A few years ago, we visited Venice, Italy for a few days. We took a boat taxi to Murano Island for a day trip. I came to Murano Island expecting to photograph canals and buildings as part of the start of a three-week trip that began in Venice. My goal was simple: walk the canals, observe daily life, and come home with images that showed how people actually move through these places.
As I wandered along the canal, I noticed a girl standing on the opposite side, facing a wall covered in posted notices. I was separated from her by the water, and I wasn’t sure if she would move on before I could frame the scene. There were no second chances if she turned around or walked away, and I had to work from where I stood.
Then she stayed still, reading. The canal, the building facade, and her position lined up naturally. I captured the moment exactly as it was — a quiet pause of someone reading posters along a canal in Murano. When I reviewed the image later, it felt meaningful because it showed an unplanned, everyday moment that could only happen if I slowed down and paid attention.