Author Archives: Bri Duncan

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Posted on February 18th, 2013 by

Gladiators

When I visited the grounds of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C., it was early morning and the museum wasn’t open. I have not have an opportunity to visit this museums collection, which is unfortunate because I really enjoy contemporary and modern art. I did get to visit the open courtyard which immediately made me think of ancient Rome and the Colosseum.

The outside looks like some sort of alien vessel landed in the National Mall. It’s an odd mix that makes me think about the architect’s intent. Artist’s intent is a topic that has been on my mind lately. I am traveling to Barcelona soon and I can hardly wait to see first hand many of the seminal works of Antoni Gaudi. What are these designers trying to bring into the world…it truly fascinates me.

HDR Photography
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden by W. Brian Duncan

Rorschach’s Moving Sidewalk

Posted on February 14th, 2013 by

Missing Institutions

I admit it…it’s easy to miss really cool things, that are seemingly under your feet. I am not talking about stopping to smell the roses kind of stuff here. Rather, I am talking about dozens of trips through an airport and not knowing an art installation that is apparently a Chicago institution is literally right under your feet. This tunnel connects Terminal B and C at O’Hare. To my defense, this is the United Terminal and I am an American Airlines guy. I can’t remember ever actually flying United. Regardless, this is a wonderful visual experience called Sky’s the Limit created by artist Michael Hayden in 1987.

What do YOU see?

I have asked several people what they see when they look at this photo and I get different things. It completely makes me think of a Rorschach ink blot (or a butterfly).

HDR Photography
Rorschach’s Moving Sidewalk by W. Brian Duncan

The Choir Guardian of Saint Pierre Cathedral

Posted on February 11th, 2013 by

Details, Details

I have a terrible time with details. One former boss of mine said I had a problem seeing the trees for the forest. Often a new place is SO overwhelming, this actually does become the case. I see the big shots, but I often miss opportunities for little details that are in fact amazing. I found some in detail in Paris, in a flower vendor’s bucket. While in Geneva, I found a detail I loved in a 15th century choir stall. The stall was not native from the church. It survived the reformation, but was brought to Saint Pierre Cathedral after the departure of John Calvin. It’s these wonderful details that make life all the more sweet. I try every day to spend more time with them…in wonder.

HDR Photography
The Choir Guardian of Saint Pierre Cathedral by W. Brian Duncan

Le Centre Pompidou

Posted on February 7th, 2013 by

Pipes Galore

A quick photo from Paris for today’s image. It’s of the Pompidou Center, the wonderful modern art museum in Paris, France. It is general for museums of modern art to have a striking design, but the French really outdid themselves on this one. The style is really more post-modern and something they call hi-tech. The facade is a internetworked crosshatch of pipes and conduit all of which are brightly colored making a visual delight for the eyes. This was also the first time on our trip the sun had come out so the new found light played well off the building. This photo is of the not often seen escalators at the left front of the center.

HDR Photography
Le Centre Pompidou by W. Brian Duncan

Joan of Arc

Posted on February 4th, 2013 by

On Callings

Joan of Arc was a simple peasant girl who felt a strong calling. A calling so strong, that she lead the French army to a number of victories during the Hundred Years War. She was later captured and transferred to the British where she was tried for insubordination and hetrodoxy. She was burned at the stake for her crimes when she was 19 years old. 25 years later the pope declared her a martyr. She was beatified in 1909 and canonized as a saint in 1920. She is today on of the patron saints of France. Today’s image is of her statue located in Notre Dame. It holds a place of honor gazing up at the awesome Southern rose window that graces the cathedral.

This photo got me thinking about callings. What are we here to do? Why do so few of us seem to know? Do you think if for just a moment, we could turn off out egos and still our minds, we might catch a glimpse? Perhaps divine providence is there for all of us, if we simply listen.

HDR Photography
Joan of Arc by W. Brian Duncan

The Magic of Cartier

Posted on January 31st, 2013 by

100 Photos

Today is a special day. Today I am posting my 100th photograph. It’s an interesting feeling really…it feels good. I have always had a bit of trouble with follow through. There always seems to be something newer vying for my attention. A new gadget, a new film, a new fleeting hobby, how do people stay focused! Maybe my ease is because I have never really enjoyed a hobby as much as I do photography. It is a sort of home, no matter where I am in the world. I love it enough to fly around the world to explore it more. It does of course help that I also love the travel, seeing new places, tasting new foods, finding different ways of living. But in the end, all of these seem to coalesce around my camera.

Magic

I have been saving this photo for a day like today. My first exploration of HDR photography was in Paris and this photo was one of the first that let me know I had really found something in photography I wanted to explore more. I hope you like it as much as I do and if you work for Cartier, call me, I think this would make a great ad spread!

HDR Photography
The Magic of Cartier by W. Brian Duncan

Old Geneva

Posted on January 28th, 2013 by

Old Town

Vieille ville or Old Town was my favorite part of the city of Geneva. There is something soothing about walking around the ancient Medieval Cobblestone streets, looking in the windows of antique shops, and eating in a small bar or cafe. There was no rush in Geneva, no time schedule, no pressure. It was cold and rainy and my first full day was Sunday when many of the shops are closed so their proprietors can spend the day with family. There were only occasional patches of blue in the sky, but somehow, it felt good. The world was right…the way it has been for a thousand years in Old Town. There is an ease to Europe that intrigues me. Something different than in the U.S. that I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not better or worse, it simply exists differently. I long to explore it more, to understand.

HDR Photography
Old Geneva by W. Brian Duncan

Morning at the Capitol

Posted on January 24th, 2013 by

Something Big

2013 is going to be a big year! Last week I returned from my first trip to Europe in 2013. The first of several international trips I have planned this year to photograph new places for this blog. I visited Geneva, Switzerland for two wonderful days. Next month I am all set for Barcelona, Spain. Some people in my life think this is interesting, others think it’s fun, while others believe me to be completely crazy. Regardless of outside opinions, it is something that I can’t keep from doing any longer.

Failures

When I got to Switzerland it was cold, grey with rain and snow and the bus website said my bus didn’t start running until 2pm Sunday. I woke up at 8am the first day (no need to get up early for sunrise) and sat in my hotel room feeling completely defeated. I was only there for two days and the weather stunk. For all the preparation, travel time expense and excitement, I sat there and knew I had failed. The only thing was I hadn’t failed at all. I was still in my hotel room. The failure existed entirely in my mind but threatened to poison the whole trip! I told myself I had come halfway around the world to photograph Geneva and I was damned well going to do it! In the end I had a fantastic time. A cold, wet and fantastic time. And the number 5 bus WAS running just on a limited schedule.

Inner Voices

Chris Guillebeau recently wrote on his blog, “Sometimes you just need to pay attention to the discontent and see where it leads.” I have been feeling that discontent for a long time now, but I have been ignoring it. Even when I listen I often put off things or announce defeat before I have even started. I allow resistance to beat down my true self. 2013 is going to be a big year, because I can no longer not take action. I have to listen to this thing, whatever it is, inside me that keeps saying, Travel and Photograph. It’s wasn’t perfect in Geneva, but it never will be, and wonderful things happen when you simply try. Have you been putting something off, or announcing something a failure because the conditions weren’t perfect? I would really like to know.

Today’s photo is of the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC, USA.

HDR Photography
Morning at the Capitol by W. Brian Duncan

Success in Failure

Posted on January 21st, 2013 by

Moody

I have had a desire to try this for some time. When Pamela and I vacationed in Maui, we went to the beach, just a few blocks from our Condo to attempt to capture a photograph of the spirit of the ocean.

She is infinite and dark, beautiful and terrible all at once. This was the best I was able to do, but it was a first attempt. I like this photo because it represents to me possibility. There is an idea here I want to explore more.

I hesitated posting this because this one of very personal to me, for a variety of reasons.

I have very much favored the work of several notable abstract expressionists, most personally Mark Rothko. His color fields speak to me on a visceral level, something older than I am, something ancient inside of me. I want this photo to feel the same, it does not.

This is also a pretty big departure from the other work I generally do. Though this fits into my travel photography, it is uniquely different.

I consider this photo a success even though it isn’t exactly my intent. Even when we fail, the results can be unexpectedly wonderful!

HDR Photography
Success in Failure by W. Brian Duncan

Lake Point Tower

Posted on January 17th, 2013 by

Nice Curves

I am not sure why I like this building so much, but Lake Point Tower, in Chicago just off of Nave Pier really caught my attention. It was early morning just after taking this shot of Navy Pier and walking to get some coffee that I saw the early morning light reflected off of this curvacious building. While most photos of the structure you will see look black, the reflective nature of all these windows made the building look truly golden. I actually took this zoomed further out, but ended up liking a tighter and more abstract crop.

HDR Photography
Lake Point Tower by W. Brian Duncan