Above: This is a beautiful hallway you walk into just off the lobby on the third floor. On the far right are doors leading to an outside balcony with a beautiful view of the streets outside. Last time I got a shot somewhat similar to this, but taken from the opposite end of the hallway, but unfortunately in that shot there were some people at the far end covering a big part of the wall. But today would be different. Why? “Patience and luck.”

I waited two-and-a-half hours until it was literally closing time and they were making everyone leave the building. I stood in this position with my goal of being the very last person to leave so I could get a shot with literally nobody in the room (though I had shots a number of shots where I could probably get Photoshop to remove everybody, but I wanted to do it “old school” and just not have anybody there). I waited and waited, and honestly it kind of drives you crazy because just when almost everyone is gone, another tourist would just pop into the empty hall and you’re like ‘Arrrrgghh!!!’ Of course, they have every right to be there, but you see your dream shot get crushed a lot. Well, I finally waited everyone out, and security had cleared this part of the building and I was lagging behind so I could get the tourist-free shot, and I was just getting ready to get it when I heard…

Monsieur. Vous devez partir maintenant!

Which, by the tone of her voice let me know I had over-stayed my welcome. I smiled, motioned to her, and said…

Juste un de plus?

But of course I said it in English since my French is, well…shall we say, not all it could be. She gave me the international frowny face, but my smile got me a nod for one more shot, but it was clear it was just one, and that’s the one you see above — with not a single tourist in sight. I then scooted right downstairs hoping to pull this same ploy of being the last one out again, to get a clean shot of their amazing lobby area with its sweeping staircases.

Photos from my travel photography workshop in the floating city

A photo series from Scott and Kalebra Kelby

and the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy