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Francis Kestle spends his working days taking photographs at his Barry studio. so when he went to Venice Carnivale, guess what he did? Yes - he took out his camera to capture all the style and excitement. Here he speaks to VCL about his passion for Venice

Vale County Life: So, how long have you been a photographer?

Francis Kestle: I came to it quite late really. I'm going to be 60 soon and I didn't get my first camera until 1984. I joined Barry Camera Club. Someone told me to take up fishing - that's how good I was when I started.

VCL: When did you go professional"?

FK: About seven or eight years ago I decided to go into business. Before that I worked at Cardiff International Airport for 25 years. I was a fireman while I was there and also worked on the apron'.

VCL: What sort of photography do you do?

FK: It's weddings, portraits and passport photography mainly but I would love to go travelling and photograph people around the world.

VCL: Why Venice Carnival?

FK: My mother was from Naples and I was over seeing relatives in the late 1990s when one of them mentioned the carnival to me. I'd never heard of it but it sounded interesting. I went there for 12 days the following year. It was amazing. I've been there three times now and after the last time, when I came back with all these photos I put on an exhibition in Barry which was a real hit. I'd love to do another one at Barry library because people really did seem to love the pictures. I really love Venice. There are no cars and you can wander around people watching. I've been back at other times of the year but it is so vibrant and colourful at carnival time.

VCL: Film or digital?

FK: I prefer film. I suppose it's what I learned on and what I'm used to. These pictures were taken on a 35ml non-auto focus film camera. I think you get better pictures using film but i suppose I'll go onto digital at some point.

Venice's Carnival, with its masks and romance is traditionally held on or around Shrove Tuesday. While all we can muster is a stodge-fest of pancakes, the Venetians developed an elaborate and sensual celebration of excess.

The image of mysterious, masked Venetian women is a famous one and the ornate masks are central to the idea of Carnevale. Masked, the wearer could mix with people of different classes, flirt outrageously or engage in something more sinister.

The mask-makers or Mascherari' were traditionally a respected trade in Venetian society with a statue dedicated to them. Masks could be Bautas', which, heavily decorated, covered the whole face; Morettas, oval masks of black velvet, worn seductively by women or Larvas', white and made of fine wax cloth, often worn with a tricorn hat.

There are numerous events held throughout the carnival period, including the curtain-raising opera at the magnificent Luna Hotel Baglioni.

Here, you can enjoy Rossini's Barber of Seville after sipping cocktails and nibbling Venetian canapés in the Marco Polo Ballroom decorated with art from the city's famous 18th century Tiepolo School.

Other fixtures include a medieval ball, featuring troubadours and minstrels, a masked and costumed parade and an evening gondola procession.

Francis took these snaps as he wandered around Venice during Carnavale', sometimes taking up to 10 minutes with a subject to make sure he got just the right shot.

11:55am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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