ACCLAIMED photographer Ken Duncan believes panoramic images of Australia`s multi-facted landscape can be a powerful attractant to tourists.  

"A powerful shot can create an icon that draws tourists and creates a positive attitude," Mr Duncan said when explaining his decision to open a gallery in Cairns.

It was this desire to help send a positive message that all is not doom and gloom plus a touch of opportunity which were behind his decision to add cairns to his stable of photographic galleries.

"Peter Lik was doing panroamic work from Cairns and I did not want to intrude on what he was doing. But when he decided to concentrate on the US, I thought this was the right time to open a gallery there," Mr Duncan said from his Sydney home.

While many people had questioned his decision to open another gallery in a time of downturn, Mr Duncan said now was "the time for faith and not fear".

"There are a lot of positives about showing the beauty of nature.

"We need more positives and faith and that`s why I said let`s go when the chance came to open a gallery.

Mr Duncan described Cairns as an exciting place to shoot, adding there were many untouched areas in the rainforests.

"There is so much to shoot up there; we have hardly penetrated the rainforests and there are some magnificent images for people to see," he said.

He recently took a panoramic shot at Mossman Gorge which will be ready for display soon, describing the result as "just like being in the picture".

 While the Abbott St gallery opened to the public last month, an official opening highlighting his works will be held at the end of May.

Mr Duncan also has galleries in Sydney and Melbourne, in the NSW Hunter Valley and the NSW Central Coast.

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