VENICE: FACES AND PLACES PHOTOGRAPHY COFFEE TABLE BOOK NOW ON SALE
My first ever photography book, Venice: Faces and Places, is now on sale. A colourful exploration of one of the most famous festivals in the world, this eye-catching coffee table book takes the viewer on a journey through the streets of Venice – each page decorated with wonderful snapshots of the historic Carnevale di Venezia.
Venice Carnival, or Carnevale di Venezia, dates back nearly 1,000 years, making it one of the oldest of its kind in the world. Originally, it’s believed that the festival came into existence following the military victory of the Venetian Republic over the old Roman city of Aquileia in 1162. To celebrate this great success, Venetian locals gathered and danced in San Marco Square, subsequently carrying on the tradition every year thenceforth.
More popular than ever, the Carnevale di Venezia is held every year in the two weeks before Ash Wednesday. Keeping up with traditions, all those who attend the festival are encouraged to dress up in elaborate costumes, notably the striking masks that the festival is so famous for. Originally worn to protect identities and remove class divides, the carnival’s beautiful masks still very much hold an air of mystery and intrigue and are incredibly striking to behold.
Drawn to the beauty, extravagance and intricacy of these masks and costumes, Venice: Faces and Places photography book is a celebration of all that makes the Carnevale di Venezia so special. Capturing the stunning masked performers in their unique setting, the historical urban landscape of Venice, it allows the viewer to experience the rich colours and textures of the carnival with the atmosphere all but radiating off the page.
Paying homage to the festival’s roots, I found a bolthole close to the Rialto Bridge, just a 10-minute walk from San Marco Square. From here I was able to fully lose myself to the city: tracing its waterways, observing its architecture and immersing myself in the vibrant flurry of activity that was the Carnival. This book, a collection of my favourite images across 90 pages, is the result of my own unique journey through the lens.
Whether you have already experienced the riot of colour that is the Venice Carnival or want to take your first peek into this extraordinary celebration, I hope you find it through Venice: Faces and Places. From red-sky sunsets over the Basilica to multi-coloured captures of Venetian streets to intimate portraits of the festival’s masked stars, this collection leads you across the breadth and depth of the city and welcomes you into a world that is, quite simply, unforgettable.
Also available to buy are 16 limited edition acrylic prints that I have handpicked from the book. Each one detailing a story of passion and personality, history and culture, they reveal an intimate look at this ancient, water-wayed city and the people who have carried the spirit of the Carnevale through time. Throughout the series, one of the main focuses is the beautiful contrast between light and dark, colour and shadows – with each image characterised by painted faces and facades. Explore the collection here and purchase a special edition print for your home or favourite person.
