Welome to Venice,
Queen of the Adriatic
October 5-10, 2025
Embark on a nocturnal workshop October 5-10, 2025 with night photographers Jeff McCrum and Shehab Hossain in Venice! We understand everyone’s concern, Venice can be confusing enough during the day but you do not have to worry about where we are going, your job is going to be about capturing amazing images in the astonishing UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dive into five nights of photographing the essence of this timeless city, guided by their expertise through high and low as we walk ancient alleyways and up over the 472 charming bridges. Our trip includes a guided after hours trip into the San Marco Basilica with the the majestic Pala d’Oro altarpiece and a rare experience down into the crypt! We have picked October as it is the most likely time of year to capture acqua alta, where some parts of Venice have several inches of water in them, forming amazing camera opportunities with the reflective streets and squares. There are always rised walkways placed around the city, you’ll only get your feet wet only by choice.
We will explore hidden corners of the majestic San Marco Basilica, tour the iconic Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge, and take in panoramic views from the towering campanile. We will also be working in light painting and techniques with light orbs while still taking the time to have class on night photography techniques where we also discuss panoramas, Little Planets, star trails, reflections, and creative techniques to use anywhere in the world. Don't miss this unique opportunity to paint Venice's nightscape with your lens!
We encourage non-photographic guests! Additional charges based on lodging, admissions, and other costs, please feel free to email us. To find out more about the agenda, equipment, cancellation or other policies, please click here.
Our typical days:
While our intent is night photography Venice is beautiful before dawn as well! Getting up early to capture the first blue hour of the day and enjoying the warm sunshine stretch across the city. This is a wholly optional shoot as the group will depart the hotel most days by 6 AM and back around 8 for breakfast and sometimes you just want to rest.
Around 9 the class will meet to have a discussion about the topic of the day, review images and discuss any other other photography ideas, issues, concerns, or interests. Then a break for lunch and the freedom for you to tour Venice as you see fit: museums, churches, shopping, or shooting around town.
Shehab and Jeff will be taking time to trek out to some outer islands like Burano, Torcello, Giudecca, and San Michele and would happily invite anyone along who would like to go. Exploring Venice itself is also highly recommended, following your whim along and discovering your own hidden joys of the city. During the first day we will talk you through navigating the labyrinth of the medieval pathways so no matter where we go everyone can make their way back home again.
In the early evening the group will meet up again at the hotel, usually around 5:30, to depart for evening adventures to capture blue hour. Most restaurants in Venice are not open until after 7 so the intent is to have a look at the area during daytime, have a dinner break then meet up again around 8:30 to continue shooting in the night. We can stick together as one larger unit or separate into two groups, whatever makes things easier.
Overall, the intent is to have some flexibility when the weather provides interesting opportunities. October typically has the most acqua alta times for the year and we are scheduling this workshop around high tide. Staying near Piazza San Marco and a vaporetto stop will allow us to get to a lot of beautiful places very easily as nature develops. For example, if the class gets the opportunity to shoot the acqua alta or fog at some point we will definitely take advantage of these opportunities. We want to be able to help you create amazing images for your portfolio and help you showcase your vision of one of the most stunning cities in the world.
Day One: Connecting to the City
Be met at the airport (VCE) and transfer to your hotels in the best introduction to Venice: a private water taxi! We will then take lunch at Piazza San Marco, the cultural heart of the city and have an orientation for our adventure from the top of the Campanile.
After lunch we will review gear, discuss night photography techniques and continue our exploration on a water taxi ride up the Grand Canal. After a break and dinner we will venture out to shoot from above, under, on, and around the famous Rialto Bridge at the physical heart of the city.
Day Two: Connecting to the Craft
An opportunity for a harbor sunrise shoot at the Bacino di San Marco. We will spend some classroom time after breakfast with image review from the previous day and an open discussion about low light craft and camera settings. From lunch on will be a break for any rest or other activities you would like to persue.
That evening we will have an after-hours excursion in the Basilica San Marco itself including the majestic soaring golden ceilng, the breathtaking Pala d’Oro altarpiece, and incredibly rare access to the crypt. Afterwards we will have time to shoot around the San Marco Piazza with its famous cafes and orchestras and the historic Bridge of Sighs.
Day Three: Connecting to the Light
Sunrise from the Academia Bridge to capture the rising sun over the Grand Canal. We will spend some classroom time after breakfast with image review from the previous day and on poost-production techniques to make your images shine. From lunch on will be a break for any rest or other activities you would like to persue.
After dinner will spend the evening shooting near the ancient Arsenale, home of the Venetian navy and the annual home of the Bienniale. There we will put our light painting techniques into use and marry function onto form!
Day Four: Connecting to the Movement
Take an early morning boat ride for a shoot across the Guidecca Canal for an atypical view of the city and basin. We will spend some classroom time after breakfast with image review from the previous day and further discussions about light painting. From lunch on will be a break for any rest or other activities you would like to persue.
Then off to the Dorodoso, the quieter outer sestieri with amazing views from the point at the end of the Grand Canal. We also have some quieter, darker areas to continue working on light painting and techniques for spinning light orbs and light wands!
Day Five: Connecting to Your Vision
Sunrise at the Rialto Bridge as we experience the city waking up and coming to life. We will spend some classroom time after breakfast with image review from the previous day and discuss planning photo shoots and software options. From lunch on will be a break for any rest or other activities you would like to persue.
We will have a farewell dinner on the Grand Canal after sunset then spend the evening filling in the gaps at some of our favorite locations or we can go back to some you want to revisit, we are here for you.
Day Six: Connecting Back to the World
Packing and then a regretful return via private water taxi to VCE airport for any of your flights home.
Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements and stay in Italy through the weekend, please feel free to ask us about locations or other travel you are interested in we are always happy to help!
Group size: 8 maximum, with two instructors, non-photography guests can be accomodated at a small cost for admissions or other events.
Physical challenge: Moderate walking speed but at least one mile (2 km) a day, Venice is one of the most walkable cities.
Experience level:
All. Students who are entirely new to photography will want to get in touch with Jeff to make sure you are prepared for the course; he may recommend additional readings before coming. But we sincerely mean all levels, if you do not own a camera or a tripod we can connect you with rental companies. If you want to bring analog cameras we will help teach you about how we shoot analog at night. We sincerely just love sharing how to capture Venice at night.
Lodging:
You can add lodging to your reservation, accommodations are based on a double occupancy with single twin beds, some single occupancy available at an additional fee. Queen beds are also available if requested for anyone bringing a non-photographer guest. The hotel we use for accomodations is the three-star Hotel Commercio & Pellegrino, around the corner from Piazza San Marco and steps from the San Zaccaria water bus stop. However, we are familiar with a great number of other hotels and lodgings in the city if you would prefer to make your own reservations, we are absolutely willing to help however you would like. We only ask that they be in the San Marco area so we can make sure everyone gets home at the end of the night or picked up in the morning for early shoots.
What’s not included:
Travel to or from your home ot Marco Polo airport (VCE)
Lunches, dinners (final night out is included), or alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance
Passport or visa costs (no visas are currently required for American citizens)
Gondola rides, other museums or tours not on the itinerary
Workshop costs include:
Accommodation (double occupancy in twin beds) at an additional cost of $800, this includes all room and local tourist taxes
Private water taxis to and from Marco Polo airport (VCE) to the hotel
Breakfasts (with accommodation) and a final night out dinner
Week-long vaporetto (water bus) pass
Admission to any museums or churches in the itinerary
Why come on our night photography workshop?
Venice is, far and away, beautiful at all times of day. However, at night the city’s walls glow, the rich history of the urban tapestry unfolds and, with most tourists at home, you and your ideas are free to roam the quiet streets. The typical becaomes atypical with just the ancient streetlights aglow and the canals empty and reflective and we are there to capture it. You will not be coming home with any of the standard images you have seen before!
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I can personally vouch for Jeff's ability to navigate the maze-like city of Venice perfectly after many trips traveling and shooting there -- and of course he's a good night photographer, too!
Rachel
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Interesting location that was very enjoyable to explore. Jeff knows the location well and directed us to locations I probably would not have found on my own.
Brian
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Wonderful outing! learned a lot and got to try things in a unique environment.
Joseph
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I had a blast and it was great meeting everyone
Eugene
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What a rare opportunity and thanks Jeff for the teaching and making it happen. Can't wait for the next one.
Pranav
Questions? Email Jeff: jeff@jeffmccrum.com
