Category Archives: Black and White

Wonderfully rich black and white photography from around the world.

Overlooking Congress

Posted on October 7th, 2013 by

Oversight

I was looking back through photos this weekend and came across this one. I have a collection in Lightroom called “Needs More Work” and this photo from the Lincoln Memorial has been sitting there for some time. I have always been unhappy with the color in the original image. It was always a bit lifeless, but I immediately knew what needed to happen this week. I think it has been waiting patiently, but the shutdown finally made it clear to me.

I don’t often talk about the why of my images…I will be vague here, but here are some thoughts. This photo is shot from the side of the Lincoln Memorial. The reflecting pool is drained and work is being done to repair it from a freak earthquake. Lincoln has a wonderful view and looks to the statue of another man who had to fight to keep his country. Both overlook the Congress of the United States. which is slightly out of focus.

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”

Abraham Lincoln
1st Inaugural Address
March 4, 1861

Overlooking Congress
Overlooking Congress by W. Brian Duncan

Sci-Fi Bridge

Posted on September 9th, 2013 by

Sleeping in Airports

I arrived very late (11pm) to Vantaa Airport in Helsinki, Finland. I was staying for the night as I waited too late to book a room at the airport hotel and it was enormously expensive. Vantaa is supposed to be one of the best airports from sleeping so I thought I would give ultra frugal travel a try. What I learned is I will most likely never voluntarily sleep in another airport. Not that Vantaa was bad…quite the opposite, it’s one of the nicest airports I have visited. I just felt insecure. I spent the night worried someone would steal something while I was asleep. They didn’t, of course, but I could shake the weird feeling. Also, winter in Helsinki is COLD and the airport at night gets downright frigid. If you want to sleep in an airport, I would recommend doing it in Helsinki, but then again, I would not recommend sleeping in an airport.

Wandering Around

Before my failed attempt at sleeping I wandered around and took some photos of the nearly deserted airport. There were two police officers on patrol who stopped me and questioned what I was doing. I always get flabbergasted when stopped by the police for some reason. I probably always seem like I am up to something. They liked my camera.

HDR Photography
Sci-Fi Bridge by W. Brian Duncan

Old Medical Library

Posted on August 26th, 2013 by

Debate

I had a really long debate rolling with this photo. My internal discussion is honestly why I wanted to post this photo. The site itself is completely awesome! An 18th Century Medical Theater in Barcelona called Sala Gimbernat.

My debate was around the computer on this library table on the right. In the original photo (which was not square) the computer was in the photo, but when I was there I wondered about moving it for the shot. It wasn’t hooked up, just sitting there. On the left side of the table is a WONDERFUL ancient and massive book that I just loved. What do you think? If you were there by invitation, do you disturb peoples things to get a better shot? Does it matter if this would have been a paid shoot (I think so)? In the end, the computer stayed and I cropped to a 1×1 format which seemed to fit the idea better anyway.

HDR Photography
Old Medical Library 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

Embarcadero Stairs

Posted on April 11th, 2013 by

The Road Ahead

I read a quote recently on the internet that I found uniquely stuck in my head.

The only reason we get stuck in jobs we don’t love is because we choose not to leave.
~Simon Sinek

I belive this extends well past career choices and into almost every facet of life. We tend to externalize our problems, overplay obligations and declare that I can’t because (insert any reason). What occurred to me was the power accepting this notion has as well as the responsibility its acceptance requires. When we realize we are directing this life, it seems all the more important to make it one we want to live. I struggle with choices, but for better or worse they have been and continue to me mine to make.

Stairs

Today’s photo is of the Embarcadero Center Staircase located in Center 2.

HDR Photography
Embarcadero Stairs by W. Brian Duncan

A Light at the End of a Dark Tunnel

Posted on March 18th, 2013 by

Paths

Sometimes on our journeys, we come across obstacles. A way that can only be walked by a single path. This path can at times be scary, dark and lonely. It can fill us with a sense of unease. The path can be broken, uneven, difficult to navigate in the darkness. We risk falling down. We risk making our lives worse. We risk hurting ourselves or the ones we love. But for those of us who are brave…the light is patiently waiting.

HDR Photography
A Light at the End of a Dark Tunnel 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

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

Winged Victory

Posted on December 24th, 2012 by

Dangerous Waters

The Louvre is a sea of people.

I was thinking this as I stood on the platform of the staircase that displays one of the most famous sculptures in the world, Winged Victory. Along with the Venus De Milo, Winged Victory is one of the must see sculptures at the Louvre. It is impossible to see all the the Louvre’s treasures in a day (you actually would need a week or more), but there are highlights your first time through which you don’t want to miss. It’s best to have a plan, and my plan that day was to capture a bracket of Winged Victory with no extra people in shot. This brings me full circle to my ocean of fellow gawkers. In an odd way this struggle made me appreciate the photo more, and the victory of battle at sea.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah Everyone!

HDR Photography
Winged Victory by W. Brian Duncan