LORRAINE

CoM: CIAO! TODAY WE’RE INTERVIEWING CARNEVALE PHOTOGRAPHER AND COSTUMED ATTENDEE, LORRAINE SPINA.

Lorraine as "Signora Farfalla" in 2025. Photo by Herve Allou.

CoM: LORRAINE, HOW DID YOU FIRST LEARN ABOUT CARNEVALE IN VENICE, ITALY?

LS: My sister in law came for her 50th birthday. When I saw her photos, I knew I had to go.

CoM: WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT CARNEVALE?

LS: It is the height of creativity. Even though I dress in costume myself now, I can’t wait to see everyone’s new creations! It’s what keeps us all coming back every year.

Lorraine in blue in 2019. Photo by Vicki Miller. 

CoM: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE CARNEVALE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN?

LS: It’s a photographer's dream and an explosion of artistic creative energy. Completely mind blowing. If you come every year, it’s like an annual conference of creatives on both sides of the camera and you look forward to reuniting with the friends you’ve made.

Lorraine in silver in 2023. Photo by Horst Ranftl.

CoM: DO YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN COSTUMES?

LS: I create my own costumes in collaboration with a friend. But I am not a vendor or seller.

CoM: WHAT CARNEVALE BUSINESS DO YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT?

LS: Alice Bertolini. Mask maker extraordinaire!! She makes unique, mostly filigree, masks that are only limited by her imagination. She is tremendously talented.

Peacocks in 2024. Photo by Bostjan Pulko. Lorraine in blue.

CoM: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?

LS: I came to Venice’s Carnevale first in 2017 as a photographer. My friend and I bought masks and capes to walk around and people started taking our photos. It was fun.

We came back two years later with elaborate homemade costumes which were a big hit. I have come for the last four years in costume but still take time to do some photography.

I have made friends with the models as well as the photographers who are from all over the world. I am attending again in costume (3 in fact!!) this year. Can’t wait to see everyone!

Simple masks and capes. Lorraine in blue. Photo by Lorraine, taken on a tripod in 2017.