A bird’s-eye view of Lazise on Lake Garda

by Bas van der Gronde

Lazise from above, captured by a drone. The photograph shows Lazise’s promenade, right where the village ends and Lake Garda begins. To the left lies a dense jumble of terracotta roofs; to the right, the deep green and turquoise water. The promenade forms the sharp dividing line between them.

At the top stands the Castello Scaligero, surrounded by trees and gardens. Below it lies the small harbour with a row of boats, right next to a square with a light-coloured tiled floor. Running along the water’s edge is the promenade, with a wavy pattern in the paving that, from this height, almost looks like a drawing. At the end of the quay, a circular platform juts out into the water.

The low, warm light casts long shadows across the lake and gives the rooftops an orange-red glow. This contrast with the cool water lends the photograph a sense of tranquillity, whilst remaining rich in detail. The longer you look, the more you see: narrow alleys, courtyards, cars in a car park, small gardens between the houses.

The portrait format gives the shoreline plenty of space. This aerial view of Lazise works well above a sofa, on a bare wall in a bedroom or in an office with muted colours. It’s also a good choice if you’re familiar with Lake Garda from a holiday and want to see something that goes beyond a standard holiday snap.