I had planned to rise well before sunrise on the day of this shoot, to be able to experience Venice without the usual crowds. As I exited the hotel, the streets welcomed me with torrential rain storms, so the place was even more deserted than I had anticipated. Although slightly uncomfortable, wandering along the narrow lanes, crossing the foot brides and passing through the tourist hotspots, almost entirely alone, was a wonderful experience.

This image of the gondolas tied to the banks near the Piazza San Marco, looking across the bay to the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, was taken just as the new day’s light started to illuminate the overcast skies. By this point, I and my camera gear were pretty saturated, but that just makes this moment all the more memorable. A day I won’t soon forget.