Details: This is a two-day workshop designed for a small group (6 people).
You will photograph not only the colorful carnival costumes, but also the best known attractions such St. Marco’s Square, Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sights, St. George Island, and the Grand Canale. If the weather is nice, we can also take a boat trip to the colorful island of Burano, known for its brightly colored fishermen’s houses.
I will make sure that we will be out early (before the huge crowds), so we’ll capture the beautiful sunrise light which will increase our chances to take impressive shots. My aim is to help you not only to go back home with some great photos, but also stimulate your creativity and to improve your photography technique in general.
We will have individual and group discussions where I will guide you, we will generate ideas, and most importantly, we will have fun!
Friday 21st February
11.00
After check in at our hotels we can either walk around Venice ( I know a location where the masks meet) or take the water bus to Burano – depending on the weather.
It’s best to visit Burano on a sunny day.
In the afternoon we will return to Piazza San Marco and can take a short trip to San Giorgio Island to photograph the masks. These is a place were the masks are gathering and only few people know about it.
We can stay near San Marco square at Blue hour to take some photos of the lagoon or go to Ponte Dell’Academia to take some iconic photos of Santa Maria della Salute.
Free time after 7.30 pm.
Every night during the Carnival there will be live music and dancing in Piazza San Marco.
Saturday 22nd February
We will start the day at sunrise at (6.30am) in Piazza San Marco. This is the main opportunity to photograph the costumed people – before the huge crowds arrive in the square.
Also, at around 7.00 am, the square is usually closed by Police for around 30min for check ups – they want to make sure everyone is safe. If we are in the square, near Doge’s Palace there is no problem to take photos. Otherwise we will have to wait outside and miss the best time with the masks.
If we are lucky, the sunrise will help us create beautiful pictures with the masks and the Venetian lagoon. Foggy mornings also offer great opportunities for photos.
We will stay in Piazza San Marco until 8.30-9.00. After that we will go to the hotel to have breakfast and leave the tripods and other equipment that we don’t need during the day We will meet again at 10.00 for a walking trip around Venice or we can go to Burano ( if we haven’t been there the previous day, on Friday).
In Venice we can go up to the Campanilla to have a nice view of Venice lagoon, walk to Rialto Bridge, Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Ponte dell’Accademia, Arsenale, Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, Punta de la Dogana ( Dorsoduro area), Old Jewish quarter, Teatro La Fenice etc.
There are a lot of lesser known areas of Venice where I can take you. We would want to avoid San Marco square at noon because it will be packed with tourists.
Saturday afternoon (4.30 pm) will be again in San Marco Square/ San Giorgio island to photograph the costumes. These two locations provide us the best opportunities to take good photos of the masks.
We can have dinner together at 7.30 and discuss our photos.
Sunday 23rd February
Same program as Saturday in the morning – we will start the day at sunrise at (6.30am) in Piazza San Marco.
At 10.00, again a walk around Venice to photograh the architecture, the people, the gondolas etc
The workshop will finish around 4.00pm.
Equipment: I recommend a dSLR type camera with lenses which allow you to shoot subjects near and far (for example a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm), a tripod, spare batteries and spare storage cards.
This course is designed for Beginner and Intermediate levels.
Price: 590 CHF per person includes learning about your camera settings and capabilities (ISO, exposure, focusing), advise on how to get the best images (locations, composition, technique), and how to establish a rapport with the ‘models’ in carnival costumes, while at the same time dealing with other photographers present.
You will learn also some post processing techniques for Lightroom and Photoshop.
A non-refundable deposit of 250 CHF is due by 5th February 2020 in order to secure your place. If you bring a friend, you both get a discount of 50 CHF off the price of the workshop.
The price doesn’t include international travel, meals, drinks, insurance, accommodation, or airport transfers. However, I can give you some recommendations for accommodation and means of transportation.
