popped up in my memory feed for today, back in 2015. we were working on an exhibit about the Eastern NC funk roots. this was a fun one to work on.

Hard to believe that it's been ten years, but this day back then I was starting to work on a dressmaker's exhibit that would see me do over 500 shots before it was done. I needed to set up a makeshift studio in a corner of collections storage, they were so large such as this gown with 10 foot train

this day back back in 2023 I had a last minute request for a studio shot of this protest costume. sorry not much for a setup snap. I think I used 3 lights on this, the mains are actually; 2 softboxes at front, there's a backlight providing some visual contrast with shadow and also rimlighting form

here's a neat dress I had in studio this day back in 2024. I had to shoot a bunch of dresses for a quick deadline so I was in a bit of a production mode. plus I was showing a new hire the ropes. this is an example of shooting "in the round". Sorry no set snaps, but you need to keep light the same

#Clouds in the sky mimic the artwork found in the Thelonious Monk mural by Scott Nurkin, part of the NC Musician Murals project, 235 SE Main St. Rocky Mount, NC, May 5, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #BlueSkyArtShow

this time back in 2020 I was working with this submachine gun in the studio. the standard set of overalls and details we do. typically we will do a shot of the lock plate and makers marks as well as both sides of a firearm. this is a good studio 101 example. more below with sets.

this time back in 2017, I was in studio with Governor & First Lady with our standard set for costumes on forms. however Mrs. Cooper's gown with the shot fabric made it a bit of a production. Multiple shadows are anathema to this work, but couldn't be avoided here trying to get that sheen on fabric.

from the archive - quirky photo I shot around about this time at the 2020 Women's March in Raleigh NC. 2020. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

This television set from that same request as others I have already posted - was about the most complicated one to light even though it doesn't look that way. It has glass covering the screen which also has a brushed metallic trim. that needed black to be used, but also needed highlights added.

another tv I shot for the same request I had back in 2017 when I did the Baird tv I posted yesterday. this one was tricky as well, having an accessory magnifier bubble, made of plastic filled with mineral oil. with glass you want to show the transparency. this "portable" set weighed about 85 pounds

saw a post earlier today about being the anniversary of the first mechanical television demonstration, Jan 26 1926--for the Baird shortwave TV. It so happens I photographed one of those for work back in 2017. this set was built from a kit in 1931 and thought to be first used in NC. set snaps below

Flashback to the "Great Snow of 1899" from the files of the Hall of History. One of the most popular images from the NCMOH's photo collection, it was copied in the early 60's by the state archives and many versions of it have been circulating since. I am not sure, but CP Wharton may be likely photog

little bit of "weather art" from working on snow days. I always tried to walk around the complex during inclement weather to get pix that could be used down the road. whenever the museum would close to public I'd have something for marketing to use. I also provide them with the historical content.

Looking like it will be #Cold here in these parts for the next few days, rather than the "Hot" also seen in this street art on a vacant building in Raleigh NC back in 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #BlueSkyArtShow

I remember walking into the studio on the morning of Jan 23 2015 and seeing this tuba, thinking oh great (not). I can't remember how many lights I used, but basically just boxed it in with white cards and scrims. tried to "hide" the camera reflection using shift on the lens.

from the studio this day back in 2015, I had a collection from former Gov. Jim Martin that had some doozies including this clock in a bell jar. This is one of the classic approaches to lighting glassware. added element of shiny brass though made it a little harder. A similar shot on film below

this day back in 2017 I covered the Raleigh NC manifestation of the Women's March, and amidst the thousands of signs I spotted a familiar graphic-the Edenton Tea Party. There's a copy in the collection of it as an oil painting that we shot on 4x5 chrome film years ago. the original was a mezzotint

what's this about #MuseumSelfieDay? everyday is when you work as a museum photographer. I have long stepped into my studio shots and held onto the reference cards with the camera set on self timer. I have a file of these called "goobers". there are hundreds by this point

Second of two studio sets from this day back in 2020. I was working a collection of WW1 & 2 pistols. most of this work was done using acrylic to support the object above a white or black background, the distance making it very clean. diffusion material is used to help form the tone by reflection

First of two studio sets. This one is back during Covid shutdown. the exhibit on Downton Abbey had closed, and this sideboard had been used as filler. since it had never been photographed, it needed to be done in-situ because it was so heavy, the handlers didn't want to move it again.

MLK Jr Day studio special - I had an assignment back in 2019 to photograph these hand fans for use by marketing on social media. I tried to jazz up the shot beyond just the typical flat documentation image, by using a splash of color behind to draw attention. I did this with gels & light

photo I was working on this time back in 2023. used monofilament to hang the lantern on right, the one on left was already mounted. I had to turn off the air handlers in the room to keep it still, I would do this for costumes with feathers and light fabrics sometimes. D850, 60mm micro-nikkor

couple of shots from the studio this day back 2020, I was using clear acrylic again to support the object. one uses gray matte board as background the other uses white. If you ever try to focus a round object btw, it's a PIA. a tilt shift lens was used here with forward tilt for focus control.

#One of many candles at the Moral Monday: "No Hate, No Fear, No Stealing Our Votes"--Nov. 28, 2016. NC State Capitol. The candlelit vigil came at the end of the large event with the theme being around Republican efforts to curtail incoming governor Roy Cooper's legislative power. #BlueSkyArtShow

couple of studio shots from this day back in 2020. this time I was working on a military exhibit. these two sets use old studio tricks, one "floats" the object on clear acrylic or glass, the other uses mirrors and a soft box as the main, with a spot forming a pool of light to liven up the backgrd

this day back in 2020 in the studio I was working on a large collection of glass in various forms. there are two basic ways to light glass, this is one. using a light background and lighting behind to see thru. the twist here comes from embossed lettering, needing light from front.

#WindowsOnWednesday Looking in on The Circus restaurant, now closed, 1600 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh NC, Jan. 12, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Working with furniture in the studio this day back in 2021. One of the pieces I photographed was a food safe from the antebellum period. this is pretty simple lighting, using a hard light as main, soft box for fill on top and a grid spot that has been shaped to hit the front only. setups below

Quiet Everyone! Talent's on set. Jan 12, 2016.

Jan 11 2018 - a makeshift set we had in the auditorium for some promos for a historical fashion show. we used two large muslin backgrounds and a super wide roll of white paper on the floor. tiled together with white gaffer tape.

Couple of artifact shots I was working on this back in 2020, plus an example of basic view camera theory, and a location shot for reference. studio snaps below. these used more placed reflections, and use of tilt-shift lenses to control perspective and focus.

The #Vibrant neon glow of Mecca Restaurant sign, one of downtown Raleigh NC's oldest eateries. The Mecca has served a loyal customer base since the 1930s. #BlueSkyArtShow DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

From the archives. clip from Creative Loafing, Jan. 9, 1988, 1987 year end roundup by music critic Fred Mills.

Second of two Studio 101 from this day. this time it's 2015, working on a Bluegrass exhibit with Curly Seckler's mandolin. Here's another simple one light set using cards, but with a spin. this time a scrap of gray paper is toning down the chrome tailpiece of the mandolin. the white alone was hot

First of two Studio 101 sets from past Jan 8th's. First up is from 2014 when I was working on the film exhibit "Starring NC". these are props from the production of "Iron Man". simple tabletop lighting that uses white cards to reflect into the sheen of the paint on the foam props and provide tone

from FB memory feed. I call these "goobers", when I step into my studio shot & hold the color bar. I use it to set white balance on the final image. this was from this day back in 2016. working on an African American dressmaker exhibit, I did hundreds of shots of mostly wedding dresses weeks on end

a shot I was working on this day back in 2019 when I was working on a toy exhibit and had to photograph a lot of board games. this is straight up old school product work, using one big top light and fill cards. front tilt is used along with camera angle to subject angle to control focus:scheimpflug

so, today is Earl Scruggs birthday, 1/6/1924. a good studio 101 lesson for photographing a framed print behind glass. put the camera in a shadow, no light hits it to illuminate = no reflection formed. you can do it behind black fabric, hole for lens, or just as easy with cards as show here.

Jan 5 1893, Libba Cotten is born in Carrboro NC.

Sticker on bike rack, State Capitol in background, South Wilmington Street, Raleigh NC, Jan. 3, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

Not quite #NewYear affirmations, St. Joseph Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill NC, Mar. 10, 2024. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH #BlueSkyArtShow

this was on my FB memories from 2015 when I went out on New Years day that year and shot some 4x5 of my usual haunts. I had long been fixated on the "cotton classing" building facade, but this is now covered with an awning. I also used to hang around parking decks a lot to do views of the city

Postcard with holiday greetings, Carolina Trailways, 1947. NC Museum of History 1974.117.232.

with the news of MTV ceasing it's video channels tonight, it means pix like these of "Mojo TV" will be all the more cryptic for future generations of patrons. On a side note, the documentary "How To Save a Milestone" which features some of my old work, begins streaming tonight at the usual places

For #WindowsOnWednesday, we have a storefront in downtown Raleigh NC with a holiday display featuring a miniature version of the 10 foot tall copper acorn that is dropped at midnight in City Plaza. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" and the acorn drop is a longstanding New Year's Eve tradition.

on my FB memory today from about a decade ago. Rodinal wasn't my main developer, but like Diafine, I always kept some on hand to run the odd roll of film. stuff kept forever. I remember buying it in small 8 and 16 ounce glass amber bottles that came in an orange box.

caption on back of print>> ETO HQ 44 31360 30 DEC Belgian civilians examine with interest a German Mark VI Tiger Royal Tank that was knocked out by American forces in Stavelot, Belgium. U.S. Army Signal Corps photograph Photographer - T/3 J. C. Kitzerow 165<<NC Museum of History 1959.55.266.

Holiday lights and traffic at Raleigh Convention center, Raleigh NC, Dec. 20, 2023. DK Thompson Collection/Southern Folklife Collection/UNC-CH

here, this is the darkroom I had before the one I posted pix of last night. this was an enclosed porch in an old mill house. 1990-1995. at the time I was doing freelance work mostly for fanzines and college record labels. most of the work that wound up at UNC came from darkroom or earlier ones I had

looking for new years pix this evening and came across these snaps of my old darkroom I took on New Year's Eve 2015. I used to spend the evening holed up in my darkroom with one of our dogs who was sensitive to the fireworks in the neighborhood. the darkroom was like a bunker. same with 4th of July