VISIT the PHOTO GALLERY

I have made some amazing contacts during the many photo workshops I’ve conducted in Venice, and this means that my groups get unbelievable pictures during this 7 day trip — as you can see when you visit the photo gallery. We shoot costumed models in a gondola, in a 17th century palace, and in other locations that provide stunning backgrounds.  You will be breathless after each day of shooting simply because the outrageous costumes, the colors, and the medieval backdrops will afford you the best pictures you’ve ever taken in Europe.

SUMMARY

Venice is a wonderful and romantic place to visit at any time during the year, but during Carnival it is unbelievable.  Set in a medieval environment with stunning architecture and history behind every door is a festival that photographers just shouldn’t miss.  In this beautiful island city, scores of people compete with each other for the most outrageous and creative costumes imaginable.  The colors are breathtaking and the imagination of the designers knows no bounds.  However many pictures you think you will take at this event, multiply that by at least five (on the 2010 trip, one man shot 35 gigs in one day!).  Trust me … your camera will be smoking on a daily basis!  In addition to the many costumed people to photograph in San Marco Square and elsewhere in Venice, we will also have several sessions where we will have  models in full costume under our direction.  The model shoots will be in different locations, one of which is on Burano Island which is famous for it’s amazing colorful architecture.

Duration: 7 days

Dates: February 2 – February 8 (you must arrive by the 2nd, and your flight home will be on February 8 unless you have other plans to extend your trip).

Tour cost:   $2995

Single supplement:   $685

Included: all hotels (accommodation in double rooms) , all breakfasts, welcome and farewell dinners (excluding alcoholic beverages), transportation (from and back to the airport by a combination of bus and public water taxi), week-long Venice public water taxi pass, photo instruction, models, critiques of your work).

Not included: international transportation to Venice, alcoholic beverages, tips, private water taxi directly from the airport to the hotel if you choose that option.  A visa is not required to visit Italy for American citizens.

HIGHLIGHTS

– Spectacular photography of costumed carnival participants
– Controlled model shoots
– Twilight photography of some of the most famous architecture in Europe
– Critique sessions of your work
– Discussion of Photoshop techniques to enhance your images
– One of the best travel experiences you’ll ever have

ITINERARY

We will stay in one hotel during our time in Venice, so there is no packing and unpacking.  Each day, we will photograph carnival and the city of Venice.  This will include Burano Island, St. George Island, the famous Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Cathedral and San Marco Square.  I reserve the entire hotel, so our photo lectures and critique sessions take place in the lobby.  The actual day by day itinerary varies because it depends on the weather, where exactly large congregations of  models occur, and what events are taking place in Venice.  Each day, though, will be packed with brilliant photographic opportunities.

PLEASE NOTE:  This workshop has a lot of walking.  The only way to get around Venice is by foot and by boat.  There are no cars at all because there are no roads. You will be given a week-long boat pass, but there are some places we shoot that can only be reached by foot.

If you have trouble walking or negotiating steps, some of the activities may be too difficult and I don’t recommend this trip for you.

TOPICS

Among the many topics Jim will cover in the informal lectures are:

1. How to shoot people

2. How to protect the highlights from blowing out in your pictures

3. The RAW workflow

4. Composition techniques

5. Professionally replacing backgrounds in Photoshop

6. How to expose your images successfully at twilight

7. Creatively using extreme wide angle lenses

8.. How to clean your sensor

9.  How to use off-camera flash (this makes a HUGE difference in  your flash photography)

10. Understanding white balance

ACTIVITIES

SKILL LEVEL