Venice – A Photographer’s Paradise
Story & Photography by Howe Sim: published on iExplore, Mar 2008
As our express train from Rome
pulled into Venice’s main train station, we peered out our large cabin windows
for a first glance of the unique floating city. On exiting the railway station,
we were immediately greeted by the impressive Grand Canal, the city’s longest
and widest waterway. I immediately sensed that this stop on our two and a half
week tour of Italy would be one of the richest in terms of photo
opportunities.
The Rialto
Bridge gondola station is one of the larger and more popular ones in
Venice
D70s, 1/2000s,
f/3.5, nikon 18-200 @ 18mm, ISO200
It was already early evening when we
arrived in Venice, so we decided to make a beeline for our hotel. We boarded
the next vaporetto (water bus), which, after a 40-minute ride down the
entire length of the Grand Canal, dropped us off at the Piazza San Marco (St
Mark’s Square) stop, just minutes from our hotel. A one-way ticket down the
canal on the vaporetto cost 5€ per person, a mere fraction of the price
of a taxi acquei (water taxi) and especially the ridiculously expensive
gondola.
In spite of the
high prices charged for a gondola ride, they are still
popular among
tourists and locals, especially on weekends and holidays
D70s, 1/320s,
f/3.5, nikon 18-200 @ 18mm, ISO200
The next day we decided to take a
leisurely vaporetto cruise back up to the railway station, then make our
way back to our hotel on foot. Many of the best photos of the century-old
buildings lining the Canal can be had from a ‘window’ seat or one of the
outdoor seats in the prow. Just keep an eye on your knapsack and wallet while
you’re admiring the views. As with any city teeming with tourists, there is the
potential for theft and pickpocketing, especially on a crowded vaporetto.
When we reached the railway station, we
disembarked. Armed with our detailed
street map, we began wandering through the labyrinth of pedestrian-only streets
that Venice is famous for. In spite of our map (or perhaps because of it), we
got lost countless times. After a while
we realized that the best way to navigate through the city was by following the
yellow signs that direct you towards the city’s main landmarks, such as the
train station or Rialto Bridge.
The best way to
find our way around the streets of Venice is to follow the yellow
yellow
directional signs guiding you towards one of the city’s main landmarks
D70s, 1/2000s,
f/4, nikon 18-200 @ 26mm, ISO200
Once we realized that getting lost in this
very safe city was the norm, we were able to relax and leisurely stroll through
its alleyways. Many of my favorite images, particularly those of crumbling
building exteriors and flower-adorned balconies, were taken on back streets
that we had accidentally stumbled upon. Another terrific location for photos,
especially of locals selling their produce and souvenirs, was the famous
bustling Rialto marketplace.
This is the Venetian equivalent of
a garage door, except that a rowboat rather than a car is housed within
D70s, 1/100s,
f/5, nikon 18-200 @ 27mm, ISO200
Before long, hours had passed and it was
time for lunch (which for many locals is a bigger meal than dinner). Just as
with accommodation in this most expensive of Italian cities, meals in Venice
tend to be rather pricey. If you want to cut costs, consider eating at
neighborhood bars called bacari, where you can still enjoy a tasty pizza
or tramezzini for under 10€. Alternatively prepare a picnic and dine al
fresco. Do try to avoid the tour group-packed ristorantes; these are
easily identified by their menus, which are translated into English, German,
French and Japanese.
Venice has
surprisingly few supermarkets, so grocery boats such
as this one
selling fruits and vegetables tend to be quite popular
D70s, 1/500s,
f/3.8, nikon 18-200 @ 24mm, ISO200
The following day we decided to get an
early start to avoid the big crowds that typically invade the city by late
morning. Our first stop was the Piazza
San Marco, one of the world’s most famous squares. Originally home to a
lighthouse and a pair of churches, it is now known for its opulent Basilica,
the majestic Palazzo Ducale where the city’s doges (dukes) once lived,
and the 97-metre tall Campanile bell tower, which offers a panoramic view of
the city. Fortunately our visit to the square was timed early enough that it
was still occupied mostly by flocks of pigeons, which can make for some
interesting shots.
Tens of
thousands of pigeons make Piazza San Marco their
home, in
anticipation of being fed by curious tourists
D70s, 1/1000s,
f/3.5, nikon 18-200 @ 18mm, ISO200
After taking a self-guided audio tour
through the enormous Palazzo Ducale, we spent the rest of the day visiting
several other popular attractions, including the massive white-marble Santa
Maria della Salute church, the Peggy Guggenheim contemporary art collection,
and the spiritual Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Most churches, palaces and
galleries forbid the indoor use of cameras, even without the use of flash or
tripod.
Artists of all
kinds, such as this painter, find Venice offers
a wealth of
opportunity for their creative expression
D70s, 1/800s,
f/4.2, nikon 18-200 @ 29mm, ISO200
On our final day in Venice, we visited the
nearby islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello. Of these, the one generally
considered most photogenic is the small seafaring island of Burano, known for
its myriad of colorfully painted houses and storefronts. This island getaway happens to be a very
popular stop for tour groups, so try to get there before they do.
Burano attracts
many day visitors because of its brightly colored houses
D70s, 1/320s,
f/9, nikon 18-200 @ 22mm, ISO200
Our three
days in Venice was far too short in this gloriously decaying city. On our next
visit here, we intend to spend most of our time exploring the neighborhoods
where tourists seldom tread, where we can better appreciate what locals love
most about their serene and beautiful city.