Meet Anna Marie :: Calistatus Photography (United States)

January 27, 2020 Emily McDonald

We kicked off a new series in January 2019 featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States, Vanuatu, Iceland, Switzerland and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you to a city in California, United States! Lovely Anna Marie, from Calistatus Photography, has been a pleasure to work with. We hope that you enjoy this spotlight on Apple Valley. Thank you for joining in, Anna Marie, and for sharing images that transport us and stories that make us want to experience your part of the world firsthand! Enjoy!

1. Tell us about where you live? I live in a city called Apple Valley. We are located in the high desert of Southern California, which is in the United States. You can find us on America’s Highway, which is also known as Route 66. We are a relatively new city as we were just established in 1988. Usually, the first question that always arises when I state where I am from is if there are apples here. Once upon a time there was an abundance of apple orchards, which is actually where this city got its name. Sadly, there are no longer apples. Just desert and Joshua trees. Our city is conveniently located in the middle of a lot of fun stuff. About 45 minutes away, you have the snowy mountains of Big Bear and Wrightwood. We are about an hour and 30 minutes away from the bustling city of Los Angeles. An hour and a half away from the happiest place on earth: Disneyland (located in Anaheim, California). Two and a half hours away way from the infamous Las Vegas. And about an hour and a half away from Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier.

Route 66 Museum. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

2. What makes your town, state or country unique? My most favorite unique place that we have here is George Air Force Base. I know that sounds weird because it is an air force base. But the best thing about it is that it is abandoned. So there is tons of history in that place. It has also been used to film tons of well known movies such as: The War of the Worlds, Face Off, Jarhead and many more.

George Air Force Base. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

3. If I traveled from the opposite side of the world what should I visit in your town, state or country? A neat place to take your family or even to just go alone is Calico Ghost Town. It’s an old western town where you can go to enjoy a good cowboy show and do a little gold mining. And just up the street there is an amazing 50’s diner called Peggy Sue’s Diner. There you will find a 50’s styled diner that serves nothing but amazing dishes named after famous people from the 50’s and some delicious milkshakes - all while enjoying some tunes from the juke box. And if you are in the mood for sweets and ice cream, Eddie World is not far away. There you will find a candy and ice cream wonderland.

Calico Ghost Town. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Peggy Sue’s Diner. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Eddie World. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

4. What is something quirky we would find in your town, state, or country? I would have to say the most quirky thing you would find here in Apple Valley is Bottle Tree Ranch. Bottle Tree Ranch is exactly what it sounds like. A ranch with trees made out of glass bottles. This ranch has a lot of interesting things to see. From trees made out of glass bottles to antique cars and other random antiques. And not too far away, from there is one of the best pizza places I’ve ever had: Cross-Eyed Cow Pizza. On top of this building, there is a tye-die cow. You can’t miss it!

Bottle Tree Ranch. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Cross-Eyed Cow Pizza. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

5. Best breakfast cafe? This is a tough one. So to be honest, picking just one… is not possible. Emma Jeans Holland Burger; don’t let the name throw you off. Their breakfast is just as amazing as their burgers. Emma Jeans is a little place off the beaten path and, man, is it delicious. This restaurant is well known among the locals. It was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. Next up you have Mollie Brown’s Cafe. This restaurant is a staple of the high desert. I’ve never met anyone that doesn’t love Mollie Brown’s. Then there is a little hole in the wall called TNT’s Cafe. Their food is absolutely amazing. AMAAAAZING! There is not a day of the week that that place isn’t packed. Not only is their food amazing but you get great sized portions for a great price. Last but not least you have Spirit Cafe. The staff is always so friendly. The coffee is always hot. And the food is nothing shy of amazing.

Emma Jeans. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Mollie Brown’s Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

TNT’s Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

Spirit River Cafe. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

6. Three reasons why someone should visit your town, state or country? The weather is usually warm and sunny. We have amazing sunsets. And there is plenty of stuff to do. Horseback riding, off-roading the desert hills in a big truck or on some ATVs, and all the other fun stuff that’s not too far away.

7. Any local legends? As far as I know, we do not have any local legends.

8. Train, bus, car or walk. We do have a bus system. However, car is the best way to get around.

9. Best accommodation? The best rated accommodations are the Holiday Inn, Hilton Gardens, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Hilltop Tavern and Inn, and La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham.

10. Must-see vantage point? Now this may sound odd but, off in the hills of Apple Valley, there is a place called Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary. It is located above the desert giving you an amazing view of the gorgeous sunsets we often experience here in the desert. And it offers a great view of the city lights once the sun has gone to sleep. You don’t have to go in the cemetery. Right outside the gates there is an open patch of dirt that you can park your car in and enjoy the view.

Sunset Hills. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

11. Who is the most noteworthy person to come from your home town? Miko Hughes, star of the famous Pet Sematary and Kindergarten Cop. Jason Varges of the Philadelphia Phillies. Country singer Brennley Brown. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are probably the most famous people that are known here in Apple Valley. Neither were born here but both of them lived here and passed away here. Victorville (which is the next city over) used to be the home of the Roy Rogers Museum. Roy Roger’s famous horse statue is still located in Apple Valley. Cuba Gooding Jr. (a famous actor) graduated from Apple Valley High school.

12. Most colorful character in your hometown? As far as I know we don’t have any colorful characters here.

13. The number one thing you miss when you are away? This might be the most typical Californian thing to say but when I am away from home for a long period of time the thing I miss the most is In n Out Burger. This is a California-based company and is located in select states outside of California. Every Californian knows this place. When I am home, I don’t eat it that often; when I have been away for weeks or months, the first thing I crave is In n Out.

In n Out. Photography by Calistatus Photography.

You will find Anna Marie here:

Instagram: @calistatus_photography
Facebook: @calistatusphotography

Meet Valerie :: Valerie Fernandez Photography (Vanuatu)

June 24, 2019 Emily McDonald

We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, Canada, United States and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month takes you off-the-beaten track to Vanuatu of all places! A little backstory from the Lonely Planet: “Vanuatu is a Pacific island adventure far beyond any notions of cruise-ship ports and flashy resorts. Deserted beaches, ancient culture, remote and rugged islands and world-class diving are just a small part of the magnetism of this scattered 80-plus island archipelago”. (You will find an interesting interactive map on this web page.) We have mentioned previously that we love getting to know the photographers behind the stories. Valerie, from Valerie Fernandez Photography, is lovely to converse with; you can be forgiven for thinking that you are on island time, too, as her warm, relaxed nature is contagious (the thought of living somewhere where you can forget to bring your phone with you? Yes, please - sign us up!). Since the flight time from our hometown to Vanuatu is less than 3 hours, you can bet that we have added this slice of sand, sea & sun to our bucket list. Thank you for joining in, Valerie, and for sharing stories from your part of the world with us! Enjoy!

Tell us about where you live?

I live in Vanuatu, a tiny island country in the South Pacific. It is about three hours flight away from Australia and New Zealand. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel a lot in my life and live in different places. I absolutely love discovering new places, cultures and people; however, I am also always happy to return home at some point. Beyond my obvious biases, there is something truly special about this country - something very raw, very simple and, to me, very authentic. I have found balance here between a life, passion and job that requires me to be connected at all times - as well as the need to actually not be connected at all times. It’s just easy to leave your phone at home around here. It’s easy to still connect with people face to face and not through some device. It’s easy to be spontaneous. I love that.

What makes your town/state/country unique?

Kava. Around 5pm here, most people are done for the day and usually gather in what we call “Nakamals” - a sort of outdoor version of a bar where one drinks “kava” (or other regular soft drink or beer). That’s probably the heart of the nivan culture and something unique. Kava is a drink extracted from a root with a very earthy, peppery taste. It isn’t alcohol. It is not a drug. However, it does have a relaxing effect (that turns to numbing if you abuse it). So everyday around 5pm, people gather for an hour - or two or three (it’s up to them) - and sit down outside. You will find some under majestic banyan trees or by the beach or wherever their favourite nakamal and crowd is. They just chat, catch up, connect. I love this about our culture. I love taking that hour of time to just be a human and connect with other humans, talking about everything and anything. Not knowing whether the conversation today will be silly and witty or deep and meaningful. I love that our lifestyle allows us be dedicated parents & committed business owners but still allows us time to be part of a community and see our friends almost every day. It gives us a wonderful balance. It allows us to transition nicely between our working day and our life at home, blow some steam, have a laugh, and still be back home early enough for family dinners, playtime and cuddles with our bub, and bedtime stories. Both my husband and I have spent years in cities like London and Paris where the everyday rhythm is crazy. Therefore, we appreciate time as our most treasurable thing today.

If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your country?

Tanna definitely. 100% Tanna. Vanuatu has about 80 islands. That’s a lot of tropical paradise to offer but Tanna is so special, it is actually, truly worth coming all the way from across the globe. Tanna is home to the world’s most accessible active volcano. By that, I mean that you can actually sit on its crater rim. As you watch the sun set over the ocean, you can witness the pure, raw force of nature. You will feel, hear, and see the volcanic eruptions and the sky and stars turn red (check out some footage here). If that’s not enough, Tanna has landscape like the moon, tropical beaches, lush green jungles, pristine waterfalls and blue caves all along its coast, accessible only by swimming in from the ocean. It’s a land for the old souls and the children at heart, the adventurers, & the wanderers.

Coffe or chai/tea?

Personally, coffee AND tea. ☺ I don’t know that I can shoutout for a fav coffee shop as that’s actually one of the things I miss about big cities… especially after 8 years spent in Paris where there are probably as many coffee shops as inhabitants. That isn’t to say we don’t have nice little coffee shops around here. We do but I can’t think of one that stands out particularly. What I can say, however, is that we have our very own coffee - 100% Vanuatu coffee. It is grown and harvested in Tanna and processed in Port Vila. That should be enough to make any coffee lover happy, don’t you think? And if that’s not enough, you could pair Vanuatu grown coffee with a Vanuatu tree to bar Gaston Chocolate, for example. ☺ Yes, we have that too. The cacao beans are grown and harvested in the outer island of Malekula, the chocolate bars are made in Gaston’s cute little shop downtown… and you can sip a cup of Tanna coffee while actually watching the chocolate being made!

Best breakfast café?

Hmmm… my loyalties are torn apart! I would say Jill’s Café for a typical homey feel. K2 for several reasons: amazing & healthy breakfast with a twist, traditional recipes revisited with local products & a creative flair, and wonderful coffee & fresh juice. Chantilly’s on the Bay, finally, for amazing breakfast with a view.

Three reasons for why someone should visit your country?

To unwind, stay in a heavenly resort away from it all and let the crystal clear waters and light palm breeze rejuvenate your soul and reconnect you with yourself and your loved ones. To go out of your comfort zone, experience a destination where twenty-first century lifestyle and traditional culture overlap, where you can have access to international standard comfort, or choose to be adventurous and go completely off-the-beaten tracks. Slow yourself. Come back to a rhythm that is healthy. Learn patience.

Any local legends?

None that come to my mind particularly. Having said that, the nivan culture is very, very mystic. Some of the most remote islands are known to be home to actual sorcerers and black magic. This is actually something that is taken seriously around here. As far as I’m concerned, well, just in case, I prefer to respect these beliefs. ☺

Train, bus or walk?

Bus. Our buses don’t follow a given itinerary. You stop them anywhere you would like a cab. Hop in, tell the driver where you are going and he will take you there. Bear in mind, though, that this works on a first come, first serve basis so it is worth making sure the bus you’re hoping on is going your way if you don’t want to end up going all over town before you reach your destination! ☺ (I suppose this could also answer your question about a local quirk! ☺)

Best accommodation?

There are so many options! Erakor Island is a small islet reached by a five minutes ferry ride over crystal clear blue waters with star fish all over the seabed. Breakas Resort for the surfing. Eratap and The Havannah for a truly romantic getaway. Ratua Island and Tanna Rockwater for absolute barefoot luxury, for a honeymoon or a quiet retreat.

Must see vantage point?

Clem’s Hill overlooking far into Port Vila, the harbor, Mele Bay, villages, coconut tree fields, Hideaway Island… there is so much of what is typical of Vanuatu in one panorama.

Most colorful character in your hometown?

Clement Martinez is maybe not the most colourful character in town but he is definitely worth visiting and chatting with. He is the friendly owner of “L’Houstalet”, a French restaurant he opened over forty - maybe even fifty - years ago now. And almost nothing has changed in the restaurant over the years. Clement and his restaurant are a part of Vanuatu’s history and have been the witness of it as well. They were here before we became an independent country, and they stay even after. If history isn’t your thing, he serves delicious pizza - as well as less ordinary dishes, such as lobster and flying fox. ☺

Number one thing you miss when you’re away?

My loved ones and my dogs. Also, the sights. I love the fact that I can see the ocean from almost everywhere, that nature is so present around us, & it makes me feel like I can just breathe better. I miss that when I’m away, for sure!

You will find Valerie here:

Information :: What Makes an Image Important

June 17, 2019 Emily McDonald

Narrowing down the options when choosing a wedding photographer is typically multifaceted. You want to love the photographer's work. You want a personality that "gets" you as individuals and as a couple (put simply, you want someone relatable!). You need to be able to afford them. With this is mind, some of the most important reasons for why we blog regularly (fyi: we blog once a week and this is our 128th post) are:

to tangibly demonstrate how passionate we are about our role as wedding photographers
to show who we are and what this means to you as our client
to share tips and ideas

Essentially, the kind of information that we are hoping will be important during your decision-making process. Today, we are sharing a little more about us & some food for thought for our clients. A recent discussion about some of our most memorable & personal images to date was the catalyst.

We work really hard on perfecting our craft. We focus a lot of attention on people skills, composition, chasing the most ideal light, depth of field... have we lost you yet? ;) We decided to strip all that back during our discussions and we challenged each other to think of our personal favourite images (rule time: we could only pick a maximum of 2 images). Of course, we both gravitated to ones that have all three of us in them. However, we currently do not share images of our daughter, Chloe, online. So we started again. Naturally, our minds drifted to favourite shots of the two of us - mostly taken during travels. With that in mind (and as the exercise was beginning to feel too easy!), we narrowed the criteria down even further: Pete had to choose two images that featured only him and I had to choose two that only featured me.

{Try this for yourself! You might surprise yourself with what you end up choosing. Actually, why don’t you stop reading now and pick out your two all-time favourites. We’ll come back to yours in a moment.}

In the end, Pete settled on one image. He felt that this one summed up everything for him:

I chose two as they are from a similar time period (same year) but during very different experiences and I find the polarity striking:

Interestingly, all three are “okay” images (definitely not terrible). However, are they perfectly composed? Was the lighting nailed? Honestly, does it even matter? All three tell a story that is important to the subject. Pete chose his representative image for a range of reasons. Skydiving was a dream come true. He was proud of himself for taking the risk. Pete experienced freedom that comes with… well, jumping out of a plane with all risks carefully calculated. I chose my graduation image as I was (and am) so proud of this achievement. It is something that was the result of hard work & dedication. I chose the one from my first time experiencing snow. This moment features in one of the top 10 days of my life to date. Experiencing snowfall was (in my case, anyway) a magical moment. I don’t usually take selfies but this was a moment I wanted to freeze forever - literally.

When you selected your two images, did you think anything along these lines, “I really like x one but I can’t possibly keep it! If I took it again, I would make sure I was a little more off-centre. If it followed the rule of thirds, I think I would be more inclined to keep it”… “Hmmm, this is a good one but the shadows on my face are too pronounced. I think I will scrap it. Shame really as it always makes me feel happy when I look at it!”… “Oooops - the highlights are blown! Forget it! …

Correct me if I am wrong but I am guessing that you chose based on how looking at those images makes you feel?

Capturing an image in such a way that the subjects feel something for the rest of time is at the heart and soul of wedding photography.

In conclusion, we wanted to take this opportunity to re-frame the importance of capturing the moments that are important to you. Yes, we will strive for perfect composition, image processing, lighting, timing, & storytelling. However, we will not compromise storytelling & capturing raw emotion at the expense of perfection. We want the resulting images to tell your story; not be representative of our “brand” per se. We want you to love your wedding photography for a lifetime.

Meet Kitty & Mark :: Requiem Images (United States)

May 27, 2019 Emily McDonald

This month, and our 125th blog post (random fact!), is all about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (United States), through the eyes of Kitty & Mark from Requiem Images. One of our favourite aspects of organising these features is getting to know the individuals involved; lovely Kitty & Mark are no exception. We have really enjoyed learning about their colourful corner of the world (showcased beautifully through their emotional photography) - and the personalities behind Requiem Images, too. (Our little one is a fan of Daniel Tiger; there is an interesting connection below!) Enjoy and thank you for joining in, Kitty & Mark! (All images below were taken in Pittsburgh.)

Tell us about where you live:

We travel regularly and try to experience as many cultures as possible so my family and I like to consider ourselves more global citizens than anything; however, the home we own and where we spend most of our time is in Pittsburgh, PA.

What makes your town, state or country unique?

Our city is unique because it’s like a hybrid of a small town and a city. We have a downtown with skyscrapers, lots of museums, parks, highways - so many things happening at any given time - but everyone knows one another and it’s essentially just a grouping of small, unique neighborhoods.

Also the bridges - Pittsburgh is rated 4th in the cities with the most number of bridges in the world.

If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town, state or country?

Mattress Factory, Warhol Museum, all the restaurants, Strip District, Lawrenceville - just make a week of it and experience all the little neighborhoods and see what each has to offer!

What is something quirky we would find in your town, state or country?

I wouldn’t say that Pittsburgh has one specific quirky feature, but rather that Pittsburgh is awesome because it is comprised of lots of little quirky aspects throughout the city and even its suburbs. Some great examples are The Mattress Factory (the worlds first museum dedicated to installation art), Picklesburgh (the highest-rated specialty food festival in the nation), the mass of dinosaur sculptures that can be found scattered around the city, monthly community ‘undies only’ bike rides, and so much more!

Coffee or chai tea?

Coffee. Because kids.

Best breakfast cafe?

Oooo that’s a good one! There are so many killer places to brunch in this town. If I absolutely have to chose, it's not necessarily a breakfast cafe but if I had to chose one place to go for brunch this weekend I would probably chose Eleven. My husband and I had brunch there for one of our first dates in Pittsburgh, so not only is the food great but the memories, as well. But seriously… there are tons of awesome places to brunch in Pittsburgh!

Three reasons for why someone should visit your town, state or country?

It’s super friendly, has an amazing art scene, and an even more amazing food scene.

Any local legends?

If we’re talking about people, there are loads! Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, Andy Warhol, Mr Rogers, loads of actors and musicians, etc.

If we’re talking events, I’ve mentioned several awesome happenings throughout the interview that are totally worth checking out!

Train, bus, car or walk?

Always try to walk if possible. It’s best for the environment and it can do a world of good, especially for someone who is self-employed, to just get outside for a few minutes. Luckily, we live in an area in Pitttsburgh that’s very walkable. One thing that makes Pittsburgh awesome is that there are lots of little walkable neighborhoods around the city - but if we have to get somewhere on the other side of the city we drive. (I would KILL to have an awesome train system in town!)

Best accommodation?

As a wedding photographer, I am pretty familiar with a lot of the hotels in town and I definitely have my favorites. My first choice would probably be the Ace Hotel - it's a former YMCA facility with a super cool vibe, amazing natural light pouring into all the rooms, a restaurant with great food, innovative cocktails, and it's in the perfect walkable part of town. If Ace is booked, some other faves include Hotel Monaco, Hotel Indigo, and the Fairmont downtown.

Must-see vantage point?

Mount Washington. Hands down. It offers a view of the entire city that can’t be beat.

Who is the most note-worthy person to come from your hometown?

Of course as an artist I’m biased, but I’d have to say Andy Warhol. My husband argues that it’s Mr. Rodgers (even though it often rains, Pittsburgh is a city filled with beautiful little neighborhoods).

Most colorful character in your hometown?

I’d have to say Tracy the Trailer Trash Girl. However, Sharon Needles and Alaska both deserve honorable mentions.

Number one thing you miss when you’re away?

Pittsburgh is amazing and wonderful but my honest answer has to be my comfy bed.

You will find Kitty & Mark here:

Website: Requiem Images
Instagram: @requiemimages
Facebook: @RequiemImages

Meet Patrick & Josée :: Dyade Photo (Canada)

April 29, 2019 Emily McDonald

We kicked off a new series in January featuring traveling photographers from around the world (most recent feature here; to date, the list includes Italy, United States and Australia). We make no secret of the fact that we love travel. We love learning about other cultures. We love contributing to a smaller, more interactive space. With this in mind, we are going to be sharing local stories by local photographers from around the world throughout our posts this year.

This month’s feature hails all the way from Quebec, Canada. We have been conversing with Patrick Dubuc and Josée Grondin from Dyade Photo during preparation for the following (very informative) blog post. Patrick & Josée are a delightful couple! Such fun-loving, easy-going photographers. Then they submitted their images for the post and left us swooning and re-prioritising our bucket list. You will see what we mean. Enjoy and thank you for joining in, Patrick & Josée!

Photography by Dyade Photo — Photography by *Dyade Photo*

Tell us about where you live

We have been moving a lot recently and have settled in Quebec City for about a year now. Both born in Montreal (about 2 hours and a half drive south-west from Quebec City), we love our new homeland because of its historical character and closeness to nature. Quebec City is pretty central to the province of Quebec and is an excellent base to make wonderful explorations.

What makes your town, state or country unique?

The province of Quebec is the only major French speaking province in Canada. The majority of its inhabitants speak French and English. Anglophone and Francophone cultures have been involved for hundreds of years and have greatly influenced our cultural heritage. Old Quebec City is the only walled city in North America. Inside its walls stands the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac, the most photographed hotel in the world. And in front of this hotel, pedestrians can walk the Dufferin Terrace which offers magnificent views of the St. Lawrence River. From Quebec City, this river widens significantly to eventually become a sea.

If I traveled from the opposite side of the world, what should I visit in your town, state or country?

If you are into outdoorsy activities, you definitely have to take the time to go to Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve. This place is out of this world. It features colossal limestone monoliths that evoke landscapes from primeval times. Or do what we call the Tour de la Gaspésie, a legendary scenic drive that loops around the huge Gaspé Peninsula. Both National Geographic Traveler and Michelin Green Guide have recognized that it is an exceptional roadtrip to undertake.

If you are more into city effervescence and/or historical charm, enjoy the many attractions offered by the two major cities in the province. Montreal is a big, busy, exhilarating, cosmopolitan and artistic city with so much to see and do. Incredible entertainment, historic architecture, glorious food, vibrant culture and a night life that never stops: Montréal has it all! At a slightly quieter pace than her big sister, Quebec City has just as much to offer. European charm, UNESCO World Heritage site, museums, summer festivals and foodie’s heaven.

What is something quirky we would find in your town, state or country

If you ever come in the Province of Quebec on July 1st, you will be surprised by the number of moving trucks you will come across. July 1st is our unofficial National Moving Day! The majority of people who move from one rental to another do it that day. It's unique in the world and we joke about having friends helping with the move getting paid with pizza and beer ;)

Coffee or chai/tea? (shoutout for fav coffee shop)

There are so many places to enjoy coffée or tea! Every Quebecer has his favorite coffee shop. But we are especially proud of our microbreweries. There has been a boom recently and several regional brews are emerging. Many areas in the province now have their Route de la Bière. So it's possible to add a microbrewery tour to your travel itinerary. What better way than to end a day of exploration with a drink in good company. We must say we have a preference for La Tête d’Allumette - beautifully settled in the Kamouraska region. One of the best places to enjoy a drink and the sunset over the St. Lawrence River.

Best breakfast cafe?

You have to have brunch at the internationally renowned Pied de Cochon located in the district of Plateau Mont-Royal in Montréal. It’s one of the most extravagant meals you will ever have. You can even have an ostrich egg for breakfast! Authentic dishes with real flavours of Quebec’s terroir.

Three reasons for why someone should visit your town, state or country?

Nature is always on our doorstep. And as if that were not enough, we are blessed by four magnificent seasons that mark Quebec's landscapes and allow us to do so many different activities. In winter, you can go snowshoeing, skiing, skating; in summer, you can go hiking, boating and camping in the same places. In winter, you will experience -30℉ and huge snow storms while summer can be as hot as the Caribbean. Oh, and autumn is just icing on the cake with the most colorful scenery of golds and reds and oranges you will ever contemplate! Finally, we don’t want to brag about it but Quebecers are known for their “joie de vivre”, colourful French accents, culinary traditions, and the warm welcome we extend to visitors.

Any local legends?

Celine Dion… Does that ring a bell? ;)

Train, bus, car or walk?

In Montréal and Quebec City, you can visit plenty of places by foot but if you truly want to immerse yourself in our beautiful province you have to have a car.

Best accommodation?

We are adventure lovers and we definitely have favorite places to sleep while on a trip. Have you ever thought of camping under the stars rocked by the breath of whales? You can do that at Camping Mer et Monde in Grandes-Bergeronnes. You can also sleep in a lighthouse on an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River at the Phare de l'Île-du-Pot-à-l'Eau-de-Vie. And why not sleep in a transparent bubble at the top of a tree? Canopée-lit in Sacré-Coeur offers unusual accommodation located on a large forest estate with trails and rivers.

Must-see vantage point?

You have to see Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve one time in your life. You have to go skiing at Le Massif de Charlevoix where the mountain ends at the sea. You have to contemplate the sunrise at the Mount Royal Belvedere in Montréal while the city slowly wakes up. By the way, it is THE best spot for french kissing at sunset ;)

Most colourful character in your hometown?

In Quebec City, the world’s snow capital, our snowman mascot named Bonhomme Carnaval is the official representative of the Quebec Winter Carnival. White as snow and clad in the red toque and arrow sash of our heroic past, Bonhomme embodies the joie de vivre of Quebecers! Enjoy a glass of Caribou while taking in the festive spirit of the Carnival!

Number one thing you miss when you're away?

Our National meal - the Poutine! You have to try this dish of french fries, gravy and melted cheese ;)

Everything you need to know about Dyade Photo here:

Name : Dyade Photo

Photographers : Patrick Dubuc and Josée Grondin

Location : Quebec City, Province of Québec, Canada

Website : https://www.dyadephoto.com

Intagram : https://www.instagram.com/dyadephoto/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/dyadephoto/