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The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
The Lights Of Venice
February 23 to 26 2027VENEZIA PHOTO MASTERS

THE LIGHTS OF VENICE

Venezia Photo Masters
From dawn to sunset
Academy Workshop
Sale price€1.490,00
Finance my workshop

A 3-day workshop from first light to sunset hour. Discover how Venice transforms through the day

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

Venice is never the same city twice.

At dawn, the lagoon turns pale and almost silent. As the city wakes, stone, water and façades begin to catch the first light. Later, the sun drops lower, reflections deepen, colours shift, and Venice slowly moves into blue hour and night.

The Lights of Venice is a 3-day immersive photography experience dedicated to one of the city’s most extraordinary qualities: its constantly changing light.

Through a carefully paced programme of early-morning, evening and night photography, participants learn how to observe these transitions and translate them into more personal, atmospheric images. The emphasis is not on chasing postcard views, but on understanding how light changes the mood of a place and how timing, exposure, framing, colour and movement can completely transform a photograph.

Guidance takes place directly in the field and is adapted to each participant’s level. From the first glow over the lagoon to reflections after dark, the experience combines photography, exploration and the pleasure of being in Venice at the moments when the city is at its most cinematic.

No advanced photographic experience is required. What matters is curiosity, a camera, and the desire to experience Venice through light.

Each participant will leave the workshop with a printed photograph of their own work, selected during the final editing session.

Additional sessions will be scheduled throughout 2027. For more information and upcoming dates, please contact jeanne@veneziaphoto.org. 

About Venezia Photo Academy

Discover Venice through the eyes of exceptional photographers.

Building on ten years of experience organising photography workshops in Venice, Venezia Photo introduces its Academy: a year-round programme of immersive photographic experiences led by renowned professional photographers who know the city intimately.

Laurent Dequick, a photographer and architect by training, is the author of Grand Canal, published by Éditions du Chêne, a remarkable photographic book featuring a 38-metre panoramic exploration of Venice’s iconic waterway.

Ludwig Favre, an internationally recognised fine art photographer known for his distinctive use of colour, light and architecture, has exhibited in Paris, New York and Tokyo. He has collaborated with Leica, Adobe, Hasselblad and Condé Nast, and his work is represented in the permanent collection of the Ford Foundation in New York.

Each workshop is led by either Laurent Dequick or Ludwig Favre, offering participants an exclusive experience alongside an accomplished photographer, the opportunity to refine their photographic skills and discover a side of Venice beyond the familiar sights.

More photographers will soon join the Academy, bringing fresh artistic perspectives and enriching the range of experiences offered throughout the year.

DURATION & LOCATION
3 Days - San Servolo - Venice

LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

English

REQUIRED LEVEL

All levels are welcomed

MAX PARTICIPANTS

12

BIO

PEDAGOGICAL LEARNING

  • Learn to observe and photograph the different qualities of natural light throughout the day
  • Understand how dawn, low evening light, blue hour and night change the atmosphere of an image
  • Improve exposure, framing, colour balance and stability in changing light conditions
  • Learn to photograph reflections, silhouettes and movement
  • Gain confidence working in low light and at night
  • Develop a more instinctive sense of timing
  • Build a coherent visual selection based on light, mood and atmosphere
  • Learn how to edit and refine a small photographic series

SKILLS TARGETED

  • Reading natural light
  • Exposure in changing conditions
  • Composition and framing
  • Colour and white balance
  • Reflections and silhouettes
  • Low-light photography
  • Working with movement
  • Visual storytelling through atmosphere
  • Image selection and sequencing

TARGET AUDIENCE

The Light of Venice is designed for curious travellers, photography lovers and amateur photographers who want to experience Venice at its most atmospheric. It is suitable for both beginners and more experienced photographers. Guidance is adapted to each participant’s level, with an emphasis on practical learning directly in real shooting situations. No professional experience is required.

PREREQUISITES

Participants should bring a digital camera they are comfortable using, their preferred lens or lenses, charged batteries and charger, memory cards and the necessary cables or card readers for transferring images.

A laptop with photo-editing software is recommended if available, but is not mandatory.

The experience includes early starts, evening sessions and several hours of walking through Venice. Comfortable shoes, weather protection and warm clothing during the colder months are recommended.

Detailed program

DAY 1 — CHASING THE EVENING LIGHT

San Servolo & Venice

10:00 am – 12:00 pm | Welcome to San Servolo

The experience begins on San Servolo Island with an introduction to the group, the rhythm of the workshop and the different qualities of light participants will explore over the next two days.

Essential camera settings are reviewed, including exposure, focus, white balance and stability.

12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch & Conversation

A relaxed lunch on the island before heading into Venice.

Afternoon | First Exploration

The first photographic walk is dedicated to observing how Venice responds to afternoon light.

Participants begin working with reflected light, surfaces, changing contrast and the relationship between narrow streets and open spaces, with individual guidance throughout.

Around 1.5 Hours Before Sunset | The Light Begins to Fall

As the sun lowers, the group settles into a carefully selected area where the light can be observed changing gradually.

The focus is on silhouettes, reflections, water and the subtle shift from daylight towards evening.

Rather than moving constantly, participants learn the value of staying with a scene and watching how a single point of view transforms over time.

Twilight & Blue Hour | Photographing the Transition

The city changes minute by minute.

Participants photograph the transition from natural light to illuminated Venice, learning how to balance sky, water and artificial lights while adjusting exposure as conditions evolve.

After Blue Hour | Return to San Servolo

Return to the island and rest ahead of the early start the following morning.

DAY 2 — FROM DAWN TO NIGHT

Venice

Before Sunrise | First Light on the Lagoon

The day begins before the city fully wakes.

Participants arrive in Venice in time to photograph the first colours of the sky, the movement of boats, reflections on the water and the quiet atmosphere of early morning.

This is a session about subtlety: reading low light, controlling exposure and working with the stillness and rhythm of a city before the crowds arrive.

Morning | The City Wakes Up

As daylight strengthens, the group continues photographing the changing relationship between light, stone, movement and everyday life.

Attention shifts to early shadows, the first activity in the streets and how morning light reveals texture and depth.

Late Morning & Midday | Free Time

A genuine break between the early-morning and evening sessions.

Participants can rest, enjoy Venice independently or make an informal first selection of images.

Late Afternoon | Preparing for the Evening Light

The group reconvenes for a short review of the morning’s photographs and individual guidance before heading back into the city.

Around 1.5 Hours Before Sunset | Golden Light

The second evening session focuses on low, directional light, reflections, silhouettes and colour.

Participants work on timing and positioning, learning how small changes in angle and exposure can create dramatically different results.

Blue Hour | Between Day and Night

As daylight fades, the group works through the brief and visually rich transition into blue hour.

Participants learn to anticipate the moment rather than react to it, exploring the balance between ambient light and the city’s first illuminations.

After Blue Hour | Venice at Night

The experience continues into the night.

The focus shifts to windows, reflections, passages, movement and human presence, using either a tripod or handheld techniques depending on the situation.

The aim is not simply to photograph darkness, but to discover how Venice changes once artificial light takes over.

DAY 3 — THE STORY IN THE LIGHT

Venice & San Servolo

9:00 am – 12:00 pm | Final Shooting Session in Venice

The final day begins with one last photographic session in Venice.

Participants return to the city with a clearer understanding of how to read and respond to light, putting into practice everything explored over the previous two days.

This final session is an opportunity to refine a personal visual direction, complete a series, revisit an idea, or simply respond to the morning light one last time.

12:00 – 1:00 pm | Return to San Servolo & Lunch

Return to San Servolo for lunch together and an informal conversation about the morning’s shooting and the experience as a whole.

1:00 – 3:30 pm | Editing & Final Touches

Participants review and refine their strongest photographs from the workshop.

The group looks at atmosphere, rhythm, colour, consistency and the way light shapes the emotional impact of an image.

With individual guidance, each participant builds a final selection and makes subtle adjustments to brightness, contrast, colour or black and white, while preserving the natural quality of the light captured in camera.

3:30 – 5:00 pm | Final Presentation & Closing Discussion

The workshop concludes with a group presentation of each participant’s final selection.

Participants share their work and reflect on how their perception of light — and of Venice — evolved throughout the experience.

The session ends with collective feedback and a final discussion on how to continue working with light more intentionally in future photographic practice.

The workshop ends at 5:00 pm.

The programme is indicative and may be adjusted by Venezia Photo and the photographer according to weather conditions, light, transportation schedules, the pace of the group and the needs of participants.
What's included
  • 3-day photography workshop with a Venezia Photo Master
  • Small-group photographic walks in Venice
  • Individual photographic guidance throughout the workshop
  • Image reviews and editing sessions
  • Any equipment loans
  • Access to the workshop space on San Servolo Island
  • Fine art printing session
What's not included
  • Return transport to Venice and San Servolo
  • Accommodation: 100 rooms are available on site, in San Servolo, otherwise you'll need to arrange your own accommodation in Venice
  • Meals
  • Vaporettos and other water cabs outside the excursions scheduled as part of the workshop
  • All insurance cover for lost or stolen luggage, delayed or cancelled transport, theft or breakage of equipment during the workshop
Evaluation methods
  • Continuous assessment through daily individual feedback and group discussions
  • Final presentation of each participant’s work during the collective screening
  • End-of-session evaluation and self-assessment form to measure satisfaction and learning outcomes
  • Access to a shared alumni group for post-workshop dialogue and creative exchange
After the training

Participants’ work may be featured through Venezia Photo’s communication channels (newsletter, website, social media).
A private online group will allow participants to stay connected, share projects, and continue discussions beyond the workshop.
Accessibility

All efforts are made to accommodate participants with disabilities. Please contact us in advance for adaptation of conditions.