The pics that were not picked
Marché Bonsecours In Old Montreal
What happens to all those photos that a photographer takes for an assignment, that don’t get used in the magazine article? I’m so glad you asked! While I can’t speak for any other photographer, the photos I take that actually end up being used are five to twenty times less than I actually shoot. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the images are no good, or in some cases even better than the ones that appear in a magazine story. What usually happens, is that the editors will pick what they feel is the correct photo that corresponds well with the article. I always try and shoot alternate images, different angles, day and night shots, any kind of variety that makes it easier on my art directors and editors to have the perfect image for the story. Some photos just inevitably are left out.
Notre Dame de Bon Secours Chapel
In the case of these images from Old Montreal that I shot for a story that appeared in Up! Magazine last summer, I went out several times to capture the right time of day and weather for the images that ended up being used. After the people at up! chose their shots and the cover photo, I was left with a bunch of cool images that ended up not being used. I hope that you’ll agree with me here that these photos that I’m presenting today were just as good as the ones that were selected. It’s just that they didn’t fit as well with the story as the selected photos. Now, these images will be available for stock licensing to any future clients that may be in need of some images of Old Montreal for commercial or editorial purposes. It’s not like taking them was a waste of time, hopefully they will be able to earn me some income in the future as well.
This was a fun assignment for me, as I rarely shoot my hometown for a publication like up! I’m usually working away from home with the work that I do, so this was a treat for me. Take a look at the photos and you’ll notice the lack of people and cars. How did I manage that? Well… It helps to be a billionaire and able to pay off the city, police, and merchants. That’s one way I can block off whole city blocks and have no traffic or pedestrians in my photos. ;) Otherwise I’d have to get up before sunrise , wait until the sun comes out while no one is walking or driving around, as well as go late at night when most people are sleeping. Apparently a regular sleep schedule is not something that I’ll be partaking in any time soon.
Hope that you enjoyed a look at some of the photos that didn’t make the cut for a magazine story that I worked on. It was a fun look back for me at some shots that I had almost forgotten about. Since these were all shot in Montreal in the summer time, it’s only fitting that I share some fun info about what you can do here during this most festive of times.
- Rue-du-Saint-Sacrement in Old Montreal at night
Summer in Montreal is an awesome time! Old Montreal really lives up to it’s name, and can be mistaken for a European city in photos. This is why so many films are shot here, but it’s also a great place to walk around, eat, drink and be merry. Another great thing about Montreal activities in the summer time is that there are more festivals than you can actually attend, and something for everyone. While Montreal has the largest Jazz Festival in the world and the largest Comedy Festival in the world, we also have a ton of smaller and just as cool festivals that run all summer long. Here’s a list and the links to the festival home pages:
Montreal Activities & Summer Festivals
May
Biennale de Montréal May 1-31, 2011
Elektra digital arts fest, May 4-8, 2011
Montreal Chamber Music Festival May 5-28, 2011
Accès Asie May 6-29, 2011
La Grande Rencontre folk fest, May 12-15, 2011
Sketch Comedy Festival, May 16-22, 2011
Festival musique actuelle Victoriaville May 19-22, 2011
Festivalissimo Latin and Iberian festival May 18-June 18, 2011
Anarchist bookfair May 21-22, 2011
Montreal International Musical Competition May 23-June 3, 2011
Festival TransAmériques May 26-June 11, 2011
Festival des Arts Vivants May 27-June 4, 2011
Montreal Museums Day Sunday, May 29, 2011
Montreal Bike Fest (Féria du vélo) May 29-June 5, 2011 (music)
St-Ambroise Fringe Festival May 30-June 19, 2011
June
MUTEK electronic music and digital creativity festival, June 1-5, 2011
Fête Éco-Bio at Tohu, June 3, 4 and 5, 2011
Suoni per il popolo June 6-28, 2011
Le Mondial de la bière/Beer Festival June 8-12, 2011
Tour La Nuit June 3 – Tour de l’Île June 5, 2011
Nuit blanche sur tableau noir June 9, 2011
Les FrancoFolies June 10-18, 2011
Montreal Grand Prix June 10-12, 2011
International des feux Loto-Québec fireworks fest, June-July 2011
Infringement Festival June 16-26, 2011
Fête nationale June 23 and 24 – parade and events
Montréal Baroque June 23-27, 2011
Montreal International Jazz Festival June 25-July 4, 2011
FIMA – Festival international Montréal en Arts June 29-July 3, 2011
July
Canada Day July 1 – parade and events
Comedy festival Just for laughs/Juste pour rire July 5-31, 2011
Street fair from July 13
International tango festival July 5-10, 2011
International Festival of Circus Arts July 11-24, 2011
Fantasia Film Fest July 14-August 7, 2011 (noisy)
Les Week-ends du Monde July 9-17, 2011
Festival international de Lanaudière July 9-August 7, 2011
Classical music
Dragon Boat Race Festival July 22-23-24, 2011
Divers/Cité Gay and Lesbian Pride days, July 25-31, 2011
Osheaga music & arts festival July 29-31, 2011
Montreal Highland Games July 30 and 31, 2011
August
Terres En Vue/Land InSights first people’s festival, August 2-9, 2011
Festival Mode & Design August 3-6, 2011
Rogers Cup tennis tournament, August 5-14, 2011
This year: men’s tennis
Fierté Montréal Pride August 9-14, 2011
(parade on Sunday, August 14)
FestiBlues August 10-14, 2011
Otakuthon anime festival, August 12-14, 2011
Fête des enfants/Children’s Festival August 13-14, 2011
Matsuri Japon Japanese festival, August 13, 2011
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Hot Air Balloon Festival August 13-21, 2011
Montreal World Film Festival August 18-28, 2011
NAPA Auto Parts 200, August 19 and 20, 2011
Classic boat festival, August 19-21, 2011
Montreal Reggae Festival August 20-21, 2011
18th-century public market August 27 and 28, 2011
September
Mois de la Photo September 8-October 9, 2011
Art Tattoo Montreal September 9, 10, 11, 2011
La Magie des Lanternes September 9-October 31, 2011
Montreal Comic-Con September 17 and 18, 2011
Festival international de la littérature September 16-25, 2011
Car-Free Week September 20-24, 2010
Pop Montreal September 21-25, 2010
International Black Film Festival September 21-October 2, 2010
Young Cuts Film Festival September 23-25, 2010
Burlesque Festival September 25-28, 2011
Montreal Marathon September 25, 2011
Journées de la culture Quebec-wide culture fest, September 30 and October 1-2, 2011
Orgue et couleurs organ music fest, September 24-October 3, 2010 (music)
Enjoy more travel photos and stories:
That’s a lot of festivals! My kind of city :-)
now i want to go to Montreal even more! :)
I visited the Pointe-à-Callière Archeology and History Museum during Easter while visiting family.
I love the lighting in this image and the great perspective / angle you shot from.
Hope I make it back again soon for some of the festivals!
Thank you for showing us what Old Montreal looks like without people and teeming with activity. You have captured the wondrous beauty of that area in it’s pristine state. What a bonus to have the Summer Festivals listed in such detail. Great post.
My desire to go to Montreal has now tripled! Your photos are amazing and well worth the weird sleep schedule!! Thank You for sharing!
Wonderful photos & guide to the plethora of upcoming events happening in Montreal. One of my best friends moved there 4 years ago and has been raving to me about what it is like living in the city during the summer – now I know why :)
Although some of the pictures weren’t included in the magazine. I am glad that you shared the photos because it really showed how beautiful Montreal really is. I like the picture with the statue, which looked familiar to me. I wish I could go to Montreal someday.
Beautiful Ken. You really captured my hometown well.
Love the photos! Montreal is one of the cities I really want to visit. When I was in high school, I decided to be different than everyone else and take French even ascending to the heights of President of the French Club (HA!). So for being here in North America, this is one of the top cities on my list to go but have yet to make it so far!
Ken as always, your photos are awesome! I had no idea Montreal was so popular for festivals.
Every step out the door with camera in hand is an adventure with ramifications we can’t begin to comprehend as we lace up our boots! Thanks for sharing these sweet pics of Old Montreal! When I do my cross-Canada adventure Montreal definitely needs days for exploring/investigating :D :D
Very cool. I like the moai head shot.
Great shots! I’ve been wanting to go to Montreal since several years ago, but somehow never ended up being there. Now you are showing me what I’ve missed!
You’ve got skills amigo!
Stephanie, You have to see it to believe it. Montreal rocks in the summer time :)
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Gaby, Looks like your wish is just a few days away!
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Cindy, Come again in the summer, it’s the ideal time to enjoy our great city.
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Art, Glad you enjoyed the photos and list of festivals. Montreal is THE city of festivals in the summer.
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Rosie, While I grumble aboput the lack of sleep when I get up so early, I never regret it for a second. The results are well worth it.
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Samuel, Time for a visit then, yes?
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Daniel, Montreal has a lot to offer all year long. However, the summer season is the most active and fun time of the year here.
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Edith, So glad you like the shots!
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Jeremy, There is no better time to visit than in the summer and there is no better place to practice your French in North America than Montreal.
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Maple, A few days may not be enough ;)
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Don, Dina and Cam, Thanks so much for the kind words.
Ken, what time of day were you shooting the first couple of photos? It looks like daylight, but I know that area is always crowded with people and there are none in your photos. What was it, like 5 am or something?
Shooting at odd times like just after sunrise, or LATE at night are the best ways to get this look.Plus I always use a tripod and multiple exposures in case I need to mask out an area. This often requires a crazy amount of images to work with to get the no people and traffic effect.
Aha, good to know, Ken. Thank you!
I always love seeing outtakes!!
Gorgeous photos Ken. Good point that sometimes you need to wake up super early to get the best photos, sans people. Love how you made these into HDR photos. Creates a cool look to the scenes.
I had to come back and take a ook at these pictures. WOW! you are talented! you can make a beautiful city look even more gorgeous!