A Chilly Chance to Recharge Wins a Duke Time Off Photo Prize

Duke IT analyst Brandon Adams is the second winner in the annual photo contest that runs through Aug. 4

A man sits on an ice throne in an ice cave
Brandon Adams, an IT analyst for Duke Health Technology Solutions, sits on an ice throne at the Perlan museum in Iceland.

In an ice cave sculpted from 350 tons of snow in the middle of Reykjavík, Iceland, Brandon Adams felt the true meaning of cold. Adams, an IT analyst for Duke Health Technology Solutions, stopped at the Perlan museum during a recent weeklong getaway and explored the re-creation of some of Iceland’s greatest natural wonders – chilled to around 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

“It was like walking into a walk-in freezer,” he said. “I didn’t end up staying down there long, as you can imagine.”

He stayed long enough to snap a photo of himself sitting atop a throne made of ice, looking right at home – and a little like a triumphant character in “Game of Thrones.”

Adams’ photo was the second winner in the annual Duke Time Off photo campaign. The summerlong campaign invites staff and faculty to share photos of time off – near and far – for prizes from the Washington Duke Inn, Duke Lemur Center and Duke University Stores. Adams received a 24-can Duke cooler from Duke University Stores for his prize-winning photo from the museum.

A man sits on an ice throne in an ice cave
Brandon Adams sits on an ice throne in the Perlan museum in Iceland. Photo courtesy of Brandon Adams

Adams took five days away from his work as a Maestro Care system administrator to truly disconnect on a solo trip to Iceland at the end of May. The main appeal, he admitted, was that there is a direct flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Reykjavík. While there, he packed in visits to waterfalls and the Blue Lagoon, trips to see glaciers and a black sand beach.

“I definitely found myself when I was there – especially seeing some of the waterfalls – I really felt myself relax,” Adams said. “I didn't think about work at all. It was just a really good opportunity to recharge and do something new.”

How to share your 2024 summer pictures:

  • Post and tag a photo on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the #DukeTimeOff hashtag and tag Working@Duke as well.
  • In your post, share what you’re doing with your time away from work and why it’s special.
  • Remember to include #DukeTimeOff and tag Working@Duke in your post, so we see your snapshots on social media.
  • If you’re not on social media or prefer to share your picture another way, upload your picture here.

We welcome and encourage frequent submissions (there’s even a prize for a shutterbug), but only the first picture in a series of pictures will be entered whenever one submission contains multiple images. Collage photographs and videos are not eligible for prizes.

During the campaign, the Working@Duke editorial team will award Duke-themed merchandise from Duke University Stores.

All eligible pictures taken and shared throughout the course of the campaign – May 22, 2024, through Aug. 4, 2024 – will be in the running for these grand prizes:

  • A “Classic Package for Two” ($425 value) at the Washington Duke Inn, which includes a king or double/double room for one night and full breakfast for two in the Vista Room or room service, courtesy of the Washington Duke Inn. Sunday brunch is not eligible.
  • A tour of the Duke Lemur Center’s Natural History Museum for up to five people with museum curator, Dr. Matt Borths. The collection is one of the rarest fossil primate collections in the world. Borths and his team will give the lucky winners a behind the scenes look at the collection and let them try their hand at fossil prep work.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs by writing working@duke.edu.

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