Venice is the place where I started my photography career.
I first encountered the Venice Carnevale as a tourist in 2014, attending my teacher Jim Zuckerman's photo workshop, and then guest starring as a Masked Costumer for the same photo workshop. Thereafter, I come to Venice every year during the Carnevale to create portraits for some of the most beautiful people and best costumers of the world, and of course to help out at my teacher's photo workshop.
Venice has long been a source of inspiration for authors, playwrights, and poets, and at the forefront of the technological development of printing and publishing.
Tourism has been a major part of the Venetian economy since the 18th century, when Venice—with its beautiful cityscape, uniqueness, and rich musical and artistic cultural heritage—was a stop on the Grand Tour. In the 19th century, Venice became a fashionable centre for the "rich and famous", who often stayed and dined at luxury establishments such as the Danieli Hotel and the Caffè Florian, and continued to be a fashionable city into the early 20th century. In the 1980s, the Carnival of Venice was revived; and the city has become a major centre of international conferences and festivals, such as the prestigious Venice Biennale and the Venice Film Festival, which attract visitors from all over the world for their theatrical, cultural, cinematic, artistic, and musical productions.
And for a long time, I have been fascinated by the adventures and stories of Marco Polo.
So naturally, this is the best birthplace for me as a Travel Photographer.
It is not difficult to fall in love with Venice, there are plenty of interesting architecture, cobblestone streets that look exactly like those in fairy tales, great hotels, good food and beautiful souvenirs. And then the many festivals that provide the perfect photo opportunities.
Nowadays, every trip here is an opportunity to meet up with friends, have a meal together at the local restaurants, enjoy a gondola ride down the canals and of course to take a couple of memorable photos together.
Pictured here is the very beautiful Jeanne Renee Georjon, one of the most famous Masked Costumers at the Venice Carnevale. She is a professional doll maker by trade and does all her own costumes and masks. She is a long time friend of my teacher Jim Zuckerman and here we are, touring one of the palaces together. The palace interiors were cold for a winter afternoon and the lady stood near the window for some warmth from the sunlight. I called out to Jeanne and snapped a photo. The photo was done using natural lighting only. For me, every photo needs to look like a movie poster or a book cover. And it must have a feel of the place, colours, mood and time of the venue...Yes, these places are real, and these people are real...welcome to my world...