dkthompson
@dkt-1.bsky.social
Photographer working in history, cultural heritage and folklife documentation. Opinions are my own and not those of my employers.
#Small face on a wall, downtown Raleigh NC during the Covid shutdown and BLM protests, June 1, 2020. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 22, 2025 at 11:15 PM
#Small face on a wall, downtown Raleigh NC during the Covid shutdown and BLM protests, June 1, 2020. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
looking thru some film I inherited from the museum move this summer. this chrome of the governor’s mansion has not aged well. that would be “dark fading”. this was an outtake from the book that came out in 80s. the move unearthed a lot of loose files that wound up on my doorstep
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
looking thru some film I inherited from the museum move this summer. this chrome of the governor’s mansion has not aged well. that would be “dark fading”. this was an outtake from the book that came out in 80s. the move unearthed a lot of loose files that wound up on my doorstep
tomorrow is the 30th American Indian Heritage Celebration (AIHC)- one of the largest annual events for the museum. I have covered more than I can remember including the first year. There are so many feature pix I can't even bring myself to choose a few to share. I keep collateral in my office file
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 PM
tomorrow is the 30th American Indian Heritage Celebration (AIHC)- one of the largest annual events for the museum. I have covered more than I can remember including the first year. There are so many feature pix I can't even bring myself to choose a few to share. I keep collateral in my office file
Uniform day this time back in 2019. I usually do 3-4 views and a couple details of each. That coat incidentally belonged to R. Greg Cherry who would become governor of NC in 1945. No set snaps for these, uniforms & costumes are among our most frequent visitors to the studio. below are typical sets
November 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Uniform day this time back in 2019. I usually do 3-4 views and a couple details of each. That coat incidentally belonged to R. Greg Cherry who would become governor of NC in 1945. No set snaps for these, uniforms & costumes are among our most frequent visitors to the studio. below are typical sets
Facebook is reminding me that 12 years ago was my 20th year at museum, I had a year as a temp on top of that so I'm closing out 33 years as a photographer. which is quite a stretch. my career path was in news photography, I needed a job and was a good printer and assistant. That was pretty much it.
November 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Facebook is reminding me that 12 years ago was my 20th year at museum, I had a year as a temp on top of that so I'm closing out 33 years as a photographer. which is quite a stretch. my career path was in news photography, I needed a job and was a good printer and assistant. That was pretty much it.
Working with watches this day back in 2015. once in a blue moon I have to break out the light tent, this was such an occasion. incidentally, the late Dwane Powell, editorial cartoonist for the N&O did these caricatures. The Jesse Helms watch runs backwards.
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Working with watches this day back in 2015. once in a blue moon I have to break out the light tent, this was such an occasion. incidentally, the late Dwane Powell, editorial cartoonist for the N&O did these caricatures. The Jesse Helms watch runs backwards.
More museum work from the day job, this time the 16th 2021 in the studio. It was military items, starting with a sword assoc. w/ Richard Caswell Gatlin, who was grandson of Richard Caswell, first governor of NC, West Point grad who served on Frontier, Mex-Am War and then was Brig. Gen CSA.
November 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM
More museum work from the day job, this time the 16th 2021 in the studio. It was military items, starting with a sword assoc. w/ Richard Caswell Gatlin, who was grandson of Richard Caswell, first governor of NC, West Point grad who served on Frontier, Mex-Am War and then was Brig. Gen CSA.
Busy day or two in studio back in 2021, on 15th-16th. First up was trying to squeeze a Thomas Day bureau into the small studio. the set snap is from the frontal view, but lighting was same. I had spent the better part of a decade working with my boss on TD furniture for the UNC book. never ends
November 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Busy day or two in studio back in 2021, on 15th-16th. First up was trying to squeeze a Thomas Day bureau into the small studio. the set snap is from the frontal view, but lighting was same. I had spent the better part of a decade working with my boss on TD furniture for the UNC book. never ends
Rick Miller, frontman for the band Southern Culture on the Skids, silhouetted by #Bright stage lights, at Under the Street club, Durham NC, 1991. Shot with Rollei 35S, TMZ 3200 and scanned from print #BlueSkyArtShow. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 15, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Rick Miller, frontman for the band Southern Culture on the Skids, silhouetted by #Bright stage lights, at Under the Street club, Durham NC, 1991. Shot with Rollei 35S, TMZ 3200 and scanned from print #BlueSkyArtShow. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Here's a basic artifact shot I was working on in the studio this day back in 2019. To get a clean white background, you need to light it at about a stop more than the object, but you don't want to blow it out. that's the thing about print repro, you're not looking to clip the highlights.
November 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Here's a basic artifact shot I was working on in the studio this day back in 2019. To get a clean white background, you need to light it at about a stop more than the object, but you don't want to blow it out. that's the thing about print repro, you're not looking to clip the highlights.
FBreminding me that's been almost ten years since I put together an object lighting talk I was asked to do by the local camera club. it was just as much work showing how not to light an object as it was to properly light it. I have only given one other talk since. it's work to put these together.
November 14, 2025 at 3:31 PM
FBreminding me that's been almost ten years since I put together an object lighting talk I was asked to do by the local camera club. it was just as much work showing how not to light an object as it was to properly light it. I have only given one other talk since. it's work to put these together.
NC Awards are this evening over in Asheville for the first time outside of Raleigh. The museum photogs have never covered that, although it is run by the dept. we work for. I have however photographed an award in the studio that is an artifact in the collection. I jazzed up the shot with a mirror.
November 13, 2025 at 7:32 PM
NC Awards are this evening over in Asheville for the first time outside of Raleigh. The museum photogs have never covered that, although it is run by the dept. we work for. I have however photographed an award in the studio that is an artifact in the collection. I jazzed up the shot with a mirror.
relic. if you know, you know
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
relic. if you know, you know
few memorials & monuments for Veterans Day. the first one is a pinhole image I shot on 120 film that was my entry for World Pinhole Day back in 2009.
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
few memorials & monuments for Veterans Day. the first one is a pinhole image I shot on 120 film that was my entry for World Pinhole Day back in 2009.
NC State Legislature at night, Raleigh NC, Dec. 13, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
NC State Legislature at night, Raleigh NC, Dec. 13, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Boylan Bridge, downtown Raleigh NC in distance, June 23, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Boylan Bridge, downtown Raleigh NC in distance, June 23, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
With Veterans Day coming up, here's one for the #BlueSkyArtShow. Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the NC State Capitol, Raleigh NC, with the #Evening sun, Mar. 28, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
With Veterans Day coming up, here's one for the #BlueSkyArtShow. Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the NC State Capitol, Raleigh NC, with the #Evening sun, Mar. 28, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Throwback Thursday- Polaroid Type 59 I shot about 20+ yrs ago on an 8x10 Century Studio camera I was trying to build a horizontal enlarger out of. I used a lens from a stat camera and a homemade 4x5 reducing back. turned off room lights & fired Dynalite 1000ws head several times.
November 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Throwback Thursday- Polaroid Type 59 I shot about 20+ yrs ago on an 8x10 Century Studio camera I was trying to build a horizontal enlarger out of. I used a lens from a stat camera and a homemade 4x5 reducing back. turned off room lights & fired Dynalite 1000ws head several times.
NC State Legislature office window, Raleigh NC, June 2013. Photo - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #WindowsOnWednesday
November 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
NC State Legislature office window, Raleigh NC, June 2013. Photo - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #WindowsOnWednesday
FB memories today had this scan of a type 55 proof, with the "Nauga" mascot on a naugahyde chair. I assisted my boss with that 4x5 chrome back in 1994. The Nauga is a little guy I've had in my office for years and became our mascot. In '24 I had to shoot another office chair, and drew inspiration.
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
FB memories today had this scan of a type 55 proof, with the "Nauga" mascot on a naugahyde chair. I assisted my boss with that 4x5 chrome back in 1994. The Nauga is a little guy I've had in my office for years and became our mascot. In '24 I had to shoot another office chair, and drew inspiration.
From FB memory feed, what I was working on this day back in 2021 and 2016. the quilt used a setup we had in the small studio using unistrut track to clamp lights overhead, for shooting textiles with a slant board. the space was too small for large items, so we seldom used it. worked for this
November 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
From FB memory feed, what I was working on this day back in 2021 and 2016. the quilt used a setup we had in the small studio using unistrut track to clamp lights overhead, for shooting textiles with a slant board. the space was too small for large items, so we seldom used it. worked for this
Topical. I shot this back on Nov. 3 2020, while documenting election signs. My personal work goes to UNC, but I work for a museum as well. I let them use this image for the exhibit "NC A to Z", the "H" section for "holidays". this is secondary signage, direct inkjet print to white Sintra (PVC).
November 2, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Topical. I shot this back on Nov. 3 2020, while documenting election signs. My personal work goes to UNC, but I work for a museum as well. I let them use this image for the exhibit "NC A to Z", the "H" section for "holidays". this is secondary signage, direct inkjet print to white Sintra (PVC).
#Autumn in Chapel Hill NC, University Presbyterian Church steeple as seen through Fall foliage at sunset, Oct. 29, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #BlueSkyArtShow
November 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
#Autumn in Chapel Hill NC, University Presbyterian Church steeple as seen through Fall foliage at sunset, Oct. 29, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #BlueSkyArtShow
Bynum Bridge, Bynum NC, Oct. 4, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
October 31, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Bynum Bridge, Bynum NC, Oct. 4, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH