Quebec's Cabins & Unusual Accomodations

In the last few years, I had the chance to explore Quebec much more than I used to. I liked to be in the four corners of the world, and I gave less importance to my province. Since then, I have become very interested in the world of cabins, unusual accommodations, and I have truly discovered a world that I am passionate about.

I had the opportunity to stay in beautiful places to photograph them. Here are in a few words and pictures, some of my most beautiful winter discoveries in Quebec!

 For this kind of photo escapade, I go with my usual equipment – my Canon EOS R6 and the 3 lenses I use most often:

•  Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
•  Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
•  RF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS USM

You'll see in this article that the EF 16-35mm is omnipresent in my daily life as a content creator!

Once the pictures are taken, I have fun tweaking my images on Lightroom, and sometimes I try different styles depending on the location and the inspiration of the moment!

On that note, I let you explore these accommodations through a few shots!

Let's start with Lagom, a small and modern cabin furnished with great attention to detail. A perfect cocoon for two people, on top of a mountain, with a large wooden deck and a superb panoramic view.

The EF 16-35mm is bright and very versatile for wide shots. It's my first choice for nature and landscapes, as well as indoor and outdoor cottages, and a lot of lifestyle shots.

This Lagom night shot is taken at f/3.0 and for 25 seconds, to get enough light in, but I kept the ISO as low as possible to minimize noise and grain.

Note that a tripod is essential for successful evening and night photography, so I always carry one with me. I recommend getting one that is compact enough to not take up too much space and motivate you to take it with you.

Here, the wide-angle shot makes a better immersion in the action (of pouring a coffee) while showing the beautiful environment.

Another favourite is Umari Casa. There is a nod to Tulum and Bali in the interior design, while the exterior is more Scandinavian-inspired - that's how I describe this great place. Plus there's a sauna adjacent to the bedroom and bathroom, as well as a built-in floor-level jacuzzi in the patio!

Indoors, the EF 16-35mm allows you to enlarge spaces with little distance and still take pictures of the whole.

I occasionally use a drone and I have to say that the new DJI Mini 3 Pro is great, as it can capture images horizontally as well as vertically, which is no longer an option for posting one's photographs and videos on social media. For the shot above, I had to crop a horizontal photo to a more phone-friendly aspect ratio, but of course I lost quality in addition to not getting the desired perspective. You will understand that I recently changed my aircraft to take advantage of the DJI Mini 3 Pro!

Next comes Réflexion Charlevoix, a chalet where the integration with nature is fabulous, thanks to the mirror façade. The interior is large and uncluttered, but still warm, and above all, nature is present from all points of view.

The EF 50mm is for more precise moments and subjects, such as architectural details, portraits or everyday moments where it is best to detach the subject from the background, as in this photograph where the focus emphasizes the decadence of the waffles by casting a nice blur on the beautiful white background.

Now it's time for a tour of the Hygge chalet. It is an architectural beauty in the middle of the forest where, once again, the use of mirrors gives a grand effect. The bottom floor is the bedroom, and the top floor is an open area with kitchen and living room. It's not very big, but every detail of the decor is well thought out and everything is made of high quality materials.

We end this tour with the A-Frame Saint-Adolphe. The A-frame type cottages have been democratized since the 1970's in the North-East of North America. There are many in Quebec, but very few for rent. This one is a fairly recent construction, built entirely by a couple in the Laurentides. This shape gives it magical angles and perspectives for a photographer.

In this photo, the wide angle effect of the 16-35mm is clearly visible. It allowed me to have the hot tub in the foreground without losing anything of the cottage.

Finally, the EF 16-35mm also allows you to give a POV effect to your photos, a perspective that allows you to really appreciate the action and the point of view of the person in the picture.

Through my lenses, here are some of the beautiful places I had the chance to visit and photograph. I hope it makes you want to enjoy the winter and not hesitate to explore Quebec!