On a warm summer night, I grabbed my camera and headed to downtown around sunset. I hadn’t been around the Byward Market area at this time of the day in a while. It was close to 10 pm and the sun had barely set.
I stopped by to see my favourite sculpture in Ottawa, “Maman” the huge spider by artist Louise Bourgeois, stuck between Notre-Dame church and the National Gallery of Canada. It was a perfect still summer night—barely any wind, which made long exposures photography easier.
I then climbed Nepean Point, where Samuel de Champlain statue overlooks Alexandra Bridge, Parliament Hill and the Ottawa River. A boat was cruising below and the music was loud but somehow, it added to the atmosphere.
I love night photography. It truly shows the other side of a city.
Oh it’s the spider again! I think I saw that once in your blog, but in daytime.
Why is the spider statue called “Maman?”
You really capture the mood of the evening in these pics. Great as always!
That spider gives me the creeps… it looks like something from a horror film! Would I be right to have seen the spiders before in Paris? I’m sure I saw them in jardin tuileries?
@Linguist-in-Waiting – Yes, I took pictures there in November with Gail… and occasionally during daytime.
@Soleil – I forgot the whole story, but basically she wanted a strong female, maman, in main cities around the world. There are mamans in Japan and Europe I believe.
@Kim – I wouldn’t be surprised, although I can’t remember seeing one in France. She scattered her spiders around the world and she is French originally, so it would make sense.
Ah, I thought I’d seen it before..
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4l0id_maman-de-louise-bourgeois-a-paris-v_creation
Bourgeois’ giant spider can still be seen in London sometimes.
It’s sad to learn about her death this year.
But she works can be seen in so many great cities in the world.
Salut Zhu,
Night photography is something that I haven’t done enought of.I like the idea that night changes verything,gives it color and new forms.
Another thing to put on my very long TO DO list 🙂
Really nice exposure’s, night time photography can be tricky
Je suis nulle pour prendre des photos la nuit – les miennes sont horribles. These are very good. I like them a lot. I especially like the spider.