“Monochrome Venice” – I am a photo based artist living in the Santa Barbara area of California. After earning a Master’s degree in mathematics, teaching and owning a software development company I retired and turned my attention to photography 17 years ago.
I have an eclectic sense for making photographs covering a variety of subjects. Although most of my photos are made on the streets the work should not be confused with street photography.
The photos in this series show the work made in a twelve year exploration of Venice during the Carnivale starting in 2006 and resuming in 2010. Venice is a remarkably beautiful city with ancient churches and, of course, St. Mark’s basilica. It is a dark city in which newcomers may easily find themselves lost. The narrow streets wind their way across bridges and canals in the midst of a landscape of Venitian Gothic buildings that obscure horizon and sun. It is also romantic and mysterious with gondolas floating along the canals carrying some of the thousands of tourists who otherwise clog it’s streets.
Each photograph represents a year in the making of the series. The choice of monochrome for this series arises from the desire to reflect on the fact that Venice is an ancient city established over 1500 years ago and that early photographs of the city were made with monochrome film or glass plates. Many of the photos are also dark which is a reflection of the fact that Venice is a dark city sprinkled with areas of light.
Jim McKinniss
https://www.JimMcKinniss.Photography/
