Category Archives: France

Beautiful Photography of France

The Natural History Museum of Paris

Posted on June 25th, 2012 by

Crazy Cool Style

If you happen to get to Paris (which I highly recommend) give the Muséum National D’Histoire Naturelle some time on your schedule. In particular visit the Grande Galerie de l’Evloution. It is perhaps one of the craziest and coolest places in Paris. It sort of has this built in steampunk appeal that sort of goes with the theme of the museum somehow. I don’t know how the aesthetic even works in this setting, but it really does.

Stuffed Animals

The museum is host to a very large taxidermy collection (which I find weird in and of itself) as well as what I am sure is a lengthy description of Darwin’s theory. One of the most prominent displays is of a Noah’s Arc like procession, which is interesting considering the American religious discord with respect to Darwinism. Perhaps it’s a statement how the French don’t seem to find that much conflict between science and religion (France is largely Catholic). Some English reading materials are available, but that seemed to be an exception rather than a rule.

HDR Photography
The Natural History Museum of Paris by W. Brian Duncan

The Louvre

Posted on May 28th, 2012 by

The Museum-Fortress-Palace

Before The Louvre was one of the worlds finest collections of art, it was a palace; an ENORMOUS palace (over 650,000 square feet of exhibition space)! Before that, a fortress, complete with moats to keep out the invading hoards. All being told, this type of art isn’t my favorite (though lady Mona is exquisite). If I wanted realistic depictions of the world I would rather see a photograph. It not that I don’t appreciate the technical aspects, the sheer age or the masterful talent…it just doesn’t speak to me the same way a Van Gogh does. Maybe that explains quite a bit of why I photograph the way I do…I am looking for feeling, emotion, movement, color. HDR plays with all of these.

A Number of Attempts

When we visited France, it rained quite a bit. The skies were a dull grey for much of the first few days of our visit. But around the middle of our journey, we started to get some blue sky and I kept dragging Pamela back to places we had already been for a second opportunity to photograph in better light. This is one such example of an afternoon of sun and wonderful blue skies.

Technicals

This is a three shot bracket (-2, 0, +2) on a Canon 5D Mark II on a 50mm f1.4, combined in photomatix. All remaining processing was done in Lightroom 4.

Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

HDR Photography
The Louvre by W. Brian Duncan

Le Consulat

Posted on April 23rd, 2012 by

Noir Streets

It had been raining most of the day in Paris. The streets were still very damp the night Pamela and I walked the hill to Sacre Coeur through Montmartre. I had been looking for the Le Consulat building, everyone takes a photo of it when they visit Montmartre; it sort of stands out among the other buildings. Because of the rain the cobblestone streets in this old part of town seemed very black. Much like one of those wonderful old Film Noir movies I so love. I was, photographically speaking, happy for the continuing mist that kept things damp that night, even though it made for a chillier walk. I think Pamela described the mist with different words.

On Other Photographers

There probably isn’t much doubt that I really enjoy my photography. I take it more seriously than a good number of things and as such I spend quite some time scouring the web looking for inspiration, ideas…challenges to issue to myself. I recently stumbled upon (actually it was Google+) a photographer named Elia Locardi who runs the site Blame the Monkey. I was blown away by Elia’s work with color. It made me stop and think about where I place my emphasis during post. His work seemed to issue a challenge to me to pay closer attention to leading the viewer’s eye and color in my own images. Today’s photo of Le Consulat is a step in that direction.

HDR Photography
Le Consulat by W. Brian Duncan

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Posted on April 16th, 2012 by

Sacrebleu

High atop Montmartre in Paris is the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). Built in just under 40 years between 1875 and 1914, the Byzantine inspired structure was built, in the words of the Arch-Bishop at the time “expiate the crimes of the Commune”.

Time to Pay UP People

You see, Montmatre is a bit seedy; and apparently has always been the place to go to for cheap wine and all the other things that go along with cheap wine. Honestly, I didn’t find it all that shocking…Times Square in the 90’s was more of an event, but to be honest we didn’t venture in to Pigalle (Pig Alley) where the real action is proported to be located. Since it sits at the summit of Montmartre, the basilica offers one of the best views in Paris.

HDR Photography
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur by W. Brian Duncan

The Gates of Hell

Posted on April 2nd, 2012 by

Hope Abandoned

One of the places I wanted to go while in Paris was the Musée Rodin which was formerly Rodin’s residence. It is a stately manor in need of repair, but a wonderful place to visit while in Paris if you enjoy sculpture and you have the museum pass. Easily the most striking piece in the place is The Gates of Hell. Rodin spent much of the latter part of his life (37 years) working on the sculpture and never completed the work. There is a heavy presence surrounding the gate. Many of the 180 bronze figures on the structure writhe in pain and suffer for their worldly transgressions. I had an odd feeling that I was glad Rodin never completed the work as I am not sure I would like to see what was on its other side.

Creative License

I have often said, I am interested in creating a feeling of a place and time in my photos rather than a snapshot representing how it looked. I want to transport viewers to how I felt at the time, how a place made an impact on me and try and convey that through my images. If I am successful, herein lies success in my mind.

Inferno – Canto III

Through me the way to the suffering city,
Through me the everlasting pain;
Through me the way that runs among the Lost.
Justice urged on my exalted Creator: Divine Power made me,
The Supreme Wisdom and the Primal Love.
Nothing was made before me but eternal things And I endure eternally.
Abandon all hope – You Who Enter Here.

-Dante

HDR Photography
The Gates of Hell by W. Brian Duncan

There Must Be More Than This Provincial Life

Posted on March 11th, 2012 by

Disney Dork

Ok…I freely admit, I have a soft spot for the Disney movies of my younger years (and not so younger years). The Hamlet, located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles was built for Marie Antoinette’s strange desire to experience the common life of a peasant. This distinctly reminded me of a particular Disney song…can you guess which one? I kept milling about taking photos of the great little village singing like the proverbial idiot. Good things we were there early and it was just us. The baker wasn’t even up yet, with his tray (like always).

Strange Surroundings

This is one of the odd homes built in the Hamlet. The village consists of a working farm, vineyard and several buildings representing a small French Provincial village. The proportions are, however, very wrong. If you happen to glance inside, the rooms are built more for entertaining than real living. Another example of the fabled…”Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” (let them eat cake) attitude of the French aristocracy. As a side note, there is actually not real evidence that Marie Antoinette ever uttered those words.

HDR Photography
There Must Be More Than This Provincial Life by W. Brian Duncan

A Path to the Palace

Posted on March 4th, 2012 by

The Path

While at Versailles we did quite a bit of walking. You can’t really help it…well you can rent a golf cart, but that didn’t see very regal or fitting. One of the many paths to the various palaces can be seen below.

Hugging Trees

I love the simplicity of the trees at Versailles. They are placed simply, but with great purpose and intent. Control of nature is one of the many reoccurring themes of Versailles. You can see it all around. The monarchy was in control of all things (until that whole revolution thing happened).

HDR Photography
A Path to the Palace by W. Brian Duncan

La Conciergerie

Posted on February 19th, 2012 by

Of Palaces and Prisons

One of the interesting places we visited in Paris was the La Conciergerie. Build in the Middle Ages as a Merovingian Palace, it was later converted to a prison when Charles V decided the Louvre was much better digs. It had a bit of a notorious reputation, from the torture, to its roll as a holding cell for prisoners before meeting the guillotine during the reign of terror. This staircase is located in the main hall and leads up to the upper stories…we weren’t allowed to use them.

A Wonderful Place for Children

The day we visited there were these interesting blue lights strategically places all around the main hall. There was some sort of arts and crafts workshop for children going on. I thought it strange, given the heinous reputation of the place that it would now be used as a playground for kids, but perhaps a prison might be the best place to keep them…I am kidding…maybe. As a side note, I found it very interesting how well behaved the children and dogs where in Paris. Perhaps its just a product of being in a big European city, but everyone…and everything was just so darn polite.

HDR Staircase
La Conciergerie by W. Brian Duncan

Entering the Temple of Love

Posted on February 12th, 2012 by

It’s Almost Valentine’s Day

Not that I am oblivious or anything, but Pamela asked me what HDR photo I was working on and I said one of the shots of The Temple of Love. “Oh,” she said, “for Valentine’s Day!” Right! Valentine’s Day! In retrospect, it was probably some sort of subconscious observation that put the holiday together with the temple at Versailles dedicated to love.

History of Love

The Temple of Love was commissioned by Marie Antoinette to be part of her Hameau (place, often a rural area). It is made of marble and contains a dozen Corinthian columns that support the structure. In the center is a statue of Cupid, (the Roman god of love, desire, and erotic love) fashioning his bow from the club of Hercules. Marie Antoinette fancied the life of the peasants. Well, she rather fancied some aristocratic washing over of how wonderfully simple it must be to be a peasant. She didn’t actually fancy being poor or doing manual labor… that was far beneath her. She built a fantasy playground at the Trianon Palaces this temple is but one of the amusements of the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette.

HDR Photography
Entering the Temple of Love by W. Brian Duncan

La Tour Eiffel

Posted on February 5th, 2012 by

A Wonderful Night

Both Pamela and I are really busy these days. Getting to spend time in Paris together was wonderful mostly because we didn’t have a bunch of distractions, well except for Paris. One night we wandered down the the Champ de Mars to have a picnic and for me to take pictures. It was a great evening and out spirits were high, despite the waves of Nigerian and Indian Eiffel Tower key chain peddlers that continuously pestered you in languages neither they, nor you could understand.

It’s The Small Things

Often its the simplest things that bring you happiness. One of the best memories we both share, is sitting on the ground, eating a simple dinner and gazing up at the tower together. I got to be with my best lady and I got to flutter around taking pictures of the wonderful scene. I don’t think I could have been happier in that moment if I tried.

HDR Photography
La Tour Eiffel by W. Brian Duncan