Category Archives: USA

Amazing Photography of The United States of America

A New York Morning

Posted on March 7th, 2013 by

Morning Walks

When I travel, I usually have a very loose idea of what I want to see. I don’t make concrete plans, everything stays very fluid…I am a Pisces after all. My general mode of transportation is almost always walking. I prefer to see a city by foot. I often walk so much I end up destroying my feet for weeks to come after my adventures. I am learning the importance of good socks and proper fitting shoes. One morning when we were walking around I shot this street scene in New York City. The light is dramatic, but otherwise it’s street much like you would see in any city. I think that simplicity and the wonderful warm light are what I love about this shot. To me it screams New York in the morning.

HDR Photography
A New York Morning by W. Brian Duncan

Smithsonian Castle at Sunset

Posted on February 28th, 2013 by

Low Light

The thing I always have trouble remembering his how gorgeous light becomes the lower it is in the sky. I say I have a hard time remembering because outside of places like Iceland, you have such a very short window of nice light. The quality changes so much, so rapidly it is often difficult to keep up on one subject, much less when you are someplace like the National Mall. With such a grand set of options, it’s difficult to decide what you are going to photograph at that perfect moment. This shot was while I was walking to the Lincoln Memorial for sunset. The sun was still strong in the sky, but you can easily tell the quality of light has started to change here for the better.

HDR Photography
Smithsonian Castle at Sunset by W. Brian 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

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

NYSE in the Morning

Posted on January 14th, 2013 by

Life Goals

At one point in my life, I wanted to work on Wall Street. For a portion of my younger years I had an…interesting love of Michael J. Fox’s character Alex P. Keaton. This included a brief case to carry my school supplies, dressing in clothes more intended for church then normal school days and regular reading of the Wall Street Journal. Needless to say I was very popular in the 6th grade, or as I like to look at it, I have never been afraid to express myself differently then those around me. Thought the briefcase was left behind years ago, I still to this day find myself doing things a little differently then others. I didn’t think much about the contrast when I was at the New York Stock Exchange, photographing, but it strikes me now how what WAS and what IS in our lives is constantly changing. Then again, isn’t everything.

HDR Photography
NYSE in the Morning by W. Brian Duncan

Welcome to Palmer House

Posted on December 31st, 2012 by

Grand Hotels

I love a grand old hotel. There is a detail to the construction that is often missing in today’s glossy lodging. When I think of luxury, esteem, indulgence, I think of some of the nicest old hotels I have visited. Sometimes when you get all the small details right – the right location, outfit, company etc – you feel elevated (I always thing of James Bond). This always leads me to these grand old temporary residences when I travel. The problem is, as with people, often they aren’t too thrilled for someone to be taking their picture.

Architectural Paparazzo

I have found that if you ask, and people are unsure, often the answer is, “No Pictures!” I tend to not ask and if challenged, apologize profusely while making a quick exit. On my visit to the exquisite lobby of the world famous Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois, no one seemed to care that I was there. I of course try to be an unobtrusive as possible on my visits. Palmer House is a wonderfully located hotel, if you are in the area, absolutely check it out!

HDR Photography
Welcome to Palmer House by W. Brian Duncan

Holy Ceiling

Posted on December 27th, 2012 by

Looking Up, Looking Forward, Being Now

Some photographers have to constantly remind themselves to look behind, above and below their eye level. I don’t seem to have that trouble. I love ceilings. I am not sure why, but they seems easy to me. There are so many things that are hard to truly see, but that easy shot is a double edged sword. The things that are easy in our life tend to start to lose their joy. We want to conquer something new. We long for a new sensation…one we always knew was there, but we failed to see its beauty. One of my goals for 2013 is to “SEE” the world differently. I don’t expect it to be easy, but welcome the growth. This is where I am looking now. The forward. It too is a double edged sword and one of my goals for 2013. I constantly lose the now for the future. I must remember the past and the the future are but illusion, NOW is all that truly exists. This following photo is of the ceiling of St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, NY, USA.

Travel Photography
Holy Ceiling by W. Brian Duncan