Venice

Ever since i saw Don't Look Now, Nicholas Roeg's horror masterpiece set in a sombre and empty Venice in winter, i knew i had to go there at that time of year. The day after arriving on my first trip, a dense fog descended on the lagoon enveloping the city, and creating an extraordinary atmosphere of mystery and melancholy. My wife and i spent an unforgettable week exploring the city on foot in the freezing conditions, ducking into cafes and bars to warm up, before setting out into the foggy streets again. Everywhere i turned an image was presented to me as the fog swirled around the famous landmarks, first obscuring them, then partly revealing them floating in the mist. A second trip the following year in autumn showed the city in a different light, brighter and more colourful but no less majestic, and as a photographer it was impossible to resist the photo opportunities that arose around every corner. Many of the images from my first trip were shot with very fast, grainy black and white film in order to create the mournful mood and timeless look that i had envisaged.