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photo I took the other day, a detail of a mural near the Bynum General Store - shows the likeness of the late Clyde Jones, a local folk artist of renown for his "critters" made of found wood carved by a chainsaw. Jones died in 2025 but his work can be found all over Bynum and beyond.

Clyde Jones likeness on mural, Bynum General Store, 950 Bynum Road, Bynum NC, Sept. 6, 2026. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 12h

exhibits work from the studio, Sept 30 2014 - this was a group of video media I needed to do for signage in the "Starring North Carolina" film exhibit. this is a one light set using a soft light in back with fill cards from front. reflectors are used to add highlights to the video disc.

Media grouping for “Starring North Carolina” film exhibit, NC Museum of History 2014. VHS, Betamax cassettes and laser disc.

wall signage in the "Starring North Carolina" exhibit, 2014

tabletop set for artifact grouping using one backlight and fill cards from front

tabletop set - the foam core card at top right is casting a shadow below to created a graduated (fall off) shadow in back of object grouping. this is how it's done.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 12h

studio selfie from Sept 30 2015

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Bit of rust from Saxapahaw, a sign for the old mill on the side of the now Haw River Ballroom. when I saw this it sorta reminded me of a door sign I snapped in Raleigh a few years ago.

Rusted sign for employee entrance at former site of the Saxapahaw Mill, Saxapahaw NC, Sept. 8, 2026. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Sign on door to employee entrance for Sheraton hotel on Salisbury St., Raleigh NC, may 19, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

bit of recent work. I started documenting political street art a few years ago, and eventually got into collecting some as a way to provide provenance to the photos. I have donated quite a bit to a couple of archives. I got into this by documenting hate speech, which I still do but don't post.

this is a USPS Label 228 sticker with a homemade stamp, woodcut or Linocut or similar - "Ice Melts in South" - Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill NC, March 3, 2026.

“Ice Melts” Label 228 sticker along W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill NC, Sept. 19, 2026. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

this laminated flier can be found all around Chapel Hill, but this particular example shows the discourse on the street with stickers - Collected from a kiosk in front of the old Post Office bldg. on Franklin Street, Chapel Hill NC, May 31, 2026.

Laminated flier with likeness of Trump on roach body, homemade, “Vote Nov”, taped to trash can near the Old Well, UNC-Chapel Hill campus, Sept. 19, 2026. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Studio memory for today back in 2017 with what is believed to be the first television set used in NC, a Baird shortwave built for a kit in 1931. the Smithsonian was interested in acquiring this, but family wanted to keep it in state so donated it to the MOH.

Baird shortwave television set, 1931. NC Museum of History 1993.341.1.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Sept. 28, 2019 - you see a lot of boots & dresses with the IBMA crowd, seems almost de rigueur for women musicians--which is why this snazzy choice of footwear worn by fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves caught my eye. She was part of a panel discussion on fiddle & banjo combos in Old Time and Bluegrass

Snazzy footwear belonging to fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves alongside Allison de Groot on clawhammer banjo - IBMA "Wide Open Bluegrass Festival", Raleigh NC, Sept. 28, 2019. "Fiddle & Banjo: The Roots and Branches of American Music"--presented by Jocelyn Neal. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Fiddler Tatiana Hargreaves alongside Allison de Groot on clawhammer banjo - IBMA "Wide Open Bluegrass Festival", Raleigh NC, Sept. 28, 2019. "Fiddle & Banjo: The Roots and Branches of American Music"--presented by Jocelyn Neal. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Marquee on Raleigh NC’s Rialto Theater with memorial message honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sept. 27, 2020. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Work flashback to Sept. 27, 2013 and a free program the museum had with the late Jim Mills, banjo picker extraordinaire with 5 of his rare pre-war banjos - "Gibson, Scruggs & the Three-Finger Style". If you like Bluegrass, you may have heard him play as a sideman. Won 6 Grammys & 6 Player of Yr IBMA

"Gibson, Scruggs & the Three-Finger Style" with Jim Mills, NC Museum of History, Sept, 27, 2013.

"Gibson, Scruggs & the Three-Finger Style" with Jim Mills, right. Pete Wernick, left, aka “Dr. Banjo” checks out one of Jim's banjos after the program as former NC Arts Council director Wayne Marin looks on. Martin is an accomplished Old Time fiddler and field recordist. NC Museum of History, Sept. 27, 2013.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Stage and strobe #Lights during a long exposure lead to crazy colors and patterns at this Flaming Lips performance, Milestone Club, Charlotte NC, 1987. Scanned from Kodachrome 200 slide. #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

3-finger “Scruggs style” banjo with Argentinian-American bluegrass band “Che Apalache” and colored stage #Lights at the Wide Open Bluegrass festival, Sept. 2018. Che Apalache interprets Bluegrass mixed with Latin roots #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Henrique Prince, fiddler with the Ebony Hillbillies band, silhouetted against the dance tent #Lights at the Wide Open Bluegrass festival 2017, Raleigh, NC. the band performed on stage earlier, then a lively late night dance #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Mixed color from #Lights on parking deck, end of Lane Street, Raleigh NC, March 2024. #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Mixed color from lights on parking deck, end of Lane Street, Raleigh NC, March 2024. - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#Lights of red, green and yellow - symbolizing colors for Black History Month - illuminate Memorial Auditorium in downtown Raleigh NC, Feb. 2024. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Lights of red, green and yellow - symbolizing colors for Black History Month - illuminate Memorial Auditorium in downtown Raleigh NC, Feb. 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Capitol Police officer at the NC State Capitol stands over #Lights left on the steps by protesters during the nighttime Moral Monday: "No Hate, No Fear, No Stealing Our Votes”, Raleigh NC, Nov. 28, 2016. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Capitol Police officer at the State Capitol stands over lights left on the steps by protesters during the nighttime Moral Monday: "No Hate, No Fear, No Stealing Our Votes”, Raleigh NC, Nov. 28, 2016. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

“Moral Monday” protesters blurred forms against the head #Lights of Dept of Correction prison buses leaving the State Legislature after a demonstration resulting in arrests, Raleigh NC, June 25 2013. Supporters would chant "thank you we love you" as buses depart. #BlueSkyArtShow

“Moral Monday” protester’s blurred forms against headlights of prison buses leaving the State Legislature after a demonstration resulting in arrests, Raleigh NC, June 25 2013 DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

work selfie from this day Sept. 26 2023, on location at the Museum of the Albemarle. this is the screw tip end of a dock piling that was once about 11 feet long, from the Antebellum era. It had later been repurposed for both a doorstop and a Christmas tree at a shipping firm.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

home darkroom memory from Sept 26 2014 - catching up on my vacation snaps and accumulated summer work to contacted. I had a darkroom of my own for most of my adult life up until a couple of years ago. for a long time it was part & parcel of being a working photographer.

120 film from a vacation where I took a Rolleiflex and a pinhole camera. the left shows the notes I made at the time and how I wanted to process the film. N = Normal, +1 or -1 is a one stop push or pull. with b&w film if you measure the scene contrast and range, and expose accordingly, then develop against that you can control the final contrast.

this was at Fort Caswell, a negative from a Rollei 2.8F.

contact in the wash - good old Kodak tray siphon.

40 rolls of film from the summertime waiting to be contacted

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

spotted this day back in 2024 parked on Blount Street across from the Gov's Mansion, Raleigh NC.

Lighted panel truck with ad against Lt. Gov and gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, parked along Blount Street across from the NC Executive Mansion, Raleigh NC, Sept. 25, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

another studio memory for today from 2018 - I had a shadowbox of medals and a wartime scrapbook from WWI nurse, Madelon Battle "Glory" Hancock, from Asheville. Glory Hancock is thought to be the first Carolinian to volunteer for the war and became the most decorated woman for her service.

Portrait of nurse Madelon Battle "Glory" Hancock, of Asheville NC, ca. 1918, believed to be the first North Carolinian to volunteer for the war effort and the most decorated woman of WWI. NC Museum of History 19XX.135.199

Shadow box containing medals earned by Madelon Battle "Glory" Hancock for her service during WWI. NC Museum of History 2019.52.1

Scrapbook of photos & memorabilia belonging to Madelon Battle "Glory" Hancock. NC Museum of History 2019.52.2

the photo at upper left was widely used > Scrapbook of photos & memorabilia belonging to Madelon Battle "Glory" Hancock. NC Museum of History 2019.52.2

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

#WindowsOnWednesday - here's a snapshot I took around this time back in 2023 > Singer store with sign in window, “I Sew So I Don’t Kill People - Save a Life - Send Fabric”, 117 S. Water St., Elizabeth City NC, Sept. 24, 2023.

Singer store with sign in window, “I Sew So I Don’t - Kill People - Save a Life - Send Fabric”, 117 S. Water St., Elizabeth City NC, Sept. 24, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

this weather calls for a seasonal snapshot > University Presbyterian Church steeple as seen through Fall foliage at sunset, Chapel Hill, NC, Oct. 29, 2023.

University Presbyterian Church steeple as seen through Fall foliage at sunset, Chapel Hill, NC, Oct. 29, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

this time back in 2023 I was spending the week in Elizabeth City NC at the Museum of the Albemarle, working on photos for the catalog of the "Crafted from Wood" exhibit. I spent long days holed up back in the gallery as a tropical storm passed the Outer Banks. sorry no pix - most were loans

on location inside a museum exhibit gallery

on location inside a museum exhibit gallery - this view was tricky, I had a signature under the chair seat and had to light in tight controlled sections to keep the legs from casting shadows obscuring the detail. this is a variation of "cross lighting" which is done mostly with deep set frames.

whatever works. I needed to tilt this chair forward, so two rolls of gaffer tape and a box of cinefoil were just the thing

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I was around the Capitol yesterday for work and took a stroll across downtown afterwards. I am happy to report that I survived the "blood stained streets" of Raleigh NC. this bit of street art I photographed on 9/22/2025 is still there also.

“Fuck Ice” graffiti on back of 211 Martin St., Raleigh NC, Sept. 22, 2025. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

another FB memory for today were some pix I had posted, film scans of an early outing of the Squirrel Nut Zippers at Duke University Coffeehouse. I had gone with Southern Culture on the Skids to check them out, a friend of ours briefly played sax with the Zippers. I was using a Leica M4 by this time

Katherine Whelan of the Squirrel Nut Zippers at Duke Coffeehouse summer of 1994. You can see Mary Huff from SCOTS over her left shoulder, drummer Dave Hartman over the right and the nose at right belongs to Rick Miller. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Squirrel Nut Zippers at Duke Coffeehouse, Durham NC, summer 1994. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

this is Spencer Adams who played on several SCOTS records on sax, also in early days of the band he would fill in on vocals after the departure of Stan Lewis from the first lineup. Squirrel Nut Zippers at Duke Coffeehouse, Durham NC, summer 1994. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Sept. 22 2010 - end days of 4x5 film use at the MOH, this time the companion to the tobacco field we shot the month before for a 20+ foot long mural. a cotton field in eastern NC. the first snap has our shadows against the sandy soil. I'm on left checking a type 55 negative with loupe.

photographers viewing a type 55 negative with loupe, using the bright sandy soil as a lightbox. cotton in background

under the darkcloth photographing a cotton field. museum work

Toyo GXII 4x5 view camera, short rail and bag bellows for wide angle lens

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

a mix of FB memories today, first up is a good example of the obligatory fisheye lens use that I kept in my office desk for just such occasions. a little bit goes a long way, but a 16mm Nikkor always gives you a unique perspective for event work. Not to be overused. this was with a D5 back in 2018.

"Pirate Fest" singing group on steps to the NC Museum of History, Sept. 2018.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

studio memory from Sept 21 2017 - still working thru computers and TV sets from the collection, this time with a parallel card from the PC I had done day before. I put it on the end of a clamp at just the right angle over shiny black acrylic and with just the right camera angle had the reflection

Parallel card assoc. w/ IBM Personal Computer, 1983-1984. NC Museum of History 1993.13.6C

grip - clamps, arms and mounts used for tabletop studio shot to hold an object

2 150 watt tungsten lights were used here

these metal flags are being used to shape the light into a wedge that only hits the right spot on the object below. the barn doors on the light work in conjunction, the "snoot" tapers the beam.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I was walking down the alley running behind the businesses along Franklin Street in Chapel Hill yesterday and noticed this bit of longtime graffiti had been removed. I passed it and did a double take, hey wait a minute something is missing here....it had been there for several years. so it goes

Graffiti found behind 137 E. Franklin Street, Biolabs bldg. Chapel Hill NC, Aug. 8, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

studio flashback for today back in 2017. Two tabletop sets using one light only. First is a soft light used in back with fill kicked in from front by cards & mirrors. Second uses a spotlight to create the defined shadow, then some mirrors to add fill. that hard light is only way to get the shadow

IBM personal computer manuals & software. (L-R) 1993.13.6E-I, Q-R, J-P. NC Museum of History 1993.13.6E-P

One light tabletop set uses a backlight kicked towards the camera, cards and mirrors add light from front.

Computer joystick, 1983-1984. NC Museum of History 1993.13.10

a hard lensed light at a low angle creates the long shadow thrown towards camera.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Rick Miller, frontman for the Chapel Hill NC band, Southern Culture on the Skids, sporting the #Golden yellow Bob Evans uniform the band would wear in the early 90s when playing incognito as “Pork Belly”. #BlueSkyArtShow - 35mm slide scan DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#Golden colored dragon spray painted on the Bynum Bridge, Bynum NC, Aug. 2024. Since closing to vehicular traffic, the pedestrian bridge has become a magnet for street artists and graffiti writers. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

NC Freedom Park monument looks #Golden at night, 218 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh NC, Aug. 2023. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

NC Freedom Park monument at night, 218 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh NC, Aug. 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

An evening sunset is often called the #Golden hour, that fleeting bit of time at end of the day when the light is warm and shadows long. This is the parking garage entrance to the NC State Legislature along Salisbury Street in Raleigh, July 2018. #BlueSkyArtShow

Golden hour sunset, NC State Legislature, Raleigh NC, July 2018. - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A break in a session of the NC State Legislature, Sergeant of Arms in doorway with State Seal seen on red carpet, behind shiny #Golden brass doors - all makes for a vibrant and colorful scene , Raleigh NC, June 2014. #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Sergeant of Arms standing in doorway to a chamber in the NC State Legislature, State Seal can be seen on carpet in background, Raleigh NC, June 2014 - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

flashback to Sept 19 2014 - playing tourist at Fort Caswell, Oak Island NC. I often just took a Rolleiflex on vacation when I was still using film, because with that camera you can just about do it all.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

studio selfie from this day 2015 - hanging out with this guy, a State Fair prize from the 1940s.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

work memory for today back in 2024, I was starting to pack to move out of the bldg for renovation. I had inherited stacks of slide programs from other staffers and decided there was no point in moving a bunch of dupes and slides that were copyrighted to others and would never be used again

nightmare fuel - weeding through old slides on the off chance some might be worth saving. most weren't

I held onto this program, even though it looks like there were no dupes, and the originals here were projected. the life has been sapped out of these Ektachromes. this was setup at the State Fair one year where they had a backdrop set up and people stopped by to tell the reasons why they considered themselves a "North Carolinian". there was an audio track that ran with this two projector show. I inherited these files with no model releases, no paperwork no nothing so chances to reuse are slim. but couldn't bring myself to throw out.

filled up a 55 gallon trash bag. this the thing about "archiving" it doesn't mean everything is saved. choices have to be made.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

studio flashback for today back in 2018. I had the 200 yr old mantle from Beallmont Plantation. this thing was pretty heavy but I managed to clamp it to two autopoles using about 6 super clamps and then filled the background with sheets of black gator board.

Fireplace mantle assoc w/ Beallmont Plantation, ca. 1770-1830. NC Museum of History 2016.2.56

Fireplace mantle (detail) assoc. w/ Beallmont Plantation, ca. 1770-1830. NC Museum of History 2016.2.56

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

can’t quite decide if this is a big camera, small woman or some combination of the two

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

walking across UNC-CH campus the other day and cut thru Porthole Alley which is on the edge near Franklin Street and near the Ackland. It appears to have been "buffed" - graffiti and stickers painted over or removed. so it goes. graffiti is ephemeral

"Too Many Pigs" stencil, Porthole Alley, UNC-CH campus, Chapel Hill NC, June 20, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

"ACAB" graffiti and stickers, Porthole Alley, UNC-CH campus, Chapel Hill NC, June 20, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Porthole Alley, Chapel Hill NC, Dec. 28, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Porthole Alley, UNC-CH campus, Chapel Hill NC, April 18, 2025. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Sept 17 2020 - the Covid shutdown was in effect, but I had to come in to the studio to make a photo for the marketing team. This was a POW uniform issued to Col. Scott Morgan, USAF, after being released from over seven years of captivity by N. Vietnam, 1972-73. I opted for a clean set here

POW uniform issued to Col. Scott Morgan, USAF, after being released from over seven years of captivity by N. Vietnam, 1972-73. Jacket (.1), Shirt (.2), Pants (.3), Shoes (.4) Belt (.7) & Bag (.9). NC Museum of History

studio set using two soft boxes in front and two hard lights in the back. one on right is acting as 3/4 rim light of sorts, adding texture. the one on left is aimed down at the background paper to keep it white. I often light textiles on forms this way, the light is even from the front, the backlight adds a shadow and some nice rimlight.

studio set looking towards camera. the black cards on either side are blocking light from causing "flare" in the camera lens. this is more effective in the studio than lens hoods. in grip lingo these are "gobos" or "flags".

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

here are a couple pix of some public art in Raleigh that I did this day back in 2024. the artist here, Jonathan Massullo, has also done work seen on the side of the Mellow Mushroom not too far away from this railroad trestle, and along a greenway in Chapel Hill. thematically it's similar, trippy.

Tucker Street Railroad Mural, by artist Jonathan Massullo, Raleigh NC, Sept. 14, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Public art by artist Jonathan Massullo, Bolin Creek Trail, Chapel Hill NC, Sept. 2, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Public art by artist Jonathan Massullo, along the Bolin Creek trail, Chapel Hill NC, June 16, 2026. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

studio memory from this day ten years ago. a model of Skylab donated to the museum by the late Dr. William Thornton, member of both Skylab and Space Shuttle crews. After doing the straight documentation work, I decided to use a blue gel on a setup thinking it might work for marketng/social use.

View on screen from the D3X with 85mm PC Micro Nikkor.

Skylab model used by NASA astronaut, Dr. William Thornton, support crew for Skylab, crew member for the Space Shuttle “Challenger”. NC Museum of History 2011.122.1.

tabletop set using a blue gel to add color to the background

tabletop set using a blue gel to add color to the background. it takes a lot of juice to put light thru a dense gel for vibrant color, as well as through an opaque background from behind.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

another studio memory from Sept 15 this time back in 2015 - platform shoes done two ways. the gel version was for social media use. I made the box out of foam core and taped sheets of white polypropylene scraps I cut to fit. I often just rummage around the exhibit shop looking for stuff to use.

Platform shoes--1972. NC Museum of History 1997.140.2A&B

two light tabletop set. a light with a pink gel aimed at background. another without the gel from high on top aimed down at the objects

two light tabletop set. a light aimed at background. another from high on top aimed down at the objects. small mirror at front to add some highlights

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

studio memory this day back in 2017 - one of those artifacts that makes you feel old. I remember learning BASIC on one of these TRS80 computers. this is a simple two light set, a backlight with fill cards from the front. and a small spot light above for the keyboard. D3X, 85mm PC Micro Nikkor.

Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III computer, 1983. NC Music of History 2003.31.1

this is a very simple set. the top light is slightly to the back kicked forward, this is a backlight with the white cards in front adding fill. a white card is brightening the screen. the red lines show a small spot aimed at the keyboard

the black card at mid right is reducing the reflection of the white paper into the camera left side of the computer. this is helping with tonal separation.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

speaking of Beach Music yesterday, this was a work memory from today back in 2020. I had gone upstairs to check out the gallery and made this low tech comp of the part dealing with segregation. this was a room you walked into tripping a black light within that showed the alternate messages.

low-tech snapshot composite from the gallery --but this was a neat effect. i had seen these signs being made in the shop and didn't quite understand the design--now I get it. walk thru the door to the "club" in the section on segregation, and a black light trips on and shows the hidden messages.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

here's a fun studio memory from this time back in 2018. Up until 1971 girls couldn't compete in the All American Soap Box Derby, the following year 1972, 14 year old Priscilla Freeman from Chapel Hill NC became first to do so and placed 5th. I about maxed out the space in the studio with this one

Soap Box Derby car made & used by Priscilla Freeman in the 35th Annual All-American Soap Box Derby Race, 1972. NC Museum of History 2004.124.1

studio set to photograph a soap box derby car. took so much room I had to put the camera in my office

studio set. the red lines indicate 2 hard lights that are lighting the background of the angle of view, otherwise falloff in lights from front would make it darker in tone. there are 5 lights used here, studio strobes, on three 2400 watt second power packs.

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

work flashback, this day Sept. 14 2019. covering a dance lesson at legendary beach music club, "Fat Harold's" in N.Myrtle Beach SC during the annual S.O.S. "Fall Migration" week, when thousands of Society Of Stranders (Grand Strand beaches) flock to Ocean Drive (OD) for a week of all things "Shag"

selfie in mirror on a dance floor. photographer demonstrating "off camera flash"

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dkthompson @dkt-1.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

yesterday I took a drive along the backroads of Alamance County NC to try to find what was left of the Altamahaw mills site, which has been gone for many years, absorbed by Glen Raven Mills. I knew the office bldg was on the Natl Historic Record and within Glen Raven, I could only peer over a fence

Penstock, Altamahaw Mills--Alamance County, NC. 10/2/1889. NCMOH 1950.103.79

this is the Altamahaw Mills office, built in 1890 but now part of Glen Raven Mills complex. it's on the National Historic Register. it was one of the first bldgs in Alamance County to have electricity and a phone.

Former Altamahaw Mill store, Altamahaw Union Ridge Rd., Sept. 12, 2026.

this building has one of those mail order metal facade trims from the midwestern firm "Mesker".

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