Fire Worship

All along Place des Festival on this winter's night, the crowds mingled, enjoying the sites. Food and drink to be enjoyed, activities abound, and fun to be had by the crowd.  When a break was needed, groups huddled around fire pits, warming hands or roasting marshmallows and sausages.  After collecting enough warmth, the fire worshipers rotate, as the recharged disappear back into the flow.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 17mm | ISO 800 | shutter 1/30sec | f 4

St. James the Apostle

The steps at St. James the Apostle, a church on St. Catherine Street in Montreal, has long been a perch for people from all walks.  A vivid memory for me was walking past the steps many, many years ago - noticing two guys side by side with their bottles in bags.  The older one had clearly been on the street for a while, while the younger one, around my age, was new to it all - still looking healthy, and well kept.  I still remember being struck by the thought of "what brought this young guy to this sad turning point"? - the start of many hard days ahead.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 18mm | ISO 250 | shutter 1/30sec | f 4.5

The Taco Truck

Business was booming outside Grumman '78 - taco truck extraordinaire.  Highlighted as one of Montreal's little treasures, these entrepreneurs found a way to get around the City's food truck bylaws, by building their clientele around special events. Arriba!!

http://grumman78.com/?lang=en

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 26mm | ISO 3200 | shutter 1/30sec | f 5.0

Light Box

As we entered Festival Square for an evening at Montréal en Lumière, we passed by this wonderful structure.  Old school television boxes, back lit with a delicious combination of colours, lighting up the night.  Nostalgic and soothing, the whole space was further proof that Montreal knows to how to get it done.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 22mm | ISO 3200 | shutter 1/4sec | f 4.0

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Heading down St.Urbain's brick road, to a favourite cafe from years back, we couldn't help but notice the amount of graffiti everywhere.  Passing this door, I smiled to myself, imagining a pointed message being delivered to a partner coming home late one too many times.  Not likely, but a funny thought nonetheless.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 17mm | ISO 100 | shutter 1/50sec | f 5.0

The Dome

I guess, we have always known it, but this trip to the old city really highlighted the extremes of architecture in Montreal's downtown core.  This view of the dome Cathedral of Marie-Reine-du-Monde, contrasted against the sparkling lights of the high rises in the background dramatically illustrates the point.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 17mm | ISO 3200 | shutter 0.8sec | f 5.0

The Sanctuary

Spending some time strolling down St. Denis, we are struck by the number of closed storefronts.  As we pass this church, this image calls out more that it intends, the irony demands to be captured.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 17mm | ISO 100 | shutter 1/60 | f 5.6

The Back Door

Walking down St.Catherine's towards the gathering crowds on a crisp night, we passed alley after alley, lined with bins and street tags.  This spot caught my eye, with the single lamp over a back door, casting just enough light to highlight the interesting combination of shadows, lines and colours.

Montreal, Canada  02.2012

ShotSpecs: Canon EOS 7D | focal 17mm | ISO 3200 | shutter 1/10 | f 4.0