Venice as it works, moves and lives – and creates art. Portrait of a city and its people.

With American photographer, Italy connoisseur, and Italian speaker John McDermott

– Go To GERMAN version –

Venice in winter shows you what remains when the noise fades away. For photographers, this is a bonus—it’s like an invitation. Soft light, quiet alleys, a city that’s simply being itself, where you can observe the Venice of the Venetians.

Our beautiful, family-run hotel is perfectly situated right between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square, which is very convenient for some of our photography excursions. But we also venture beyond the postcard-perfect spots: to the fish market as it’s being set up in the morning; into a museum before it opens; to one of the few original mask workshops, where we learn about the craft and its history; to a special glassblower; to art installations in a little-visited part of the harbor; and, in between, to neighborhoods where few tourists venture.

“What makes walking through Venice with you so special is your ability to guide our group so skillfully through the city that we were able to discover truly special places away from the tourist crowds and capture the authentic Venice in our photos. Thanks to you, we experienced the city from a whole new perspective—and captured many unique moments along the way.” – Bernd Beykirch

We’ll take advantage of the late sunrises and early sunsets during the winter months to photograph early morning cityscapes as well as Venice in the evening twilight. Venice is strongly defined by its architecture, which is more “visible” in winter when the alleys are less crowded and there are fewer distractions.

We’ll also visit the colorful houses on Burano, which stand in stark contrast to Venice. And we’ll meet local friends who will show us their crafts or give us access to unique vantage points.

Every day, there will be image editing sessions and one-on-one sessions with John for image critiques and feedback.

In the evenings, we’ll go out to eat together at select restaurants that are still owned by Venetians and chat about the day.

“I am glad that I booked a masterclass with the internationally renowned photographer John McDermott. John speaks Italian fluently and has a talent to “break the ice”, something that is hard to learn and impossible to copy. But that’s why I like to travel with a guide, in particular when there is a language barrier. Thus, opportunities arise that otherwise would be kept behind closed doors.” – Stephan Russenschuck

John McDermott is a photographer working worldwide who has photographed assignments in more than forty countries and at ten Olympic Games and eight FIFA World Cups during his 40-year career for international editorial, corporate and advertising clients.

One characteristic repeatedly mentioned by clients is that his photographs looked „real“ before „authentic“ became a marketing buzzword. Natural light, believable situations, and carefully observed moments rather than heavily staged corporate imagery.

Respect for people and places is a consistency in his life that explains why John was trusted by such an unusually broad range of people – from Isabelle Allende to Queen Elizabeth II to Olympic and FIFA athletes to Fortune 500 executives. “The world-famous stars he portrays appreciate his visual sensitivity, his empathy, and his warm communication style. And they reveal their souls to him.”– Rüdiger Schrader.

John’s work is grounded in observation, empathy, and preparation. Every career step sharpened a different aspect of his observational skills, and photography became the point where all these strands converge.

Webseite John McDermott

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT JOHN

“John McDermott’s body of work to date and his vast wealth of experience never fail to fill me with awe, and I admire him greatly. Nevertheless, he is very humble and goes out of his way to share an incredible amount of knowledge so that we can improve. He’s always open to questions and suggestions, offering constructive criticism and honest feedback. ‘Work with the available light’ was a phrase I heard often during the workshop, and ever since then, I’ve looked at the faces I photograph and at portrait photos differently.” – Juliane Gareis

“Everything was just perfect here. John stands out for his very specific feedback that really helps you grow; he always has an idea, and he’s so open with people that it led to some special opportunities for us. Claudia handles the organization with charm. Interesting participants. Judging by the results: I learned a lot, improved significantly, and took home great photos and plenty of motivation. My best photography workshop!” – Oliver Horlebein

Wednesday late afternoon/early evening, we get together to get to know each other, with introductions, explanations, and preparations for the next day, and will have dinner together.

We will sometimes photograph early in the morning, possibly also later in the evening.

During the day, the group will photograph under guidance, with assignments and assistance from John McDermott. We will meet local people who grant us their time, give us some cultural insights, and let us take their pictures.

Image processing and individual sessions with John on image critique and feedback take place daily.

In the evening we will have dinner together in selected restaurants which we tested before, so we are sure to give you a non-touristy, authentic Venetian dinner experience. We discuss the results, experiences of the day, and the next steps.

TRAVEL to Venice

From Venice (Marco Polo) airport it is an easy and fun ride in a fast boat going to Venice

If you have questions regarding your travels to Venice let us know and we are happy to help.

More than Venice…

If you like to extend your stay before or after the Venice Photo Workshop we can give you many ideas and tips on where to go and what to do. From Venice it is not far for example to the breathtaking Dolomite mountains in the wintertime or going to Verona, Milan or Bologna, or even Rome or Florence. You are also not too far from Austria and the amazing winter landscape and mountains in that Alpine country.

Info: The Workshop is in English

PRICE:

1.495,-  EURO

Included:

• Daily programs, photo walks, and visits to special places
• Daily one-on-one sessions with John for picture review, feedback, and critique
• 14 hours a day, we take care of you and make sure you have a good time and learn a lot
• Welcome Aperitivo on the first evening

Not included:
Hotel, Meals, Travel

Number of participants: max. 6

HOTEL

We blocked rooms for you at the Hotel Al Codega, which is in 7 min. walking distance both from Rialto Bridge and from St. Mark’s Square. We will also hold our picture discussions and meetings at this hotel. A family-run, wonderfully renovated 4-star**** hotel with a quiet courtyard, fantastic breakfast and in a perfect location.

Double room for single use — price (per night/ incl. breakfast) — €120,-

Double room with 2 People – price (per room, incl. breakfast) — €145,-

When you sign up, we will arrange the accommodation between you and the hotel.

To REGISTER for the Venice Workshop please send an email to claudia@if-academy.net.

With the subject line: Venice Workshop Registration

And the details:

Name

Address

Phone

Email

With a booking, a deposit of €300,- is due. We will send you an invoice with the wire transfer information.

Your written registration becomes valid once we receive the deposit in our account.

General information for payment (in German)  >>> Zahlungsinformationen und Stornobedingungen

The revocation rules apply accordingly >>> Widerrufsregelen