B-12 Snowmobile, a photo from Quebec, Central

Photographer's Note

During the winter Carnival of Quebec city, you can(for a couple of dollars of course...) ride in one of the B-12 snowmobiles.

This is a color photo that I transformed in sepia to help create the old feeling. The color version is posted as a workshop. Let me know which one you prefer.

Here is a little history on the snowmobile.

In 1941, the inventor of the snowmobile Joseph-Armand Bombardier build his first "autoneige" (snow car)and called it B12. It was much more aero-dynamic than the B-7 model. The famous B-12 snowmobile sold worldwide immediately after the war. For example, 1,000 B-12 vehicles were produced in each of the years 1947, ‘48, and ‘49. The B-12 was a very useful snow vehicle in that it could transport twelve enclosed passengers at one time in addition to various kinds of materials during severe winter conditions.

Bombardier Inc. is now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of transportation vehicles. Such well-known consumer products as Ski-Doo® and the just-as-popular watercraft Sea-Doo® have made the name Bombardier recognized worldwide. The company created by the canadian Armand Bombardier has become one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers operating Canadair (Canada), deHavilland Inc. (Canada), Learjet Inc. (the United States) as well as Short Brothers PLC (the United Kingdom).

Steely, steeve, danbachmann, vasilis ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

Cougar (1752) 2004-02-10 9:08

Belle composition, seul les personnages en couleur ajoute une note d'hier a aujourd'hui. Manque-t-il un peu de texture dans cette neige?

avigur_11 (22535) 2004-02-10 9:14

The color and sepia combination works very well here, Paul. I kike this snowmobile, it really looks old. The street light and very strange when you can't see any street. Well done, Paul.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-02-10 9:19

I would probably have posted the color version (particularly due to the beautiful blue color of the old snowmobiles), but I appreciate the "old-time" effect you accomplished with your post-processing. With all the snow, the vehicles and people appear to be coming from and going to nowhere; the lamppost is a nice means of orientation. Excellent note as well, you should try and sell this to Bombardier for an ad ;-) Well done, Paul.

hftey (390) 2004-02-10 9:22

I really thought this was an old photo archive of yours. I like the b/w

dlavoie72 (1243) 2004-02-10 10:19

Très belle photo rustique qui nous donne un beau souvenir de quoi pouvait avoir l'air nos hivers d'antan! Le cadre rehausse bien le caractère viellot du sujet.

allotfy (1525) 2004-02-10 10:55

Great idea paul mixing between sepia and colors, i like your note .. thanks for showing new things to us

glider (690) 2004-02-10 11:15

Very nice subject Paul, it´s interesting and very well composed. I like b/w tones and framing. Well done.

ninadev (5377) 2004-02-10 12:29

J'avais été invitée à aller au Carnaval de Québec et j'ai refusé, je commence à le regretter à force de voir tes photos et celles de Jacques Pettigrew.... J'aime beaucoup cette composition mixte sepia et couleur. La présence de ces personnes et du lampadaire ajoute vraiment à la photo et le deuxième B12 ajoute de la profondeur. La version couleur est jolie aussi, difficile choix à faire.

PechePassion (483) 2004-02-10 15:35

la voila ma photo coup de coeur du jour !
extra !
exra ce moment de vie on s'amuse bien on Quebec !

Motrem (2392) 2004-02-10 20:09

Je préfère cette version-ci. La douceur des tons donne un effet sublime à l'image. Souvenir et beauté me viennent à l'esprit en regardant ces engins d'autrefois utilisés aujourd'hui. Un petit regret: j'aurais préféré que les personnages soient plus dégagés car on dirait que le lampadaire leur pousse sur la tête.

orme (7219) 2004-02-11 3:51

Good shot, Paul. I like the way you used sepia - it definitely makes the snowmobile look old and therefore less capable to deal with the snow. Keeping the people in colour is a nice touch. Great note.

jrj (34843) 2004-02-11 5:13

Great post work and a fine effect from the falling snow. We have one of this (at least very much alike) crossing a frozen lake up in the high mountains. Interesting additional notes too Paul

henrye (3500) 2004-02-11 6:56

I like both versions, in color and in sepia. Very interesting subject, and a very interesting note too! The sepia tone helps to create that atmosphere of a time gone by. Well done!

dsidwell (9783) 2004-02-11 19:28

These are strange vehicles! I like how your image creates a 'retro' feel to them. Lots of interesting action, too!

joseelias (0) 2004-02-13 10:32

Although I like this one, especially the way people in color contrast with the sepia, I think I preffer the color version.

The reason is that the vehicle has such an antique look that it contrasts a lot with the bright nice colors.

Besides that I like the tight crop and the action in the photo. The other vehicle in the background was in the perfect place. Excelent note.

Georges (11185) 2004-02-13 14:22

Mais c'est super comme jouet sa et il doivent bien s'amuser avec cette drôle de machine!!!
Ici tout attire mon regard et allé je la conserve dans mes favorites
Merci Paul pour cette découverte

Tim (469) 2004-03-09 17:29

Paul, while I do like the colored version, I prefer this "old" look. Nicely done and thanks for posting it!

Steely (895) 2004-03-21 0:44 [Comment]

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steeve (1497) 2004-03-21 18:40

We could believe the pic has been taken years ago but the people bring us to the present which make an interesting contrast. Original idea, well done indeed Paul.

denisef (0) 2004-05-13 14:13

J'aime vraiment le mélange de couleur et sépia.Du très bon boulot

photomania (0) 2004-05-15 16:28

I love how you have played with the colors here. Very nicely done.

danbachmann (1746) 2004-10-15 14:42

Fasinating note and interesting machine. I'd pay a few bucks for a cruise in one of those - it looks so sturdy and cozy, though I imagine with less snow they are not used so often.

Great image with the two B-12s, the snow and the kids & lamp in between. The angle of the approaching Bombardier give a sense of motion. Very well executed

cdewet (0) 2004-10-23 12:48

Hi Paul
Very nice, a sort of 1950's look to it.
Also, it looks brrrr cold. Gimme summer anyday!

greg64g (11193) 2005-03-29 8:05

Bonjour Paul,

Je suis tombe un peu par hasard sur cette photo, je la trouve superbe, je connaissais pas ce vehicule.
Amicalement
Greg