St Emond du Cantebury Church
St. Edmund of Canterbury is a Catholic church in Beaconsfield, Quebec, that dates back to 1960s. It was designed by Roger D'Astous, one of Quebec's most respected modernist architects. The building itself is immediately eye catching. The roof line sweeps down from a sharp central peak topped with a cross, curving outward into wide overhanging eaves that give the whole structure a unique tent like shape. A diamond lattice window fills the peak and catches the light differently depending on the time of day. The exterior is full of contrasts with the upper walls made up of deep red wood siding, and the base is natural fieldstone, rough and uncut. The entrance is modest, a small wooden doorway centred under the massive roof line that pulls your eye right to the center of the frame. The church faces the street with a lawn and walkway leading up to it, so you can get a clean, symmetrical shots from the sidewalk. The strong geometry of the roof line and the diamond window work well against a clear sky, and the red siding really pops on sunny days. Remember that this church is an active parish, so check the mass schedule if you want to photograph the interior and respect the space of congregation while you are shooting the exterior. (Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada)
