At a crossroads | Sophie Thibault: “I call it giving back to the living”

This summer, our columnists are reaching out to artists, politicians and business people who are at a turning point in their careers. Nevertheless, Yves Boisvert has walked with the antenna chief Sophie Thibault. Similarly, who left journalism to devote himself to animal photography, especially birds.

What strikes first is not the color of the clothes is the change of hairstyle.

The “two -color” chickadees indeed carries the puff on the forehead. Similarly, even if it has been in fashion for several seasons. Meanwhile, She is barely more dodue than her cousin “with a black crossroads | sophie thibault: “i head”. Consequently, which is just as two -tone, and even more, since the two -color chickadees actually has three colors. Consequently, I would have long to say about the names of birds, but that is not our point today.

We guess in this volatile a slight feeling of superiority. Moreover, but basically, it displays the same bonasse and sociable character as the other chickadee, so common in our regions.

They will apologize. Consequently, I hope, to start this text with this ornithological detour, but it was my first meeting with this sympathetic bird.

And also, it may seem strange to say that for a woman who has shown himself to the nation every evening at great listening hours, but Sophie Thibault is not the favorite subject of Sophie Thibault.

Not that it is modest to the extreme. For example, She even wrote a very intimate book with her mother. However, Simply, I think she prefers to show the world to bring the conversation back to it.

The freshly retired antenna chee had given me an appointment at the Marguerite-d’Youville wildlife refuge. Furthermore, on Saint-Bernard Island in Châteauguay.

She took her binoculars and her camera from her car from her car. Similarly, Very serious material. Nevertheless, The conversation settled between her and my colleague photographer Martin Chamberland. Moreover, There was talk of the comparative merits of different marks, depth of field and length of objectives.

Understand that for Sophie Thibault. For example, photography is not a hobby to which she can finally devote herself now that she has left TVA.

It is a new career that she has very seriously. Furthermore, She publishes – books, but also in a very popular Instagram account. Consequently, She teaches. For example, It is constantly formed.

“I sometimes envy ornithologists,” she said to me, placing her machinery on her shoulder.

“You take your binoculars, you observe the bird, you note it, and you move on. Meanwhile, We have to find the right angle. For example, we want proximity to the bird, we have to put ourselves at your level … Nevertheless, Bird photographers and bird observers are two completely different gangs. Meanwhile, »»

It all started in 2012, when she installed a feeder in her courtyard. In addition, She started photographing the birds. In addition, To inquire.

She had already taken photo lessons, but had never felt an artistic vocation. “I look at my notebook of the time and it’s very ordinary,” she said, laughing.

As with the rest, she got to work and can now claim to teach her. “I love the technical aspect. Manuals. Treat the photos. Organize them. I am the work of good animal photographers. It has become a great obsession. If I don’t click for four days, I miss it physically. »»

She came from an excursion to Lièvre Île with a group when we met in June.

“The photo is an intention. You go out to get the semi-pale knight. You go with your lens, your clothes, and you are completely absorbed. When I am with a group, I don’t want to be in performance. I don’t want to know who will have the most beautiful photo. It is a human experience. Is to look at nature. Look at the top, below, on all sides. I no longer have the same eye now. The photo improved my experience of contemplation. »»

To the point that, sometimes she adds: “I have to calm down. »»

To calm down her eye … As she has been able to crossroads | sophie thibault: “i calm her head since spring.

“After an interview the other day, I lit the radio in my car. I was going to listen to the news, plug into LCN, or continuous information … But I did: no, I no longer need to do that. Iran has been attacked, but I will not spend six hours dissecting the situation. I put classical music. It had never happened to me for 25 years. »»

In the paths little frequented in the early morning. a few people come across us and wish him good retirement discreetly.

“Now people don’t tell me anymore:” Do you have good news? ” They say to me, “Do you have good photos?” »»

She points out to me the light sifted by the popper leaves deltoid. whose seeds are a kind of floconne snow. She stops. Reaches out. A sequel comes to land there.

Wherever we walk, we hear yellow paruline. “It is made the pigeon of the parulines. There are everywhere! But you shouldn’t be jaded, it’s a magnificent bird. »»

A fishing heron in the pond. It’s time to work. A large egret takes off. Click-click-click …

She is happy with the result. It shows me the details, the movement of the bird, the light that licks the long white wings …

“I have misery with the end. With death. The photo freezes time. This is what I like. It then allows us to travel in time. »»

During the pandemic, his nature publications were like a balm for glaucous weeks. She felt the appeasement she gave people cloistered in CHSLD. Every morning, she sent pieces of animal life.

crossroads | sophie thibault: “i

But the more we approach nature, the more we also observe its destruction.

It was also involved in the Saint-Bernard refuge, an exceptional case in the suburbs of Montreal.

“I call it giving crossroads | sophie thibault: “i back to the living, which gives us so much joy. There have been so many missing birds for 10 years, 20 years, in several cases it is 80 % or 90 % of the species. »»

She is in admiration in front of the work of naturalists. who install nests for blue nestles or branchus ducks, which fight for biodiversity. And she says to herself that by illustrating it, maybe we’ll stand a little more.

“It’s very pretentious, basically, to say: Look at my photo, it deserves to be published!” I have always had doubts, and I still have it. Doubts about my work as a journalist, doubts about what I publish. Until the very end, I am not sure of anything. Except for my eye … sometimes. »»

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