The lazzaretto Phantom, a photo from Quebec, Central

Photographer's Note

This shot was taken in a lazzaretto (sort of hospital)on Grosse Ile (Quebec)in the St-Lawrence river near Montmagny. This island was used from 1832 to 1947 as a quarantine site for the immigrants before they landed on the continent. The red room was used to diminish the symptoms of the people suffering from smallpox since they were very sensitive to light. Since this picture was taken during a tour and we were really pushed around to go fast in our visit, I did not have time to really choose the appropriate setting on my camera but I am pleased with the result. I had set my camera for night portrait and since the shutter speed is quite slow and I had no time to install my tripod it caused this blurred effect of the standing tourist in the window which reminds me of a phantom. I find this appropriate for this kind of memorial site where more than 5000 irishman died of typhus in 5 months.

hispic, RandomCameraGuy, joso, Brendon, ilghiz, kasianowak heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

thien (2112) 2003-07-08 18:44

Wow, this is surreal. The colors here is incredible. The man next to the yellow lighted window is just wonderful. This is your best to date. Superb!!!!

Wow, quelle photo. Superb. Les couleurs sont phenomenales. Votre meilleure jusqu'à date.

Mike (693) 2003-07-08 19:16

Yes! a happy accident photo, and when they happen they throw all the rules out of the window, yet still manage to make a superb image, surreal, vivid and abstract, it goes immediately into my favourites, wonderful!

momshu (505) 2003-07-08 20:00

Fate even has a place in photography.
The story line is great to have but even without the image is intriguing.

masterrye (575) 2003-07-08 22:42

Great photo! It looks like a pastle paiting... I hope I can take accidental shots like yours :D

gringofil (0) 2003-07-08 23:50

Really surreal looking image. The red just jumps out and grabs me here. Very well done! My only comment would be to upload a less compressed image.

adam (860) 2003-07-09 2:40

At first I figured it was some kind of Photoshop manipulation, but after reading your excellent description I'm really impressed by this shot. The slow shutter speed gives it a timeless quality to the whole scene.

Luko (14000) 2003-07-09 4:32

This is absolutely amazing. Blur for this pic indeed better than without.
Moreover you managed to get a very good and interesting compo in a very brief time : the masses are excellent while the wall and floor angles are leading the eye straight to the window and character.

lemon_logix (1054) 2003-07-10 12:00

captivating. Makes people want to take a second look. thought provoking too. something about the room, about the figure at the window.

touristdidi (8583) 2003-07-12 4:08

A ghost longing for home......... come to where the streets are paved with gold.......very, very nice, good thinking to use an "accident"................because it fits so good to the story.......

greg (2835) 2003-07-12 7:52

fabulous mood in this picture! well chosen!

ornis (1271) 2003-07-13 17:55

Unexpected, as you mentionned in your very interesting notes... but so close to the story that it makes it a stunning shot, with fairy tales colors and a fantastic mood. What's the make of your "camera capable to catch phantoms"? Great unbelievable shot.

huglac (238) 2003-07-14 8:47

Speciale comme photo. Très bien réussie. Bravo!
Very well done. Bravo!

Motrem (2392) 2003-07-20 8:33

En regardant ce fantôme, j'ai éprouvé un instant de stupeur... Le jaune et le rouge, heureux mélange. Excellente composition. Bravo!

Teten (582) 2003-07-22 9:12

Well Nina, very nice photo, the red colour and the the blurred man make this shot special for me. Reading your note maybe i could imagine myself there locked...

drogoul (107) 2003-09-02 14:38

Je viens de découvrir cette photo -- et j'en suis amoureux. Elle me rappelle le tableau d'un peintre (mais je ne sais plus, évidemment, qui...). La composition, déjà, est superbe. Bravo.

I just discovered this picture -- and I felt in love with it. It reminds me of the work of a painter (but who ? I don't remember). The composition is incredible. Bravo.

carolynanna (1324) 2003-09-16 16:59

Now this is my kind of shot. I love your description. So much has been said about it, so I just wanted to give you a big green smilie.

clodreno (0) 2003-11-24 6:23

What a nice photo. I love it... Mysterious, The colors are wonderful, the mood incredible. Just love it.

Mary (844) 2003-11-24 6:54

This one is just fabulous! I would like to have it at my home! ;) Red, strong, impressive, emotional, and that beautiful yellow window that allows me to imagine what i want! Favourite, of course!

pascalbene (1717) 2003-12-21 18:48

A pure pleasure.

padam (186) 2004-01-19 10:22

So expressive. Simply art.

photosettle (1554) 2004-02-13 13:18

I think the red lighting here is great w/ a simple composition. Was that a photoshop technique? Enjoy your photos.

Gaelle (753) 2004-02-17 2:34

Wouah, elle est presque un peu angoissante cette photo ! pour une photo "accidentelle" c'est très réussi, et l'idée du phantome est très bien assorti au lieu.

Vagabond (5848) 2004-02-20 13:25

Truly fantastic picture. I enjoy too the very interesting description about this "Hospital"

jacob (289) 2004-02-22 6:50

Great photo!
The surreal ambience is perfectly captured!

zeidan (73) 2004-03-01 12:36

just great even after the blur tourist ...actually this blurness gave it more buty.
and if u came to egypt again just tell me :)

SylFondacci (4087) 2004-07-21 13:39

Bonjour Nina, quelle photo ! quelle atmosphere !!! j'adore ...
Sylvie

sn00zie (2384) 2004-11-18 7:28

beautiful piece of art Nina. the colors are amazing, the effect superb; truly surreal...

RandomCameraGuy (3071) 2005-03-04 0:15

Absolutely superb!!! Love the colours, the blur, the feeling! An instant favourite!

Brendon (289) 2006-04-04 23:53

Considering the circumstances of the room and the history as to what it was used for, I dont think any other picture would be justified. Very glad you didnt have time for all the extra camera setups. Extremely haunting photo with the red room and yellow window + the ghostly figure. Look out Steven King!

jone (3231) 2006-04-12 11:36 [Comment]

Show Comment

ilghiz (708) 2007-03-18 0:11

well the effect is great. the tourist seems to belong to this place. i mean he seems to have spent a lot of time here. but at the same time his soul, his mind are far away. he wants to escape. the composition draws attentiopn to the prisonner (???).. to the mind prisonner... looks as if it were a picture of someones mind... Surreal? Yeah, but not in daliesque way. Seems you've invented your own sur... I thought so after looking at your other pix.
--------------------
I found out that the other pics were not yours
matrix looking pic

martusia (512) 2007-09-21 7:35

Świetne!
Surrealistyczne, jak obraz.
Brawo!

CLODO (45116) 2010-07-15 23:33

Hi Nina

Very attractive colors, and the blurr effect adds to the mystery. I wish I had done it!
Cheers
CLODO

kasianowak (17676) 2013-10-22 1:36

Hi Nina
Interesting image and the blur even though not intended makes for artistic effect.
Best wishes
Kasia