Question: Venice Grand Canal

Don't forget the view from the top of the Rialto Bridge, looking 'downstream.' It'a a shot I've taken each time I'm there....especially with the late afternoon sun on the old buildings.

I meant to add to the previous post that it's my favorite location for 'people shots,' too. Get someone to take your picture standing by the railing with that view down the Grand Canal for a background. Another one is by the gondola dock at (I think) San Zaccharia, looking out at the lagoon with gondolas in the foreground & San Giorgio island in the background.

A round trip on the #1 Vaporetto gave me plenty of great pictures of buildings along the canal. Everything is picturesque. Walking around will give you excellent views of smaller canals, bridges, parked boats, characters, etc.

Hi Lamont,
You will have many opportunities to photograph buildings from the opposite side of the grand canal. But, don't forget to go down all the alleyways to take pictures of the buildings as well as other art work. When you arrive Venice, have your camera ready when you board the vaporetto. I was like a kid in a candy shop. I just kept taking pictures as we traveled down the canal. Find stairs to climb to take pictures. You will have an opportunity from the towers you will climb. This was my first time with a digital camera. In our 3 week trip, I took 2100 pictures. Many in Venice. Look at the water reflections from the building. Look at the unlikely places for a picture. You come up with amazing photographs. Have fun. Take several cards and rechargable batteries and plug for the batteries. Happy travels. Venice is wonderful!!

You could also use a water taxi, but they are expensive.

When you take the Vaporetto be sure to take the #1 as it is the local, it's slower and will let you get better photos. I've been to Venice three times now and each time I take pictures like it is my first time and while everything along the Grand Canal is beautiful where you will really get the good photos is walking along the small canals. Venice is city where you just need to get lost. Keep the map but don't live by it. Just walk. You will come home with some of the most amazing photos.

As Kent said above, taking pictures from the Vaporettos gets you closer to each side of the canal. However, you get the best of both worlds. If you ride the No 1 Vaporetto (mentioned above), you can get off most anywhere on either side and set up your shots. We too took hundreds of pictures. You won't have any problems setting up and taking pictures.

There are many places to photograph the Grand Canal and it's wonderful buildings. From "land" and from the #1. If photographing onboard the vaporetto be sure and use a fast shutter speed as it is rocky. Also the Accademia bridge is gorgeous - it is the wood one.

Just walk around until you hit water...that's what I did (on purpose and also by accident). There are "dead ends" everywhere, and usually you can wind your way back to find a 'per San Marco' or 'per Rialto' sign (they point you back to civilization). I got some fantastic shots of gondolas passing by in some of the smaller canals - the grand canal is great, but some of the most interesting buildings are off the beaten track.

My husband got some great pictures and video footage from riding on the front of the Vaparetto. It was very crowded, but he worked his way to the fron railing.
He also went front "porch" area of St. Mark's and got some good pictures overlooking St. Mark's Square a and the back of the four horses.

You can easily get both from land or water...but being on the water will give you some spectacular shots. When are you going and are you also doing video? Just like another poster said, you wonder and you will find you can get up to the water in many, many spots if walking...let yourself get lost and inch to the end of the vap for best shots. Bring lots of memory/film/video!!

Thanks for all of the great information. My Fuji point & shoot camera does not allow any shutter control, and photographs taken from boats are usually blurry. That's why I was hoping for at least a few good vantage points on one of the banks. I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a sunny day and calm water.

What is the cost to ride on these water taxis?