What was Photography Like in 1955?

Isolated No. 9 I was dropping off an image to be framed at Lloyd’s Art Center here in Fort Collins when I noticed an old 1955 issue of Popular Photography sitting on the counter. The owner Alan Kinney had a stack of them and let me choose one for myself.   As I looked through that magazine,

Sandbar and Yoda’s Advice

Sometimes the strangest things can catch your eye and make for a nice image.   I was driving down the Oregon coast when I saw this sandbar. I liked its shape and how it contrasted against the water, and how it provided balance to the land in the background. It was a simple image and I further simplified

Oregon – Five Before and After Images

Monolith No. 78 – Before I’ve had a number of people ask if I’d do some more “before and after” shots. So here are five from my recent Oregon trip. ~~~~~ I had my eye on this Monolith by Cape Blanco for several years, but I had never found an easy way to get down

Which is the Best Camera, Lens and Paper?

I’m often asked: what’s the best camera, lens or paper? My answer is always the same: there is no “best.” Most cameras are excellent, almost all lenses are better than their masters and choosing a paper is simply about personal preference. It’s easy to buy into the notion that the right equipment: camera, lens, accessories, plug-ins, printers or paper will

Why I Create

Bent Grass When I was 14 and discovered photography, I created images for just one reason: for the pure joy of creating and personal satisfaction. But over time I found that my motivations changed and I started to create for others and for praise. Then I found myself creating to build a resume. I thought

Extraordinary Vision Magazine – “How I Found My Vision” by Cole Thompson

I’m so happy to learn there’s a new magazine out about Vision! It’s great that more and more people are focusing on Vision and less and less about equipment. I know about this publication because they asked to publish my blog post on “How I Found My Vision.” They did a wonderful job with the article and even gave

Dunes of Nude No. 10

     

Bandon Report

  I’m having a great time in Bandon.  The weather is wildly mixed, hard rain one day and beautiful sun the next. I’m working hard to look for the image that presents itself…yes even in the rain. Today I solved a small but persistent problem: how to get a long exposure when it’s raining. Raindrops

On My Way to Bandon, Oregon!

Stone Jetty No 6, Maalaea Harbor I’ll be spending the next two weeks in Bandon, Oregon for my annual retreat.  This is a sacred time for me.  It’s a chance to be completely alone, with no distractions and only one thing to think about: creating images. At first it always takes a couple of days

Low Sun on Trees

Low Sun on Trees www.ColeThompsonPhotography.com