Grand Canal, Venice

I set my alarm early that morning, determined to see Venice before the crowds filled the
canals. My goal was to capture the Grand Canal in its quieter moments, when the city
still belonged to the locals. As I stepped onto the boat toward my hotel, the sky was
heavy with clouds, and I worried that the lack of light would ruin the shot I had
envisioned.

But then, as we glided past the colorful facades, the moody sky cast a dramatic tone
over the water. The buildings stood out even more vividly against the shifting light, and a
single boat passed by at just the right time to complete the scene. I raised my camera
quickly and caught the exact feeling I had hoped for — Venice waking slowly, before the
rush of the day began.