Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 126 islands on the Adriatic Sea that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are linked by 472 bridges. Venice has been known as "La Dominante", "La Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals".
The Venice Carnevale, is easily the world's most beautiful festival, chracterised by the Venetian Masks and their very elaborate and outrageous costumes.
The Carnival traces its origins to the Middle Ages, existing for several centuries until it was abolished in 1797. The tradition was revived in 1979, and the modern event now attracts approximately 3 million visitors annually. According to legend, the Carnival of Venice began after the military victory of the Venetian Republic over the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrich II von Treven, in the year 1162. In honour of this victory, the people started to dance and gather in St Mark's Square. Apparently, this festival started in that period and became official during the Renaissance.
This is one of my photography teachers, Ms Florine Houee. She has been at the Venice Carnevale for more than 20 years now. Every year, she comes with about 3-4 costumes, two will have a Fairy Tale element to it, and then one steampunk and one other. She always look good in photos. This is her costume this year, a pale yellow costume fit for a Queen and with a ship on her wig. The picture is taken inside a 15th century Venetian palace and using only natural lighting. Florine wants to combine all the elements of the city in this costume to provide everyone with a window into the Venice Carnevale, exactly like how she showed me all the little details necessary to create a good photograph of the Venetian festival.
