Softair gun

Sometimes, when on assignment, I stop shooting and say out loud: “Men! I’m PAID to do that!”

It was the case with this one. “Softair gun” is a mix between BB gun (fusil à air comprimé) and paintball gun. The story was about a bunch of kids playing with them in a remote suburb of Quebec city, and how dangerous they can be. I asked a kid to shoot me at point blank. And yes, it hurt.

Anyway, I decided to do this assignment in a very “immersive” way. I was running everywhere with them, taking cover with them, and sometime getting hit by a stray bullet. That was so much fun!

Sony Gravel-Paquet, left, tries to dodge a bullet from Emmanuel Talbot-Lanciault, center, as Maxime Labrecque looks on during a « softair gun » battle in St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, 50km east of Quebec city. A mix of paintball and BB gun, the softair gun is restricted elsewhere but not in Quebec. Photo Francis Vachon for the Montreal Gazette
Technical: Canon EOS 1D mark II, 1/160 at f4.5 with a 16-35 at 27mm – ISO 200

William Guilbault, left, uses Alexis Herrmann as a human shield during a « softair gun » battle in St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, 50km east of Quebec city. A mix of paintball and BB gun, the softair gun is restricted elsewhere but not in Quebec. Photo Francis Vachon for the Montreal Gazette
Technical: Canon EOS 1D mark II, 1/1600 at f4.5 with a 70-200 at 135mm – ISO 400

Alexis Herrmann tries to dodge a bullet from Elodie Talbot-Lanciault’s gun during a « softair gun » battle in St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, 50km east of Quebec city. A mix of paintball and BB gun, the softair gun is restricted elsewhere but not in Quebec. Photo Francis Vachon for the Montreal Gazette
Technical: Canon EOS 1D mark II, 1/500 at f4.5 with a 70-200 at 200mm – ISO 200