Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs is the main Catholic church in Portneuf, a small town on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. The building you see now went up in 1928 and 1929, after a fire destroyed the original church. Its soaring steeple is a tall landmark you can pick out from around town. The church lines up perfectly with Rue St Louis so you can back up and take in the entire front view, with the roadway as the perfect leading line. Closer in, there are many intricate details to capture with its pop of red from the main doors to the original 1862 rectory next door and the old cemetery nearby. Low sun warms the exterior, so early mornings or late afternoon works perfectly here. The steeple casts a long shadow that can be fun to experiment with capturing. You can shoot the outside from the public sidewalks any time. Since it's still an active parish, capturing the inside will be affected by Mass times and open hours. When shooting the interior remember to keep it low-key, and don't shoot during a service. The whole parish block is a recognized heritage site, rectory and all, so there is lots to explore. (Portneuf, Quebec, Canada)
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