Tag Archives: Switzerland

Broken Chair

Posted on April 21st, 2016 by

Survivors

The sculpture sits in front of the Place des Nations (United Nations) in Geneva, Switzerland. It was one of my favorite pieces of art I saw on this trip. It is a dozen meters tall (39 feet) and is quite a sobering welcome to the U.N. It serves as a reminder to all the diplomats and politicians who visit United Nations headquarters of the atrocities of landmines and cluster bombs, not only to soldiers but to the common people, who will stay around far after the conflict is won, lost or abandoned.

Broken Chair
Broken Chair

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 21 January, 2013
  • Focal length: 23mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/13s
  • Title: Broken Chair

Bâtiment des Forces Motrices Geneva, Switzerland

Posted on December 15th, 2014 by

It was freezing cold and the snow had begun to fall again. I guess you don’t have much to complain about when you go to Geneva Switzerland in January. It was my last night and my last opportunity on this trip to get a photo of Bâtiment des Forces Motrices … I had to go, despite the weather.

The former hydroelectric power plant on Le Rhone caught my attention when I first arrived. It has a stately sort of appearance, one from those bygone eras I love so. It’s now a concert venue and this very night while I was pelted with sleet and show, shivering outside, The Chamber Orchestra of Geneva played Mozart to warm music lovers.

Outside I struggled to keep the water off my lens and a bevy of drunken Swiss youth loitered all to close for my liking given how dark it was on the bridge where I took this photo. I feared what I captured this night was unusable and it took me almost two years to revisit what I had done that night in January 2013, but like I learn again and again with travel…leave your expectations behind and embrace what comes.

Bâtiment des Forces Motrices Geneva, Switzerland
Bâtiment des Forces Motrices Geneva, Switzerland

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 20 January, 2013
  • Focal length: 23mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Location: 46° 12.262′ 0″ N 6° 8.3207′ 0″ E
  • Shutter speed: 25s
  • Title: Bâtiment des Forces Motrices Geneva, Switzerland

Wet Cobblestones in Geneva

Posted on January 13th, 2014 by

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
Wet Cobblestones in Geneva by W. Brian Duncan

Lost Winter Rose

Posted on December 19th, 2013 by

Losing Details

I have said it before, but I have a tendency to forget details. I come home with a lot of shots of big buildings, but I often reminisce about things that stand out to me during a trip, only to realize I didn’t photograph them at all. Perhaps I am too caught up in the moment or the spectacle. Going forward I will be actively trying to remember to photograph things, even when these are people who do not want to be photographed. They should be remembered if only by me.

Frozen Beauty

I found this rose in the middle of winter by Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. It was lost in the snow, a forgotten mishap…something that broke, or wasn’t supposed to be, but it was there for me to see. I still recall finding it, one of those little unexpected joys to brighten your day. A beautiful frozen rose in the dead of winter in Switzerland. Perfection!

Lost Winter Rose
Lost Winter Rose by W. Brian Duncan

Art Deco Meeting Room

Posted on September 12th, 2013 by

Murals

This meeting room artwork at the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland is almost intuitively familiar to me. I have seen this artists work before in New York at Rockefeller Center. Jose Maria Sert was a Catalan muralist working during one of my favorite times in architecture created some amazing art in some of the greatest cities in the world. When I think to the early 20th century the Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris often comes to mind. I often think that if I could go back, Owen Wilson and I would have chose the same time period. I also remind myself the only real time is now and it will only be that which we make of it.

HDR Photography
Art Deco Meeting Room by W. Brian Duncan

Palais des Nations

Posted on July 4th, 2013 by

High Level Meetings

While I was in Geneva, Switzerland I visited the Palais des Nations. This is one of those amazing buildings history buffs will LOVE as it was originally built in the late 1920’s to house the League of Nations. It has been added onto multiple times as you can tell this portion is from a more modern addition. The site is a fantastic time to tour, especially the old art deco portions of the complex. This is one of the general assembly rooms where nations meet to discuss world matters.

Happy Independence Day to everyone in the United States!

HDR Photography
Palais des Nations by W. Brian Duncan

Old Lion

Posted on March 28th, 2013 by

Lions, Titans and Bears

A quick post for today…As I said in a perviously, there were some great knockers in Geneva, Switzerland! This old lion was the first of the crazy big brass knockers I spotted on the doors of Old Town. Wandering around I was constantly staring at doors of peoples apartments and businesses and stopping to take photos.

HDR Photography
Old Lion by W. Brian Duncan

Door Titan

Posted on March 21st, 2013 by

Knockers

A quick photo for today…all over Geneva, I encountered incredible doors. I have been to several cities around Europe and to many old parts of these cities, but I don’t recall seeing as many wonderful, ornate and LARGE knockers on doors as I saw during my time in Geneva. I have several of these shots, but I really like this knocker of Poseidon (I believe it’s Poseidon) on this dark wood with metal studs. Enjoy!

HDR Photography
Door Titan by W. Brian Duncan

Inside Saint Pierre Cathedral

Posted on March 4th, 2013 by

You Said What…

The Swiss are efficient. They did not appear to enjoy repeating themselves for me, but my French is not the best and sometimes the latitude I was given in Geneva surprised me. I asked the docent of Saint Pierre Cathedral if I could take photos. He said yes. I asked if I could take photos with my tripod…he gave an irritated yes. Not because, I think, he was annoyed at my tripod, but rather because I didn’t take his first yes at face value. I love old churches and Geneva was build around this church. The entire history of the city can be traced in the foundation of this building. It is simple, but it was also the home of John Calvin for a good deal of time. I decided on doing a little something different with the processing. I generally do not like selective color, but I think in this way, it works.

HDR Photography
Inside Saint Pierre Cathedral by W. Brian Duncan

Saint Pierre Cathedral

Posted on February 21st, 2013 by

I Heard the Bells

Something magic happened to me in Geneva, that I can’t really explain. I hesitate to share it. What I can say it that the bells of Saint Pierre Cathedral touched my soul. For an instant I felt deeper than I thought possible. It startled me so, I lost it. I will continue my search. I am only sorry I can’t share, or explain the moment better.

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

HDR Photography
Saint Pierre Cathedral by W. Brian Duncan