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. Ken’s photos are great for a unique, long-lasting corporate gift should you be looking for the perfect ‘thank you’ present for your executive, or to gift to a client or partner. 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 a what he calls a ‘Panograph’. This is a word he coined many years ago and it was intended to describe a wide (panoramic) photography 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.”
As mentioned earlier, 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!
Ken Duncan is a World Leader in Landscape & Wildlife Photography, and he is regarded as one of Australia’s most acclaimed landscape photographers.
