dkthompson
@dkt-1.bsky.social
Photographer working in history, cultural heritage and folklife documentation. Opinions are my own and not those of my employers.
Items for #Warmth - “Ask About Gloves & Socks & Handwarmers” marked on car window parked near mutual aid organization, Hillsborough St., Raleigh NC, Dec. 23, 2023. #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 29, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Items for #Warmth - “Ask About Gloves & Socks & Handwarmers” marked on car window parked near mutual aid organization, Hillsborough St., Raleigh NC, Dec. 23, 2023. #BlueSkyArtShow - DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Nov. 28, 2016 - Moral Monday: "No Hate, No Fear, No Stealing Our Votes”—State Capitol grounds, Raleigh NC. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 28, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Nov. 28, 2016 - Moral Monday: "No Hate, No Fear, No Stealing Our Votes”—State Capitol grounds, Raleigh NC. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Redistricting deja vu > Protest against special session of Legislature, dealing with Voter ID laws. Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh NC, Nov. 27, 2018. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 28, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Redistricting deja vu > Protest against special session of Legislature, dealing with Voter ID laws. Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh NC, Nov. 27, 2018. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
Two Thanksgivings - from the museum photo collection. Thanksgiving dinners during WWII at Camp Davis & Camp Lejeune. US Army Signal Corps photos, scanned from the original 4x5 contact prints. The museum has a large collection of these approx. 2000+. Most deal with the 30th Div. in the ETO.
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Two Thanksgivings - from the museum photo collection. Thanksgiving dinners during WWII at Camp Davis & Camp Lejeune. US Army Signal Corps photos, scanned from the original 4x5 contact prints. The museum has a large collection of these approx. 2000+. Most deal with the 30th Div. in the ETO.
#WindowsOnWednesday - a test roll I ran thru a camera I was giving to a student. The facade of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Jones Street, Raleigh NC 2014. low budget filter for a 25 Red, just laid on top of lens. the 25 is a classic filter for dramatic skies with b/w panchromatic film.
November 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
#WindowsOnWednesday - a test roll I ran thru a camera I was giving to a student. The facade of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Jones Street, Raleigh NC 2014. low budget filter for a 25 Red, just laid on top of lens. the 25 is a classic filter for dramatic skies with b/w panchromatic film.
in my FB memories- you know what this is? a big ass sheet of gatorboard. 5x10 foot custom. expensive beast. we used it to mount a graphic for an exhibit.
November 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
in my FB memories- you know what this is? a big ass sheet of gatorboard. 5x10 foot custom. expensive beast. we used it to mount a graphic for an exhibit.
I always carry an old Nikon fisheye with me, but use it sparingly, a little goes a long way. back in 2014 it came in handy at the AIHC-I was wedged between the stage & crowd waiting for the grip & grins I had to shoot. I looked over my shoulder, quickly changed lenses on the D3
November 25, 2025 at 2:43 AM
I always carry an old Nikon fisheye with me, but use it sparingly, a little goes a long way. back in 2014 it came in handy at the AIHC-I was wedged between the stage & crowd waiting for the grip & grins I had to shoot. I looked over my shoulder, quickly changed lenses on the D3
coworkers are sending snaps of me working the AIHC this past weekend, and they are non-surprisingly similar to ones from past. after 30 years of working this festival my methods haven't changed. neither has the soreness the following day or two.
November 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
coworkers are sending snaps of me working the AIHC this past weekend, and they are non-surprisingly similar to ones from past. after 30 years of working this festival my methods haven't changed. neither has the soreness the following day or two.
these popped up in my FB memories, singer/songwriter and all around great musician Lakota John. I have photographed him a few times over the years and he grew up with the museum AIHC festival, and sought him out at the IBMA one year. these were shot with the D5 & 300/2.8 & X Pro-2 w/ 50-150/2.8
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
these popped up in my FB memories, singer/songwriter and all around great musician Lakota John. I have photographed him a few times over the years and he grew up with the museum AIHC festival, and sought him out at the IBMA one year. these were shot with the D5 & 300/2.8 & X Pro-2 w/ 50-150/2.8
Sidewalk mural, “Know Where You Stand” by Claire Alexander (2020), part of the “Raleigh Art Beats” project, corner of Cabarrus & Salisbury Streets near Convention Center, Raleigh NC, May 20, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
November 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Sidewalk mural, “Know Where You Stand” by Claire Alexander (2020), part of the “Raleigh Art Beats” project, corner of Cabarrus & Salisbury Streets near Convention Center, Raleigh NC, May 20, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH
#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