Photographer Jim McKinniss has dedicated over a decade to documenting the ethereal beauty of Venice during its most elusive moments - the rare mornings when dense fog transforms the historic Italian city into a mystical stage. His ongoing photographic project, "Venice in Fog," captures the unique interplay between the Northern Adriatic light and the city's legendary atmospheric conditions that have fascinated visitors for centuries.
The Northern Adriatic region produces a distinctly beautiful quality of light, particularly during the early morning hours, which McKinniss describes as creating Venice's legendary sense of mystery. This natural phenomenon becomes even more dramatic when combined with the city's narrow winding streets and centuries-old architecture. The dense fog acts as a theatrical backdrop, transforming familiar landmarks and pathways into scenes from an ever-changing series of intimate dramas.
McKinniss has maintained an impressive commitment to this project, returning to Venice annually since 2010 to capture these fleeting moments. The only interruption to his consistent documentation came during the COVID-19 pandemic years when travel restrictions prevented his visits. His persistence has been necessary given the rarity of the conditions he seeks to photograph - in all his years of visiting Venice, he has encountered significant morning fog on fewer than six days total.
These precious few mornings have yielded the photographs that comprise his collection, each image representing hours of patient waiting and careful observation. McKinniss expresses a deep personal connection to both the city and his craft, explaining that his love for being present in Venice while creating his photographs drives his annual pilgrimages. This passion for the intersection of place and artistic practice has sustained his decade-long commitment to documenting one of the world's most photographed cities in its most rarely seen state.
