Dawn is my favorite time to be up and about in Venice. The beautiful town is on full display, and for an hour or so it seems likes it’s just for me.

There’s an exhilaration that takes over as I walk down the dark streets – so narrow that I can touch the buildings on either side at the same time, but so full of rich history and beauty.

I remember one morning I was so excited to be out headed toward my chosen photo op that I forgot to bring my camera. How does that happen…? As I returned sheepishly to our hotel room to pick it up, my wife reminded me that most professionals would have remembered to bring their gear with them – thanks for the tip! 🙂

The pre-dawn in Piazza San Marco is breathtaking. The architectural details impressive under the glow of ancient lamps. The dark blue sky beginning to glow with the coming dawn. That’s the rush, as you witness these incredible scenes coming to life.

The biggest challenge in these situations is picking out what to shoot. There are so many possibilities and you just don’t have time to get them all. Oh well, there’ll just have to be more trips to Venice.

As the sunlight begins to warm everything in it’s path there’s a moment where you feel like you’ve stepped onto an opera stage – or like you’ve been featured in an old painting. But there’s work to do, photos to be made, so you can’t linger too long. And when you’ve finally finished your shooting for the morning, there’s that great jolt of espresso waiting for you at the cafe.

I can’t wait to go back and do it again!

 

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Sunrise over Venice, Italy

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Pre-dawn at the Doge’s Palace, Venice, Italy

 

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