With an early childhood in the English Lake District and given the freedom to roam Duncan developed an acute visual perception of the world around him. He discovered photography while studying piano with London College of Music, the two were inseparable. Arriving in Canada in 1952 he continued to develop his interest in both music and photography, completing studies in photography at the Ryerson Institute of Technology.
His favourite equipment is a vintage 5x7 wooden camera, with complete movements for depth of field required for the subject and an equally vintage tripod with spike tips for better ground contact.
He prints to archival standards, using Selenium Toner on fibre based paper. In 1970 Duncan was awarded his Fellowship in the Royal Photographic Society. His work has been exhibited in National and International exhibitions and has accumulated an impressive list of International Awards. His photographs are in corporate and private collections.