Welcome..... to the Thompson Photography website. While undergoing changes from time to time, it's my hope that the images contained within will present a sampling of whatever type of photography you may need. Table of Contents
1. The images 2. About Thompson Photography 3. The Ultra-modern facilities 4. What else is on this site? 5. Links to other related sites 1. About the site images: Many of the images are scans of photographs, but many are scans of printouts from my fearless Epson inkjet printer. IT'S NOT MY INTENTION TO PROVIDE TOP QUALITY IMAGES HERE (like the ones that take a day and a half to download), but to rather give you a general sampling of photos in the areas where I work. Printouts of composites from the Epson enables placing a number of images in one graphic file without putting the web designer, me, through the hassle of trying to get a whole slug of separate images all positioned in the proper place on the page. With different browsers, this helps keep the pages looking the way they were intended. Also, it enables you to see a variety of shots from different sessions, rather than just one or two. Most of the photos that have been scanned for the site are proofs, and not final finished prints. In the case of black and white, proofs are contact sheets and the images are roughly the size of a golf ball, so they will lack some clarity. But again, high resolution imagery isn't the aim of the site, but rather a general sampling. I've tried several approaches to navigate from page to page, and have settled on using command boxes at the bottom or sides of each page. Boxes for "Next Page", Previous Page", "Main Front Page", or "Section Front Page", give you complete control over where to go next, without the aggravation of going through strings of images that may not interest you. So to start, click on one of the small images on the Main Front Page to get to one of the Section Front Pages, or scroll down and click on any of the subjects that may interest you, and then click on any of the small images, command tags at the bottom of each page, or any underlined text to see whatever tickles your fancy. Have Fun! Note: This site was designed primarily with Netscape in mind. It's my opinion that this is a superior browser compared to the other common alternative, and I recommend that, if you don't have it, to download their latest version from their website.
Netscape also has the "right button" feature, which enables you to click on an image and then select "view image". This gives you an enlarged, and often much better detailed, rendition of the photo, depending on your monitor setup. However, if you have a server that uses fiber optics, that's *really* the way to go, especially considering all the graphic images contained herein.
2. About Thompson Photography In the beginning......... Having done a lot of volunteer photo work for the Players Guild, I became very interested in photographing Performing Artists. Their photos usually have a definite purpose in mind and this just seems to add to the challenge. Also, being a lover of living critters, I like to photograph Pets and Animals. However, I do the usual lines of photography as well, as you will see by the icons on the Main Page. I have photographed some rather well known and prominent people and some terrific critters. In the commercial field, there are 8 national magazine covers and over 20 feature storys in the Thompson Photography stables. Thompson Photography is the official photographer for ESPN2's "Local Sports Break" and "Lift Ev'ry Voice", a weekly TV program produced by Canton's Ron Ponder. Recently, one of the pageant participants I had photographed won Photogenic and Portfolio places in a number of contests, including "1998 National Baby Beauty Winner" and "Photogenic Winner" in the May, 1998, Glamour Dolls Nationals in Tennessee. Alexis is also the reigning "1998 Little Miss Ohio Baby", thanks largely to her sterling performance in live competition, but maybe also a little to the photos of her taken by your humble host (cough!). You can view some of Alexis' photos, along with other pageant participants, by clicking on the Pageant icon on the front page. My philosophy is simple: Provide decent, full photographic services, without the customer having to second-mortgage the house. But please bear in mind that Thompson Photography is not a discount store studio. Customers are given individual attention, plenty of time for their sessions, and full photographic services, like print spotting and dye work, protective matte sprays, and computer enhancement (extra charge), if desired. You don't get service like that at the local discount stores, and you can't expect to get it for the same prices. 3. Thompson Photography at Work Photos are taken both in the studio or on location, depending on your needs. Studio sessions are done in the ultra-modern Thompson Photography facility, where no expense has been spared to present the customer with the absolute latest technology and decor. TV personality and producer Melody Wilcox is shown taking a break outside the fashionable main entrance during a recent session. Notice the latest in Hi-Tech security measures employed at the front door (the rusty hasp).
Ok, so it's not my studio. This was actually a location session at Mel's house.
All kidding aside, my facility may not actually be full of the latest "state-of-the-art-" goodies, and it may not make it into Better Homes and Gardens, but in all seriousness, I do hire nothing but the best qualified and trained help available.
Below, a Thompson Photography technician rushes a priority film to the processing lab.
Next, the resident camera repairman cleans the mirror on one of the backup cameras.
Thompson Photography does location work too. In fact, sessions have been held in cities such as St. Louis, NYC, Elkhart and Fort Wayne, IN, Alexandria, VA, Toledo and Cleveland, Flint, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, PA, and Louisville, KY. There are 8 national magazine covers that have been done with my fearless cameras, and several dozen inside photo layouts.
What, me worry? Photographer Thompson, right, takes a meter reading during a recent session in Newport News, Virginia. (for Red Dwarf fans, that's Dave Lister on the left :))
Some of the work is not work, though. I was asked by the Cleveland Brown's to take some shots of them during the 1998 Hall of Fame Parade. Below is your host having breakfast with them at John's Bar and Grill after the parade. If I remember right, I had just said something really serious. That's why they're laughing so hard. Kids today! Sheesh!
(Foto by Fong)
4. What else is on this site? "Special Events" - some of the local happenings. An article entitled "How to Take Better Photographs," which has recently been edited for publication in a national models magazine. Coming Soon: "Looking for a better Camera". Also coming soon, "An informative How-To article on replacing the throwout bearing in a '57 Chevy. Well, maybe not. 5. Links: "PageantConsignments", site of new and used pageant clothing;
"WyldRozes1" a new release of contempory songs by songwriter and entertainer Rose Minner.
"StarkNet" - local weather, Shopping, Services, TV listings.
Links to the artists who contributed Animated GIFS."A-1 Solid Sound & Lighting", a great mobile DJ service for weddings, dances, parties, etc. Linda and David Wendling of "Profound Sound." Great DJ's with all the goodies, including great lighting packages.
"Allan B. Colombo", writer, "Security Distributing and Marketing" magazine. Al's site features articles on home security and veteran's information.
So there always seems to be a little something going on around the Thompson Photography homepage. Check in from time to time to see what's new. Or if you have any photo related questions or suggestions, feel free to send me an email or give me a call. But now, please feel free to click away with your trusty mouse on any of the small photos on the Main Front Page, or on any of the various topics found by scrolling down, and then click on the images on any of the Section Front Pages or select the command boxes at the bottom of each page, or follow any written instructions, to go from there. Don't forget the "How-To" article and the "Links" page.
