Mattia Moretti's Carnevale di Venezia with the Fisheye No.2 and LomoChrome Metropolis Film

Mattia Moretti, aka @mmattia, is an Italian Lomographer whose dreamy and captivating street and landscape shots have been well received by the community. During Italy's lockdowns, he found inspiration in the Lomo'Instant Automat Glass, and now he takes to the streets of Venice using LomoChrome Metropolis to capture the stunning beauty of the Carnevale di Venezia festival. Feast your eyes on his stunning Fisheye No.2 shots that perfectly embody the festival's spirit.

There are various accounts of the origins of the Carnevale di Venezia, but it is widely believed to have originated in Ancient Greek and Roman times to welcome the arrival of spring, or with the Christians to mark the start of Lent, a period of fasting leading up to Easter Sunday. It was a time of revelry and excess, where Venetians indulged in all kinds of pleasures, and the use of masks during the festivities allowed them to shed their social status and become anonymous, leading to a period of uninhibited debauchery.

The festival was marked by lavish parties, extravagant feasts, and public gambling, creating an atmosphere of unbridled indulgence. However, in modern times, the focus has shifted to celebrating the culture and history of the city while preserving the tradition, leading to a more toned-down version of the Carnevale di Venezia.

It's ironic that the festival used to be focused on anonymity, but now Mattia uses the Fisheye No.2 as a street camera to get up close and personal. He pairs it with the LomoChrome Metropolis film, which is great for capturing urban settings. With this combination, he takes detailed photos of the masqueraders and party-goers, as well as the historical and timeless architecture of the Floating City.

I decided to use the Fisheye No.2 at the Venice Carnival precisely because I had in mind to take close-ups even though I’m not used to taking portraits. So people wearing a mask would have helped. I also love the fisheye effect. The people I photographed were very inclined to be photographed and were intrigued by that little yellow object that I pointed at them. (I have the Brazilian Summer version, a wonderful camera.) If I have to be honest, I used the LomoChrome Metropolis by mistake. It was the only roll I had left. Even if in the end I really liked the desaturated effect, especially the light and shadow contrasts. I have some other projects in mind for the fisheye but I don’t want to give spoilers.

When visiting Venice in February, the Carnevale di Venezia celebration is a must-see experience. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the enchanting moments, but most importantly, take the time to fully immerse yourself in the festivities and embrace the magic and intrigue of the event!

My favorite thing (like most Lomography cameras) is the absolute versatility: the Fisheye No.2 embodies in all respects the Lomography philosophy: “Don’t think, just shoot!”, you don’t have to worry about anything, point and click, and surely something amazing comes out!

We thank Mattia for his photos. Be sure to check out his LomoHome and Instagram for more updates! Have you ever been to Carnevale di Venezia? Comment down below and share your experience with us!

written by rocket_fries0036 on 2023-09-25 #gear #culture #places #street #carnival #portrait #venice #masquerade #italy #fisheye-no-2 #maks #carnevale-di-venezia #lomochrome-metropolis