Venice
I was able to travel light and avoid checking bags by taking only a single camera body and a single lens (Olympus OM-1with a 12-100mm zoom). I also shot with my iPhone 13 and captured this photo, which is one of my favorites.
Invited back to Europe by photographers Scott Kelby and Mimo Meidany for another one of their exclusive photographers’ workshops, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be among a small group shooting in Venice, despite the 12-hour time difference from my home in Honolulu.
My first afternoon I visited Burano ahead of the workshop. Although it’s technically part of the city of Venice, this tiny island in the Lagoon has a slow-paced, village-like atmosphere with plenty of charm. Some say the bright colors of the buildings made it easier for fishermen to find their houses through the fog.
What do most tourists see when visiting Venice? Other tourists. We did our best to avoid shooting them. :)
Two tricks for doing so: one, get up and out while others are still sleeping to catch the sunrise and early morning light; and, two, shoot long exposures that turn moving objects into ghosts. Every day was a long day (which included photo editing in the early afternoon) and worth the lack of sleep.
Up at 4:45 am, I took this shot of the Rialto Bridge (below) at sunrise.
One of the highlights of this trip for my inner architect was a private tour of the spectacular Teatro La Fenice opera house, built in 1792, that is still in operation today.
In addition, I was on a mission to find and photograph gondoliers who fit my image of having come straight from central casting: wearing a red-striped shirt (some wear blue and/or black-striped shirts) and straw hat (most were hatless).
Since the 17th century, gondoliers have been ambassadors and custodians of a tradition that combines technical, historical, and cultural knowledge. This young, stylish gentleman below comes from a long line of gondoliers; he told me that his gondola was built by his grandfather.
Scott and Mimo surprised us by hiring a couple of models who rocked different outfits and enhanced the beauty of our shots. (Most gondolas are full of tourists in baseball hats taking selfies.)
Built in 1600, the often-photographed white limestone Bridge of Sighs connects the prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. The bridge's English name was bestowed by Lord Byron in the 19th century from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells.
Despite its popularity, Venice lives up to its reputation as the city of dreams. So glad I went!
P.S. Scott Kelby creates a unique gift for all workshop participants: a magazine layout. To see mine from Venice, please click below.
