywhere in central Montreal. From mountain to old Port and on the bridge across. Montreal is amazing for walk.
Old Griffintown is under construction and it is interesting landscape because of this.

But. If you ever come on location by car, get everything ready before driving. If you open trunk on the parking lot or leave anything exposed in the locked car... Do not do it. Have tripod, cameras, bag on you before you arrive. Also watch for parking signs. They are not in English and some will say "parking only with permission". And here is no right turns on red light in Montreal. This is why drivers in the city are little bit crazy on pedestrians sometimes.

Thanks, Kostya. That's exactly the kind of assurance I was hoping for. We do not plan to do any driving, but I will be carrying 35mm equipment, shoulder bag, as well as a small tripod or monopod attached to the case. I've been to NY, San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, etc and have never had a problem, but that could just be luck. I'm also thinking of bringing my Rollei TLR on this trip...

I don't want to look like a target, but I want to have the right equipment with me.

 

[MattKing]

One never knows when "Vous avez l'aire tres jolie, mademoiselle" might be just the right thing to say.