Venice, Italy. - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/02/2006 03:10:15 PM · #1

Anastasia and I am going to Venice in a couple of weeks to photograph the carneval/masquerade week. If anyone here has been to Venice before we would appreciate getting any tips about what to see, what to do, what not to do etc. We will be there for 5 days so we got a lot of time to do the whole shebang! Thanx.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

02/02/2006 03:16:41 PM · #2

Make sure you stay on the island (although for this festival it will be pricey). Night there is so different than day and you will not want to miss it.

But do it all! There really is not any bad experience, at least for me, in Venice. Even the tourist things are so rich in history that they are worth it.

Probalby the best advice I can give is just wander. Get off the main route between St. Marks and The Rialto bridge and you will discover the real neighborhoods. Many side canals and piazzas offering up great photo ops.

Message edited by author 2006-02-02 15:17:01.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/02/2006 03:26:39 PM · #3

Originally posted by jbsmithana:

Thanx that is good info! We have a hotel in the middle of the old city part near the train station so we are pretty central, although the prices have seemed to jump for the carneval period. Do you have any photos?

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/02/2006 03:37:17 PM · #4

Be sure to go to the Island of Burano.

Every building painted a different colour. Colour colour colour.

Edit: Burano, not Murano (Murano is where the glass is made, Burano is where the lace is made and everything is painted)

Message edited by author 2006-02-02 15:38:42.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/02/2006 03:39:01 PM · #5

You'll need fast, wide angle lenses and a good polarizer (for obvious reasons). Don't miss the Doge's Palace. There are a few pics in my portfolio.

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/02/2006 03:51:05 PM · #6

I'd love to go during the festival week! When I was in Venice though, I hated the touristy crowds beyond belief. I enjoyed getting lost in the alleways as far away from St. Mark's as possible.
One of the most enjoyable things I did was watch a Vivaldi concert imagining myself back in time. Don't watch one of the rubbish touristy Vivaldi shows though... I saw one of the best chamber ensembles I have ever seen. Very inspiring. Not very photographic, but it's good for really soaking up the history of the place.
Of course, everybody takes photos of Venice to death, so you may want to experiment with abstracts and experimental shots.
Have a great time,
Bob

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

02/02/2006 03:56:16 PM · #7

Great info so far thank you, I am taking notes :) MORE!

posthumous

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/02/2006 03:56:17 PM · #8

I have no practical advice, but here's a poem I wrote about Venice. I'll just provide a link because it has naughty words in it and I don't want to corrupt anyone:

//blackyak.com/poetry/archive/venezia.txt

FranziskaLang

Nikon D100

02/02/2006 04:06:08 PM · #9

Getting lost in the small streets was the most fun when we went there. The masked folks love posing for tourists (or maybe just tolerate tourists really well? :) so they'll be fun to take pix of. Here are some of mine:

//www.pbase.com/franziskalang/x2005italy_carneval

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

02/02/2006 04:08:08 PM · #10

Here's a few pictures of Burano that a friend of mine took

Burano, Italy

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

02/02/2006 04:13:39 PM · #11

Wow some amazing photos! Gordon I defintitely gotta go to Burano, looks so colorful!

Franziska great work! I remember seeing your entry for the best ot 2005. It should have done way better.

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

02/02/2006 04:19:40 PM · #12

I love Venice! I've been there several times. I mostly enjoyed just wondering around the city... It's so unique.

Mr Tee

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/02/2006 05:15:47 PM · #13

Went to Venice, Florence and Rome 2004, didn't do it justice because I took Mrs Tee for our 30th wedding anniversary and didn't want to spend the time taking pictures of everything that moved, or didn't. Most romantic City in the world.

A few images on my site

Message edited by author 2009-07-17 01:51:54.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/02/2006 05:23:20 PM · #14

Originally posted by kiwiness:

... Do you have any photos?

Just got back and saw this. Sorry but I do not have any uploaded to either of my sites at the moment. took them down last update. I was thinking of uploading a few for you but see that there are many already linked that far exceed mine.

Message edited by author 2006-02-03 00:33:47.

GuGi

Nikon D750

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

02/02/2006 05:29:25 PM · #15

Hello.
I have been to Venice twice, and will be going again. It is truly a fascinating city.
There are tourists in Venice at all times. But, as in almost all touristy places, it is easy to 'get rid of them' you just leave the streets they frequent. Well, you are a tourist yourself, but you know what I mean :-) You eat cheaper too if you stay off the tourist route. But Venice is an expensive place to be, but you will never forget your visit.
Buy a busticket for the whole day, they might even sell them for more then one day and then you can ride the busses (boats of course) as much as you like.
Wonderful photo-ops, 24 hours a day.

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

02/02/2006 06:22:49 PM · #16

The Carnival is fantastic! Be sure to get up very early ( around 5.30am/6am) and get to St mark's Square are and from there along the Grand canal on that side. The professional photographers use the early light and empty streets to do the model shots of the characters in costume so they are all there for you, posed and in the perfect position! The pros don't seem to mind you taking shots as long as you don't get in their way and also you get good candid shots. The early light is perfect for those "Canaletto" pics if the wearther is good ( it was low 60's when we were there two years ago for the carnival. Go down the bzck street to the small hidden squares to find stages set up for bands.

It's very busy but well worth it just to see those fantastic costumes and to heaar & see so much. If you can get tickets for the carnival ball you need a costume and masque.

Enjoy!

P

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

02/02/2006 07:09:19 PM · #17

get a pass for the water taxi and take a lap around the island. it's really fascinating and you get to see the "regulars" going about their daily business.

murano was cool, but i would have rather gone to burano had i had the chance.

Joe_Cool

Canon PowerShot G6

02/02/2006 07:17:50 PM · #18

If you are wanting to find cheap lodging and don't mind meeting some complete strangers, go to www.couchsurfing.com. It's pretty dang safe, I wouldn't worry about that. I'm a member and will be using it extensively when taking my tour of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and France next year. A good bet!

GolferDDS

Canon EOS R5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/02/2006 07:47:27 PM · #19

Hi Gary,
My son and I will be going to Venice in May. I look forward to you posting news and photos of your stay. We will also be spending some time in Florence. Can't decide how I am going to store all the pictures I am going to be taking.

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/02/2006 08:09:38 PM · #20

Originally posted by Riponlady:

Wow - this is about the best tip I have seen. Wish I was going during Carnival.

Imagineer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/02/2006 08:55:51 PM · #21

I was there for just a few days, but it's worth doing some touristy stuff (make sure you're tough in the gondolas and get a long trip if you ask for one!). Murano gallery is good if you like that kind of thing. If you go when Saturn is aligned with Mars and Jupiter, you may be lucky enough to see some pigeons in St Marks Square - provided you get there at the right time of day with a pair of binoculars.

Just walk around a lot - and don't forget your snorkel. It's murky but it's cheaper than a gondola!

The ride from the air[port is quite fun too. Kiss goodbye to the contents of your wallet and have good trip. Here are some glimpses of my visit:

- from top of tower in St Marks Square

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/03/2006 03:06:58 AM · #22

Thanks for the great tips and photos. This will help us a lot now. We leave on Feb the 20th so there is still a bit more time until then for more infos.

Jon do you mean by kissing goodbye to the contents of your wallet that it is so expensive there, or cos of pickpockets?

Imagineer

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/03/2006 03:08:26 AM · #23

Originally posted by kiwiness:

Not sure which is best - but I meant it's not particularly cheap!
: )

alexgarcia

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/03/2006 03:41:09 AM · #24

As most people has said walk and walk and walk. Don't be afraid of getting lost, you always arrive to somewhere. The best of all IMO is go to the less steped places. There are wonderful places, wonderful streets with no tourists at all.
It's a incredible city.
By the way, I have to come back some of this days.