Category Archives: UNESCO World Heritage

Beautiful Photography of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Venetian Water Fountain

Posted on February 10th, 2014 by

Not in Short Supply

If there is one commodity Venice will never run out of, it is aqua (water). All over the city you will see little fountains like these constantly running. You are encouraged to fill up your water bottle. WHAT you say? The canals are disgusting surely you cant think I would drink that! Well, as it happens the drinking water in Venice is pumped in from the mainland. More specifically it is pumped in from the Alps and was some of the best drinking water I have had in years; no plastic, not chlorine, only pure mountain goodness. Filling up your water bottle also serves another environmental purpose. Tons of waste end up in the canals every year and plastic water bottles are a particular problem. Please, when in Venice, drink the Mayor’s Water from a fountain. The one thing I cant understand, it how they can afford to waste all that awesome water!

Venetian Water Fountain
Venetian Water Fountain by W. Brian Duncan

Venice Building

Posted on February 3rd, 2014 by

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
Venice Building by W. Brian Duncan

Casa Batllo Laundry

Posted on January 27th, 2014 by

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
Casa Batllo Laundry by W. Brian Duncan

The Skylight at La Pedera

Posted on October 10th, 2013 by

Ingenious Lighting

I just loved the way the architect Antoni Gaudi used shafts of open space in the interior of his buildings to get more outside light into what would otherwise be dark rooms. This interior also serves an a common area for guests and residents at the apartment complex called La Pedera, located in Barcelona Spain. This particular shaft of open space is obviously very big, but quite ingenious. I also enjoy how light such an important an element in the design over maximizing usable floor space. It’s not something you see much these days.

The Skylight at La Pedera
The Skylight at La Pedera by W. Brian Duncan

A Mansion in Park Guell

Posted on September 23rd, 2013 by

Nice Digs

I kept thinking to myself…this isn’t bad place to live if you could stand the tourists. Park Güell in Barcelona is one of those amazing places that had a bad time getting its start. Built by master architect Antoni Gaudi (he fast became one of my favorite historical architects) … it was a flop. No one wanted to live there it seems. I don’t understand why really as the views are spectacular. Gaudi purchased the site and lived there from 1906 to 1926. A number of homes have been built on the site since its founding (today’s photo being one), but the Park was converted into a municipal garden, leaving an odd mix of fabulous mansions surrounded by the best views in Barcelona, wholly occupied by throngs of sunbathers and tourists.

HDR Photography
A Mansion in Park Guell by W. Brian Duncan

A French Provincial Cottage

Posted on September 5th, 2013 by

Playing Peasant

Oh the odd, odd life of a Monarch. Heavy, it is said, is the head that wears the crown, but perhaps it isn’t all bad. Sure you have to have food tasters because you are scared someone will poison your food, but you also get to build the old world version of an Amusement Park in your back yard. This is one of the cottages in Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet at the Palace of Versailles. She went here to get away to the simple life. You know, in those peasant houses designed for entertaining. Peasants don’t need sleep after all.

HDR Photography
A French Provincial Cottage by W. Brian Duncan

The Fountain of Saturn

Posted on August 15th, 2013 by

Speaking of Versailles

On Monday I posted a photo of Salon Dorado and said how much it reminded me of Versailles. I was working on some photos this weekend and one of them happened to be of the one of the many fountains in the gardens at Versailles…The Fountain of Saturn. It was out of commission while we were there, but I was still intrigued by the slightly grotesque nature of the work.

Travel Photography
The Fountain of Saturn by W. Brian Duncan

Stone Spiral Stairs

Posted on June 27th, 2013 by

Golden Ratio

I love a spiral. Throughout history humans have been enthralled with the golden ratio and to me this particular expression is one of the best. This particular spiral staircase is one of the ultra narrow towers of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain. The last spiral staircase I shot was in Paris and people seem to love the Arc de Tripmphe staircase photo. Personally I think I hit the expression of the golden ratio more dead on with this photo and I particularly like the texture. Which do you like best?

HDR Photography
Stone Spiral Stairs by W. Brian Duncan

Doorway to La Sagrada Familia

Posted on June 10th, 2013 by

Details

I have said it here before, but I have the hardest time shooting details. On my more recent trips around the globe, I have really been working to remember this small, but significant mindset. Details make for some stunning photos, as evidenced by this detail. I was struck upon entering the door of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain (as I am sure many are) by the door. The entire minor basilica is a bit of a surreal explosion…too much is happening all over. The main door I entered was no different in its busy-ness, but there is a obvious focal point in the mass of words. Maybe it doesn’t work the same for tall people, but for someone my height, there was no doubting the purpose.

HDR Photography
Doorway to La Sagrada Familia by W. Brian Duncan

Practice Makes Perfect

Posted on May 23rd, 2013 by

Practice, Practice

There is an old saying regarding Carnegie Hall…How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Well you get the idea. It’s funny really because I heard the same line in Barcelona regarding the Palau de la Música Catalana. Perhaps it was said by another tourist from the states, or maybe that sentiment is ubiquitous in all the great concert halls of the world. Everyone needs their 10,000 hours. Truly the worlds greatest performers are, not surprisingly, some of the worlds greatest practitioners of practice. Below is the practice hall of the Orfeó Català. The practice hall is the same size and shape of the main hall, though one has to wonder with a hall as beautiful as the Palau, why would you ever want to practice anywhere else.

Travel Photography
Practice Makes Perfect by W. Brian Duncan