Day 1: The Dawn of Carnevale

Day 1 begins in the dark, well before sunrise, as the first masqueraders arrive to be photographed in the early light. Marco helps you work with the low light and with people in costume who are happy to pose, before the crowds start to pour. As the city wakes, he turns your attention to the Venetians starting their day around the festivities, from a grocer unloading crates to a gondolier readying his boat. After coffee and a pastry, you move into quieter neighborhoods away from the crowds, with a cicchetti stop later in the day. The day ends in the late afternoon with your first photo review, where Marco looks at your pictures with you and suggests what to try on day 2.

Getting up in the dark on a February morning is the price of admission. In the hour or so before sunrise, the masqueraders come out for the empty squares while they are still fresh for the day, and are glad to pose for a photographer who asks well. Marco knows where they go at that hour, and he seems to know where things will happen before they do. On your own, in the dark, you would be hard pressed to find them. Morning is also when the setting works hard. Fog drifting over the San Marco basin and through the canals creates silhouettes against the water and the domes beyond, and the light catches the silk and gold of the costumes. It’s a good time to discuss the creativity and detail of the costumes themselves. If the weather turns, Marco changes the plan with it.