Category Archives: HDR Photography

Beautiful HDR Pictures from Around the World

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

The Sun in a Garden of Music

Posted on February 25th, 2013 by

Wonderful World

There are times where the depth of beauty and amazing creativity of the human spirit move me out of myself into another place. Most concert halls are dark and have mechanically controlled light, in Catalonia I found a jewel that was the exact opposite.

I was amazingly lucky to be allowed to time to photograph the breath taking Palau de la Música Catalana while in Barcelona, Spain. The amazing people at the Palau gave me complete access to this treasure. Though difficult to see in this image (don’t worry there are many more), the skylight of the Palau is three dimensional. It was lovingly said to me, the skylight is like the sun and the Palau is as a garden of music. A more perfect description could not exist. I only hope my photographs will do some justice to the glory of the Palau.

HDR Photography
The Sun in a Garden of Music 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

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

The Choir Guardian of Saint Pierre Cathedral

Posted on February 11th, 2013 by

Details, Details

I have a terrible time with details. One former boss of mine said I had a problem seeing the trees for the forest. Often a new place is SO overwhelming, this actually does become the case. I see the big shots, but I often miss opportunities for little details that are in fact amazing. I found some in detail in Paris, in a flower vendor’s bucket. While in Geneva, I found a detail I loved in a 15th century choir stall. The stall was not native from the church. It survived the reformation, but was brought to Saint Pierre Cathedral after the departure of John Calvin. It’s these wonderful details that make life all the more sweet. I try every day to spend more time with them…in wonder.

HDR Photography
The Choir Guardian of Saint Pierre Cathedral by W. Brian Duncan

Le Centre Pompidou

Posted on February 7th, 2013 by

Pipes Galore

A quick photo from Paris for today’s image. It’s of the Pompidou Center, the wonderful modern art museum in Paris, France. It is general for museums of modern art to have a striking design, but the French really outdid themselves on this one. The style is really more post-modern and something they call hi-tech. The facade is a internetworked crosshatch of pipes and conduit all of which are brightly colored making a visual delight for the eyes. This was also the first time on our trip the sun had come out so the new found light played well off the building. This photo is of the not often seen escalators at the left front of the center.

HDR Photography
Le Centre Pompidou 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

The Magic of Cartier

Posted on January 31st, 2013 by

100 Photos

Today is a special day. Today I am posting my 100th photograph. It’s an interesting feeling really…it feels good. I have always had a bit of trouble with follow through. There always seems to be something newer vying for my attention. A new gadget, a new film, a new fleeting hobby, how do people stay focused! Maybe my ease is because I have never really enjoyed a hobby as much as I do photography. It is a sort of home, no matter where I am in the world. I love it enough to fly around the world to explore it more. It does of course help that I also love the travel, seeing new places, tasting new foods, finding different ways of living. But in the end, all of these seem to coalesce around my camera.

Magic

I have been saving this photo for a day like today. My first exploration of HDR photography was in Paris and this photo was one of the first that let me know I had really found something in photography I wanted to explore more. I hope you like it as much as I do and if you work for Cartier, call me, I think this would make a great ad spread!

HDR Photography
The Magic of Cartier 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