This photograph was captured on film during my first visit to Venice in 1998. Rising early in the morning I went down to the gondolas docked at Piazza San Marco hoping to capture sunrise. As I walked through San Marco in the dark with my flashlight the only other person present was someone sleeping in a doorstep.

The blurred motion of the gondolas is deliberate as I wanted to capture their movement while at the same time anchoring the posts and distant shoreline of San Giorgio with sharpness. I used a graduated ND filter to bring down the brightness in the sky and the rest is the beauty of the moment.

This photograph was taken on my first visit to Venice in 1998 and captured with film. The early morning colors reflecting in the canal and a slight mist in the air add to the serene beauty of the scene.

This photograph was taken on a visit to Venice in 2004 and captured with film. The early morning sky reflecting in the tranquil waters of the canal (no boats disturbing it) accent the famed Bridge of Sighs.

This photograph was taken on my first visit to Venice in 1998 and captured with film. It was a defining moment for me as I believe this was the best photograph I had ever captured up to that time. The leading lines of the narrow canal receding into the morning mist create a strong composition.

This photograph was captured on film during my first visit to Venice in 1998. As the rising sun tries to break through the morning fog and haze boats are already plying the grand canal. I believe this view was from the Rialto Bridge.

The warmth of morning sunlight and quiet solitude transform Piazza San Marco at daybreak before the tourists arrive.

This photograph was taken on a visit to Venice in 2004 and captured with film. We took a side trip to the island of Burano with its colorful buildings reflecting in the canals. We weren't on the island long before a storm began to brew and we decided to leave. The trip back to Venice was rough and we even passed a capsized fishing boat that was being rescued by what I assume was the Italian version of the coastguard.

This photograph was taken on a visit to Venice in 2004 and captured with film. Reflections are not always easy to photograph because seeing them is directly related to the angle of view and light falling on the scene, thus it is sometimes a matter of chance.

Such was the case with this image it was pure serendipity. I was in the right place at the right time. However, this was a busy sidewalk on this particular morning. There were many locals heading to work or wherever they were going early in the morning. I set up my tripod but, as is so typical in Europe, I had to wait because no one is willing to step out of the way or pause for even a second to let you shoot. Such is often the case and you can read more about this in my blog "The Importance of Patience". In this instance my patience paid off.

Abstract reflections accent a gondola on a canal in Venice.

A lone orange boat sits docked on a quiet canal surrounded by reflections in the water.

Weathered shutters on a window are accented with flower pots set against a richly colored wall on the island of Murano in Venice.

This is a composite photograph that I have created using layers of tones and textures from my nature images layered over a black and white photograph taken on my first visit to Venice in 1998, captured on Ilford XP2 film. I believe the tones and textures lend an aged feel that is apropos for Venice.