David Douglas Duncan (January 23, 1916 – June 7, 2018) was an American photojournalist, known for his dramatic combat photographs,[1] as well as for his extensive domestic photography of Pablo Picasso and his wife Jacqueline.

A lantern-slide presentation by big-game hunter and physician Richard Lightburn Sutton, at Duncan's elementary school in Kansas City inspired an early interest in photography and world travel.

[2] After college, Duncan began to freelance, selling his work to journals such as The Kansas City Star, Life and National Geographic.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Duncan joined the Marine Corps, earned an officer's commission, and became a combat photographer.

After brief postings in California and Hawaii, he was sent to the South Pacific on assignment when the United States entered World War II.

As a second lieutenant, he initially served with Marine Aircraft Group 23 and was later assigned to photograph operations of the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command.

During his time with Life, Duncan covered many events, including the end of the British Raj in India and conflicts in Turkey, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Duncan traveled extensively in the Middle East, having been stationed there ten years after World War II for Life.