Venice – A Photographic Journey by Trevor Craig

On Friday we had the pleasure of our very own club member giving a presentation on Venice, a place he has visited for many years. Trevor's talk offered an atmospheric journey through Venice, thoughtfully divided into themed sections that revealed both the grandeur and the intimate details of the city. He began with the iconic canals and gondolas, exploring how reflections, bridges and the ever-changing light on water create endless photographic possibilities. His fascination with windows—framed, weathered, or brightly painted—became a recurring motif, and he guided the club members through images of six distinct areas of Venice, each with its own character.

The Rialto Market section bursts with colour and texture. Trevor highlighted the vibrancy of chillies, the striking reds of the fish stalls, the shapes of colourful pasta, and the deep tones of dried tomatoes with contrasting fresh tomatoes set on top. He emphasised how patterns and textures can become powerful compositional tools when photographing busy market scenes.

Moving to Piazza San Marco, Trevor showcased gondolas at sunrise with the city’s architecture glowing softly behind them. He demonstrated how straight shots and long exposures can transform the same scene, and he presented multiple angles from the promenade to show how perspective shifts mood. The Doge’s Palace featured prominently, its elegance captured in both daylight and dusk.

Street life offered another layer of Venice. Trevor discussed photographing the Rialto Bridge, the Accademia Bridge, and Ponte Maria Callas, noting how ironwork handrails cast intricate shadows that create graphic shapes. Long exposures of 2–4 minutes added atmosphere and motion to these familiar landmarks.

Carnival brought a burst of personality: colourful characters, elaborate masks, hats and costumes, all rich in detail. One of Trevor’s images was a character he fondly referred to as "Dr. Nose" This costume, featuring the distinctive long, bird-like beaked mask, was worn by doctors during outbreaks of the bubonic plague, particularly in 17th-century Europe, and he delighted in posing for the camera.

His visit to Burano revealed a world of bright houses, textured walls, hanging laundry, and bicycles set against bold colours. Narrow canals provided perfect reflections, while peeling paint and exposed brick added charm.

Trevor concluded with his evolving photographic journey suggesting recent trips, with other members of the club, have drawn his attention towards smaller details likened to a micro Venice, concentrating on the detail of smaller areas, as opposed to landscapes, and a lot of these images are muted palettes and graphic shapes. 

He also discussed his RPS panel attempt, shifting from toned‑down colours to strong black‑and‑white night scenes full of light, shadow and atmosphere which is a work in progress. 

We would like to thank Trevor as a club for giving his time and showing us his images of a truly fascinating place. 

On Friday 6th we have another talk on infrared photography by two other club members, Ray Magill and Hugh Rooney.

BNDCC information officer

Leanne Simpson