Tag Archives: Catholic

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

Mother and Child

Posted on September 27th, 2012 by

Madonna

No not THAT Madonna, think a little older. While visiting a wonderful hidden chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, I found this status nestled in a cozy little corner of the church. I think perhaps she (but especially the baby) wanted to have her picture taken. I was only happy to obliged…who am I to say no to a lady.

HDR Photography
Mother and Child by W. Brian Duncan

The Hidden Church

Posted on July 30th, 2012 by

Where Are We?

Pamela and I went for a day-trip to Eureka Springs Arkansas just to mill around, shop and take photos. While visiting the Historic Crescent Hotel we noticed this little building behind the hotel. What in the world is that building? As it turns out, there is a small Catholic church nestled behind the old hotel dedicated to St. Elizabeth. Its a beautiful little stop if you happen to be in Eureka Springs. The grounds are fantastically manacured and the church, though less exciting when you compare it to some of the Gothic masterpieces like Notre Dame, is none-the-less beautiful.

Technicals

This is a 9 exposure bracket (-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) shot directly at the sun on a tripod. The bracket was combined on photomatix exported and cleaned up in Photoshop. Tonal contract and sharpening were applied with the Nik Suite. Final adjustments were done in Lightroom.

HDR Photography
The Hidden Church by W. Brian Duncan

Le Consulat

Posted on April 23rd, 2012 by

Noir Streets

It had been raining most of the day in Paris. The streets were still very damp the night Pamela and I walked the hill to Sacre Coeur through Montmartre. I had been looking for the Le Consulat building, everyone takes a photo of it when they visit Montmartre; it sort of stands out among the other buildings. Because of the rain the cobblestone streets in this old part of town seemed very black. Much like one of those wonderful old Film Noir movies I so love. I was, photographically speaking, happy for the continuing mist that kept things damp that night, even though it made for a chillier walk. I think Pamela described the mist with different words.

On Other Photographers

There probably isn’t much doubt that I really enjoy my photography. I take it more seriously than a good number of things and as such I spend quite some time scouring the web looking for inspiration, ideas…challenges to issue to myself. I recently stumbled upon (actually it was Google+) a photographer named Elia Locardi who runs the site Blame the Monkey. I was blown away by Elia’s work with color. It made me stop and think about where I place my emphasis during post. His work seemed to issue a challenge to me to pay closer attention to leading the viewer’s eye and color in my own images. Today’s photo of Le Consulat is a step in that direction.

HDR Photography
Le Consulat by W. Brian Duncan

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Posted on April 16th, 2012 by

Sacrebleu

High atop Montmartre in Paris is the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). Built in just under 40 years between 1875 and 1914, the Byzantine inspired structure was built, in the words of the Arch-Bishop at the time “expiate the crimes of the Commune”.

Time to Pay UP People

You see, Montmatre is a bit seedy; and apparently has always been the place to go to for cheap wine and all the other things that go along with cheap wine. Honestly, I didn’t find it all that shocking…Times Square in the 90’s was more of an event, but to be honest we didn’t venture in to Pigalle (Pig Alley) where the real action is proported to be located. Since it sits at the summit of Montmartre, the basilica offers one of the best views in Paris.

HDR Photography
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur by W. Brian Duncan