Italy Travel Guides for Photographers - Venice, Rome...

The Best Photography Locations in Venice, Italy

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 01:20:04 +0000

Your guide to the Best Photo Spots in Venice Want to know where to take good photos in Venice? Scroll down to read this guide which lists all the best photography spots in this photogenic canal city. Venice floods the imagination with an atmosphere of creative nautical wonder. It’s a city of incredible architecture built solely on water where cars are replaced with teak boats and gondolas. A labyrinth of colourful canals weaves its way through islands joined by romantic little bridges and open squares play classical music that echoes between Gothic palaces. This Italian gem has my heart and it’s my favourite city in the world to photograph. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting during Carnival (see photos from my trip here) or if you’ve got Venice lined up as one of your upcoming destinations then this Location Scout is for you. Below you’ll find a list of the best six locations to capture this romantic Italian city along with a few little extras to test out if you’ve got time. Here’s a map to get started that shows an ideal walking path that will get you to everywhere listed in this guide… Venice Photography Locations #1 St...

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Venice Carnival Photographs – Canals and Celebrations

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 21:31:34 +0000

Venice is one of the best cities you can visit as a photographer. The colours and charm, the canals and mystery, not to mention the gondolas, restaurants and character filled squares. So many elements make up this incredible Italian city and all are just waiting to be photographed. Each year in late January to early February you can take all of those elements and mix in a little magic. People in elaborate costumes and extravagant masks roam the streets often posing on bridges or beside the gondolas so photographers can snap those iconic shots. Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival and it’s a great opportunity to capture the city and it’s traditions. Carnival is currently happening until February 9th so if you happen to be nearby, be sure to take a peek! Most of the photo opportunities happen in and around St Marks Square with scheduled performances, parades and of course the grand evening balls. The events however are no secret to photographers so if you stumble upon a photogenic scene during the festivities, you’ll no doubt be joined be a paparazzi squad. To avoid the crowds try and head out at sunrise to capture the early fog rising in...

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Views of Vernazza – Photographing the Cinque Terre

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 21:38:57 +0000

Looking at this colourful fishing village on the Italian coast today you would never believe that four years ago it was buried four metres deep in mud. Torrential rain in October 2011 caused flash flooding and mudslides that left the town covered with debris and in a state of emergency. Today however Vernazza is back, and sparkling as bright as ever. One of the most traditional fishing villages along the Mediterranean Coast, Vernazza is a must see when visiting the Cinque Terre. Photo opportunities are endless with hikes and walking trails leading to view points that gaze upon the village and sea below. Be sure to schedule an entire day here so you can photograph the sunlight changing the rainbow of colourful facades displayed throughout the village. Once the sun sets the harbour becomes a dimly lit scene of reflections with the port side atmosphere alive as al fresco dining steals the attention from the fishing boats that bob gently in the calm sea. Here is a little collection of images to inspire your next holiday to this incredibly photogenic region of Italy…

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Your Guide to the Best Photography Locations in Florence, Italy

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 06:28:38 +0000

Florence Photography Locations Your guide to finding the best vantage points and photo spots in Florence… Terracotta roof tops, hidden courtyards and streets alive with historical features. Florence is a city to get lost in with your camera. Roam under the Tuscan sun and soak up the Italian culture in the city where bicycles and motorbikes are more popular than cars. Below is a little guide and map to the best photography locations in Florence for your next visit… Florence Photography Locations #1 Fiume Arno (River Arno) Weaving its way through the centre of Florence, the river is alive with photography opportunities. Rowers carve along the waterway creating sparkles of sunshine on the water surface. If the conditions are nice and still you’ll find loads of reflection possibilities around dusk with colourful facades doubling up in the river. Best for: Reflections and creative angles of the facades of Florence. (Learn how to creatively use reflections here) #2 The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore – The Duomo Climbing to the top of cathedrals in Europe always offer unbeatable views over the cities below. The Duomo of Florence however goes one step further. You are barely restricted at the top and have...

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Weekend Wanderlust: Photographing Siena in Three Hours

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 08:20:21 +0000

Pretty doesn’t begin to describe the Tuscan town of Siena. Perched on top of a hill overlooking rolling green fields with the Tuscan sun glowing down upon it, this Italian wonder is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Once you visit it’s easy to understand why. The medieval architecture, extravagant cathedrals and terraced houses that cascade down the hill are a dream to photograph. The atmosphere conjured up within the Piazza del Campo and along the winding streets almost says a welcoming ‘Ciao’ as you wander around. Colourful laundry hangs from window sills and cobble stoned pavements lead the way to historic corners of country charm. I visited Siena on a whim and jumped off my train to Florence to quickly explore for three hours with my camera. I don’t recommend this at all though…as soon as I saw the skyline of Siena I knew I needed a few days to explore and capture the many magical offerings. Be sure to give yourself at least a weekend to soak it all up! The town is relatively easy to explore if like me you are visiting on a tight schedule just be sure to have some idea of what you want to...

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Weekend Wanderlust: Verona, Italy

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 08:00:44 +0000

If you find yourself in Italy, don’t skip Verona. Even if it’s just an overnight stop this gem is well worth the visit just to sit with your legs dangling over the walls of Piazzale Castel San Pietro and photograph as the sun sets over the entire city. Pretty little Verona holds it’s own amongst the big nearby names of Venice and Florence when it comes to romance, drama and medieval architecture. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet remains the cities hallmark but just as loved up are the streets filled with fresh flowers blooming out of their tin buckets and the flowing Adige River which cascades through the city under bridges. The city is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with it’s inclusion due to “Verona being an outstanding example of a town that has developed progressively and uninterruptedly over two thousand years, incorporating artistic elements of the highest quality from each succeeding period.” Here are some photographs to inspire your next visit to Verona, Italy!

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Location Scout: Rome, Italy

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 06:58:00 +0000

With an air of history and buildings that house stories of days gone by, Rome has had my heart since the very first day I got lost in its cobble stoned streets. From a photographer’s perspective, the warm afternoon light that shines upon Rome’s cathedral dome’s is akin to gold and when it seeps between facades gently highlighting the cracked walls and window sills overflowing with flower pots it’s utter perfection. This edition of Location Scout showcases my top five photography locations in Rome, how to find them and when is best to shoot there. I stand by the ‘get wonderfully lost’ art of travel however if you can wander your way to these locations around the suggested times, fingers crossed you’ll have some pretty magical lighting for your photographs. St Peter’s Square, Vatican City Now I’m not religious in any way but there is something that draws me toward St Peter’s Basilica every time I visit Rome. Technically it’s in another country, Vatican City, and while during the day there are too many tourists to count let alone attempt a clear photo, by night it’s a different story. Wander here after dusk and witness the glowing Basilica with hardly...

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NH Porta Rossa, Florence

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:55:18 +0000

Where to Stay in Florence NH Portra Rossa: Website for Bookings Via Porta Rossa, 19, 50123 Firenze, Italy Researching hotels in Florence left me a little spoilt for choice. Based in the historic centre with a room that had some character and a comfy bed was my check list. The only thing that made my choice difficult was that most hotels are in charming buildings, it is Florence after all and almost all have something special about them. Then I came across the NH Porta Rossa. A little gem amongst the endless list of options. I kind of fell in love with an image of this hotel more than anything else and to be honest this happens pretty regularly with me. The photograph showed a narrow alley leading toward the historic façade of the 12th century building, rustic wooden shutters and ornate detailing around the giant red doorway, it just looked so welcoming and I could instantly see myself walking along the street and right into this hotel. NH Porta Rossa boasts more than 70 rooms each restored and decorated with white marble, natural wood and in some, original ceiling frescoes. I stayed in a standard room which despite being...

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