Venice: The Perfect Backdrop

Visuals are of great importance when it comes to reflecting our brand. We take our photography seriously as we believe it to be a significant creative tool to communicate our work through visual channels. We realized soon after we started our journey that a lot of time and effort must be dedicated to ensure that the photographs reflect the fluidity of our glasswork. Therefore, we pay a lot of attention to perfecting the visual and tactile perception so that the images capture the true nature of glass.

You might be surprised to find out visuals might be tricky when it comes to portraying an object that is sheer and reflective. At first, we found it challenging to refine perception through the lens and break the fourth wall. But that didn’t stop us, as we were determined to capture our work as realistically as we possibly could. When we started shooting our very first batch of production, we opted for minimal images with a white background; focusing exclusively on the objects, their shapes and colors, trying to capture glass and its distinct texture.

The light and the water combined compose the key element of Venice’s spectacular facet. We quickly realized Venice is the perfect backdrop for our work. The idea of our vases being photographed surrounded by the iconic architecture and natural beauty of our hometown was truly exciting for us. We made sure to take baby steps, starting at our beloved Fondamenta San Trovaso -only a minute of walk from our studio- then taking short walks in the area and ultimately expanding our shooting all around Venice.

The great relief about having Venice as our photo set is that we no longer needed studio lights or photoshop fixes. The natural light and the reflections of surroundings on the water complimented our glass objects perfectly as if they existed harmoniously in nature. Our work seemed to come to life when in contact with the elements of our city. At the end of the day we couldn’t help but think about how it's much more realistic to portray our objects in nature than in a studio.

After this unexpected discovery we noticed how we had completed a full cycle. Venice has always been the inspiration behind our work. And through photographing our glasswork within the inspiration that ultimately led to their creation, we felt like we were deeming Venice immortal. We appreciate how our photography reflects our life and surroundings. The way we capture our work surrounded by the magical charm of our city almost feels natural for us and that explains why photography has quickly become a daily routine for us.

After some time, we just couldn’t get enough of photographing our collections. We usually dedicate at least one day of the week to shooting and enjoying our own city through the camera lens for a change. One of our favorite settings for a photoshoot is Zattere with its breathtaking view of the Giudecca Canal. Another favorite is San Giorgio island thanks to its surreal view overlooking Piazza San Marco and Santa Madonna della Salute.

However, that doesn’t mean we don’t look for new settings! We are always on the look for new spots. In fact, we think of it as an opportunity to wander around Venice to discover hidden gems waiting for us to find them. In these little quests to find new spots we often meet people and stop for a chat with friends or curious passerby’s. In addition to outdoor locations which have been the main setting of our photos for a long time, we have recently begun to discover Venetian interiors. The idea is to make people who view our photographs feel like they are in a Venetian household. That is why we asked our Venetian friends to open the doors of their unique homes for us to capture our vases and glasses set in the atmosphere of a home.

The opportunities for new settings and ideas are as endless and rich as the city we are living in. Although we are still working on new and exciting ways to capture our creations, this article sums up how we currently handle the creative process of our photography.

We hope that you enjoyed this chapter of our diary and if you want to read more about our story, check out our The Origins of Micheluzzi Glass.