By Joy McDonell
Twenty-one intrepid photographers — Club members and a few friends — enjoyed a rollicking two days in Quebec City and the St-Joachim area, specifically the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife area, an area along the St. Lawrence River that is visited each year by thousands of snow geese heading north from the southern USA for the summer. They stop over for a few weeks in this area, and can be found in large flocks throughout the region.
The trip was billed as a combination nature/urban outing, and was headed up by our Nature Leader Pierre Gauthier. Pierre had arranged for us to stay at La Grande Ferme, a lovely heritage farmhouse just minutes away from Cap Tourmente. The dorm style accommodation and shared bathroom facilities put one in mind of boarding school days — boys on one side and girls on the other! It certainly made for some fun times and much togetherness.
Many of us will not soon forget climbing a rickety ladder to the top bunk, or waking to the hoarse whispers and shuffling about from the keeners who rose at 4:00 a.m. to shoot the geese at dawn. Everyone agreed that La Grande Ferme was a warm, welcoming, and very affordable place to stay. We enjoyed several meals there, featuring delicious, authentic, local cuisine, such as various Charlevoix cheese, terrines, homemade bread, local produce, and a “maple-everything” breakfast.
The snow geese were there in astonishing numbers, and were a wonderful challenge to photograph. Long lenses were de rigueur but one had to be ready quickly with a wide angle when one or two alpha geese made a move, and suddenly the sky became an astonishing vista of graceful flapping wings. I must say that after the lenses and camera, the most important thing to have along was a toque! Especially along the shore, there was a biting wind that never seemed to quit.
Besides the snow geese, we photographers found many other photographic subjects in the area. There were stories around the breakfast table of mother and baby groundhogs, of turtles and enchanting early morning light. We also photographed the Basilica at Ste Anne de Beaupre, and of course Quebec City abounded with subjects for shooting. So inspired were two of the group by the wonderful sunny weather in the city that they spontaneously danced to the saxaphone strains of a street musician. And then of course there was a memorable dinner together at the Restaurant aux Anciens Canadiens. As is usually the case, love of photography fostered learning experiences and a cameraderie that made the weekend a success!
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