“Ozark Bill” Duncan is a lifelong resident of the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Bill’s education was primarily focused in the life sciences, but he has completed art and photography curriculum in high school and university. Bill’s education and passion with the natural world has melded together with his interest in art and photography to form a naturalist who is focused on continued learning and capturing what he is passionate about in the photographic medium. Conservation and ecological restoration are an important part of these activities and Bill has donated a number of photographs for use by The Nature Conservancy and other organizations.
Education
Certificate in Fine Art Photography
University of Missouri St. Louis -2003
Exhibitions
Art at the Shaw Nature Reserve Annual Show & Sale -2013
Northern Arts Council “Holiday Boutique” -2013
Northern Arts Council “Peace on Earth” -2014
Art at the Shaw Nature Reserve Annual Show & Sale -2014
Art at the Shaw Nature Reserve Annual Show & Sale -2015
Art at the Shaw Nature Reserve Annual Show & Sale -2016
Photo Contests
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s 2nd Nature Photography Contest (2015)
-Seasons Category: 1st Place, Honorable Mention
-Vertebrates Category: 2nd Place, Honorable Mention
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s 3rd Nature Photography Contest (2017)
-Habitats and Landscapes Category: Honorable Mention
-Invertebrates Category: 3rd Place, Honorable Mention
-Vertebrates Category: Honorable Mention
-Bonus Category- Photo Essay/Blog Post: 1st Place
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s 4th Nature Photography Contest (2019)
-Invertebrates Category: 3rd Place
-Vertebrates Category: 1st Place, Honorable Mention
-Bonus Category- Travel: 3rd Place
-Grand Prize
Missouri River Bird Observatory Hope is the Thing With Feathers – 2020 Photo Contest
-Vireos Category: 1st Place
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s 5th Nature Photography Contest (2021)
-Invertebrates Category: 1st, Honorable Mention
-Vertebrates Category: 1st Place
-Plants: 1st Place, 2nd Place
-Bonus Category- Abstract Nature: 1st Place, Honorable Mention
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s 6th Nature Photography Contest (2023)
-Invertebrates Category: Honorable Mention
-Vertebrates Category: 1st Place
-Habitats and Landscapes Category: 1st Place
-Bonus Category- Missouri Species of Conservation Concern: 1st Place
-Grand Prize
Community Involvement and Teaching
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s Nature Photography Group Chairperson Aug 2016 – May 2022
Webster Groves Nature Study Society’s President Jun 2022 – Present
Websites
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 
Bill I enjoy your photos vary much keep them comeing have fun be safe. Love Dad
…what a grand idea Billy-boy, having a blog of your images…meth
Very nice to have met you today at Hawn, Bill. Hope I didn’t keep you too long… you were in grave danger of endless chatter on my part. In my experience, it’s rare to find a scholar’s mind and a poet’s heart in the same body, but you certainly seem to possess both. I quickly perceived that you are no average weekend nature enthusiast, but still wasn’t prepared for the spectacular quality of your photos and blog. Even your writing is great. Should you ever leave your current work, I don’t think you’d go hungry as a full-time outdoor photo journalist! Can’t wait to view all your bird shots; the ones I’ve seen so far have evoked not only a sense of wonder and beauty, but a longing to visit the areas myself. So again, truly a pleasure to have met you, and many thanks for access to the fruits of your Ozark journeys. May see you atop Hughes Mountain one evening; it’s a frequent retreat for me, as well. Until then, may God bless you.
Stephen Price
PS – Just last month I became acquainted with the work of Mark Kelley in Alaska. Check it out when you have a moment: http://www.markkelley.com.
Bill it was a pleasure to meet your at the Green Center. Finally made it to your blog. Really enjoyed the images!
Hope to go out sometime this year with you.
Casey Galvin