NEWS
BRIEFING Keep up to date with the latest news surrounding the role of the EA
Ken Duncan : a photographer with an eye for making memories
Ken Duncan is a world-renowned photographer that has been in the business for many years . His photography is simply stunning ; it ’ s a true reflection of the talent he has spent years honing behind the lens . We were lucky enough to chat with Ken recently to get to know him and his worker on a deeper level .
“ I ’ ve been taking photos for over 50 years and have been a self-employed photographer since the early 1980s . My passion is to show people the beauty of creation and to inspire and equip the next generation of photographers . I am fortunate enough to travel Australia and many parts of the world in search of beautiful locations and wildlife to photograph .”
Ken ’ s preferred subject to photograph is the natural landscape of our world . In Ken ’ s mind , a landscape photograph has the ability to transform our homes and office spaces by turning our walls into windows of the beauty of nature . Photos are different from paintings in that they represent real places at specific times and can bring us peace and tranquillity in the midst of our busy lives .
“ I refer what I call ‘ photo realism ’ to ‘ photo illustration ’. By that , I mean that I like to interfere very little with the captured image . I think it ’ s important to get it right in the camera , instead of making many changes in Photoshop , so you are representing truth rather than fiction .”
Ken also specialises in what he calls a ‘ Panograph ’. This is a word he coined many years ago and it was intended to describe a wide ( panoramic ) photograph conveying the spirit of a place at a certain moment in time .
But Ken doesn ’ t just take photos , he loves to interact with the community and take technology and photography to places that may not encounter it on
the day to day . Ken has a project called ‘ Walk a While ’.
“ Many years ago , a respected Aboriginal elder told me that to truly know a person , you have to be prepared to ‘ walk a while ’ with them . And through my relationships with various tribal groups , I came to learn that their young people had no access to the technology we take for granted . So , I began taking cameras out bush and teaching Indigenous youth in remote communities how to use them . We have been walking with these Indigenous communities for over 20 years now and we are starting to see the fruits of our labours . I refuse to see another generation of Indigenous kids grow up without hope for the future .” Ken also works a lot with raising awareness and funds for charity and has always had a passion for giving back . “ I feel I have been blessed in many ways , so I try to give back whenever and wherever possible . That ’ s what Walk a While is all about . So , often we photographers go to a region and ‘ take ’ photos , but we must be prepared to put something back in return .”
Ken ’ s photos make for an excellent corporate gift . Here ’ s Ken ’ s take on why you should consider his photography next time you ’ re in the market for a present .
“ When you give your clients a bottle of wine or a food hamper for Christmas , it is — quite literally — here today and gone tomorrow . We found that many companies were looking for gifts that would last and be an ongoing reminder for clients of their goods and services . Our products tend to be kept for a long time , because people enjoy looking at beautiful images again and again . We have various ways of personalising our products with a company ’ s name and brand . And over the years we have created some truly unique and exclusive products for some of our clients . The feedback those companies get from their clients is always great .”
“ We have also done corporate photography classes from time to time and the response has always been terrific . Sometimes company conferences or training events can be ( sorry to say !) a bit boring . But when you throw in a really unexpected break out activity like a photography class , it gets people pretty excited . And let ’ s face it , everyone has a camera these days , even if it ’ s only their smart phone . I am fortunate to have a wonderful team around me . One of our strengths is coming up with great ideas and then making them happen . If a company wants to do something really unusual , we love to help .”
So , next time you ’ re in the market for a corporate gift or even an exciting corporate photography masterclass for your next retreat or conference , remember the name Ken Duncan and his panographs ! S
Summer Issue 2021 | Executive PA 13