Venice Building

Posted on February 3rd, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Wrapping

I am still trying to wrap my head around Venice, Italy. At once it was what I expected, but nothing really like that at all. Venice is amazing and sad, beautiful and crumbling, exciting and exhausting…it’s a city of contrasts and I LOVE it for that. The winding canals, the back tracking, the narrow alleyways seemed natural to me; I was rarely ever lost, or perhaps I was truly lost. If this post seems to meander with no purpose and perhaps to dead end all at once, I suggest visiting Venice, and perhaps it will then seem but perfect.

Random Buildings

I couldn’t stop taking photos of things in Venice that were likely very mundane. Today’s photo is of a random building somewhere in Venice around the San Polo area (my best guess). I was struck by the iridescent green of the canal (yes it was that color right then).

Venice Building by W. Brian Duncan

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Spine Light Sculpture

Posted on January 30th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Unexpected Art

I found this light sculpture entirely by accident. I had seen Thomas Hawk talk about Spine on his blog but I didn’t expect to see it. Honestly, I didn’t realize it was near Union Square where Pamela and I were staying. We were walking around the area looking for some chocolate dessert when I passed by, stopping dead in my tracks when I realized what I had seen. I had to chase Pamela down as she was half-way up the block by the time everything registered.

Double Unexpected

One of the things I love about this piece was how it is located in a perfectly normal location! People must pass daily under this artistic creation and never suspect it is both art and function. This kind of notion…it makes me smile.

Spine Light Sculpture by W. Brian Duncan

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Casa Batllo Laundry

Posted on January 27th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Design for All

This area of Casa Batllo is the laundry and servants work area of the home. What’s interesting to me is even in this utilitarian area of the mansion, Antoni Gaudi didn’t stop designing, he didn’t stop the theme. It made me think of a belly of a whale which fits perfectly with the home.

Casa Batllo Laundry by W. Brian Duncan

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Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Flowers

Posted on January 23rd, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Farmer’s Market

I love a good farmer’s market. When visiting a new place, I often seek them out as you can’t help but get the best food, local crafts and fresh fruits you don’t normally get to try! Plus the people watching is fantastic as you sip a cup of locally grown coffee and nibble of a small sweet treat.

Colorful Flowers

I love flowers, but I have to say I don’t think I have EVER see so many cut flowers in one place as were at the Farmer’s Market in San Francisco. Enjoy the color!

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Flowers by W. Brian Duncan

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Moscone Center Skylight

Posted on January 20th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Moscone Center

Pamela and I wandered into the Moscone Center in San Franscisco looking for this exact skylight! Moscone Center is a very big place comprising numerous buildings in and around Yerba Buena in San Francisco. It was funny, because we had been looking at this skylight from the outside as we had lunch several times at Samovar Tea Lounge (located on the roof of this building). The great thing about this location is it is often open!

Moscone Center Skylight by W. Brian Duncan

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Shangri La Garden

Posted on January 16th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Richest Little Girl in the World

What an interesting place Shangri La must have been back in it’s hay day! Not that it isn’t interesting now…there is perhaps no finer Islamic art collection in the Western world. It’s just the people that inevitable came and went from the mansion must have been an interesting counterpoint. General a sanctuary for Doris Duke from the world, the mansion was know to host Andy Warhol and Truman Capote among others…what a life.

Shangri La Garden by W. Brian Duncan

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Wet Cobblestones in Geneva

Posted on January 13th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Photogs

I have long loved Brassai. A Hungarian photographer who came to prominence in Paris between World War I and II. He has taken some of my favorite photos of the City of Light by night. Interestingly some of my favorite photographs are of the wet streets of Paris. These are simple, but there is a sensual and mysterious love they seem to express to me.

Wet Stones

I can’t ever seem to get away from the depth contained in ancient wet cobblestone streets. They have been around for thousands of years and will be for thousands more if God willing, Europe doesn’t adopt the American love of asphalt and concrete; such impermanent material. The history of these old cities has slowly been chiseled into their face. They reflect it in the mist, if you just look.

Wet Cobblestones in Geneva by W. Brian Duncan

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Old Universal

Posted on January 9th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Bumming Around the Old City

I had an opportunity last year to spend an evening at Universal Studios in Florida. It was interesting because there was a whole section of the park that was reserved just for our party…it was a big party The great thing is despite attending with 20,000+ geeks the parts of the park we occupied were relatively empty, at least compared how these parks usually are. While meandering around with my camera, I found this section of 20’s New York. The streets were completely deserted that night.

Old Universal by W. Brian Duncan

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Instagram 2013

Posted on January 6th, 2014 by Bri Duncan

The Best Camera…

I am always telling people how great the camera is on your iPhone (or even a Droid). I get into quite a lot of conversations with people about camera gear and inevitably they want to know what sort of gear I use. I tell them and they nod having decided my heavy camera is why I get good shots from time to time.

I will tell you exactly what I tell people in person…not true! Sure the 5D Mark II is a great camera, but it’s not the one true camera. Much of the time I am taking pictures with my iPhone using Instagram or Hipstamatic. In fact…why do you follow me on Instagram! Great photography isn’t about the gear you have, it’s about finding beauty and showing that in the best light possible. You can do that with any gear.

I wanted to share some of my favorite Instagram photos of 2013. These were all taken with the iPhone, usually just using the native Instagram iPhone app. Get out there, have fun and take some more photos in 2014!

Which Instagram or iPhone/Droid photos did you take in 2013 you are most proud of? Post them below!

Park Güell Barcelona by W. Brian Duncan

Red Leaf San Francisco by W. Brian Duncan

Embarcadero Center San Francisco by W. Brian Duncan

Byodo-In Temple Oahu by W. Brian Duncan

The Space Needle Seattle by W. Brian Duncan

Floralis Genérica Buenos Aires by W. Brian Duncan

Street Art Buenos Aires by W. Brian Duncan

Journey Orlando by W. Brian Duncan

EPCOT Orlando by W. Brian Duncan

A Friendly Reminder London by W. Brian Duncan

Morning Coffee is Happy Springfield by W. Brian Duncan

Buddha China by W. Brian Duncan

Feeding Koi China by W. Brian Duncan

Here Comes the Sun Tokyo by W. Brian Duncan

Tsukiji Fish Market Tokyo by W. Brian Duncan

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A Look Back at 2013

Posted on January 2nd, 2014 by Bri Duncan

Looking Back

Last year I started my look back post with, “Oh what a year it has been!”. If only I had known what was in store for 2013! You can read my 2013 Travel in Review post, but the jist is I flew 110,624 miles in 2013 and visited 6 new countries. I am very near to publishing my 200th photo on the site and continue to press forward with print sales and commercial licensing to help finance this crazy business.

The Sun in a Garden of Music by W. Brian Duncan

Travels in 2013

I basically went all over:

Geneva, Switzerland
Barcelona, Spain
San Francisco, CA
Honolulu, Hawaii
Seattle, WA
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Orlando, FL
Tulsa, OK
Kansas City, MO
Columbia, MO
London, England
Chicago, IL
Shanghai, China
Kansas City, MO (again)
Tokyo, Japan

Pali Lookout Sunrise by W. Brian Duncan

Future Travels

I already have a number of places booked for 2014. I am planning on flying another 100,000+ miles with American Airlines this year, and I have another 40,000 or so worth of award tickets purchased. Time is forever my biggest obstacle, if only there were a way to slow down the sands.

Kerry Park Overlook Seattle by W. Brian Duncan

Some of 2014

Currently I have planned:

Oahu, Hawaii
Venice, Italy
Hong Kong
Round the World (I am only flying east and all the way around)
Portland, OR
Milan, Italy
San Francisco, CA

Embarcadero Stairs by W. Brian Duncan

Glimpses

I have been searching for something…I am not sure exactly what, but I know it’s out there waiting for me. That probably sounds odd. It sounds odd to me, but am a compelled to travel, to photograph, to learn. One day perhaps I will find my allusive MacGuffin, but until then I will continue my search, weary, but thankful all the same.

Byodo-In Temple Offering by W. Brian Duncan

Progress

Going back through my photos to do this post, I found I felt good about my progress in photography this year. Photography is one of those skills you can never know too much about, but at a certain point hopefully it becomes second nature. There are so many things I want to learn. Here is again where time works against me, but I can’t let that hold me back.

Floralis Generica by W. Brian Duncan

Playing Favorites

If I had to choose one photo from the last year, it would be this one of Big Ben.

Big Ben and Parliament by W. Brian Duncan

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