I´m Cole Thompson, ask me anything

Learning with Experts Ask Me Anything (AMA)
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I am Cole Thompson and I’ve been photographing for 55 years! Unfortunately, I spent 35 of those years chasing the wrong things and I produced nothing significant. I was focused on equipment, process, rules and conventions. I created technically perfect but soulless images that attempted to imitate the images that I loved.

And then I attended Review Santa Fe.

I showed my work to gallery owners, publishers, critics and curators…hoping to be discovered. After a long day I got to the last reviewer: I showed him my work, he looked at it briefly and then brusquely pushed it back to me and said: “It looks like you’re trying copy Ansel Adams.”

I replied proudly: “I am, I love Ansel Adams!” He then said something that would change my photography and my life forever. He said: “Ansel’s already done Ansel. What can you do that exhibits your unique Vision?”

This blunt statement eventually brought about an epiphany: was it really my life’s ambition to be known as the world’s greatest Ansel Adams imitator? Or did I have something to say of my own?

And that sent me on a long journey to learn what was this “Vision” he spoke of, and did I have one? It was a very hard journey, filled with painful self-examination, and having to face some harsh realities about my motives.

But after two years, I found my Vision and it changed everything I did.

I was no longer constrained! I created images how I imagined them through my Vision, I no longer worried if others would like them, if they followed the rules of composition or convention. I was free and could do anything that I wanted…and I did!

Now my “mission” is to help others find and follow their Vision. To help others feel that same freedom and become more expressive through their photography.

WARNING: I have few traditional qualifications to answer questions on photography. I have never taken a photography class or workshop, I do not have a degree in art, I have never worked as a photographer, I do not have gallery representation and I am not a Canon Explorer of Light.

Do I have any qualifications? Just one: my images. Nothing. Else. Matters.

While I am happy to answer questions on any subject, I do enjoy talking about Vision, Passion, simplification, long exposures and dodging and burning.

And I do not wish to talk about John Barclay!

Website: https://colethompsonphotography.com/

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I’m excited to see this AMA here with you @Cole_Thompson!
You recently posted a photograph that I found quite compelling - I forget which platform it was on but it was your words that stuck with me the most. You talked a lot about how the photograph embodied how you felt when you captured the photograph (I’m probably butchering this but I can’t find it)… Anyways, my question for you there was relating to this connection of feeling and the photo and I didn’t get what I was looking for in your response, so I’m going to ask again here.

What is the relationship between how you feel, your emotions, and the image capture process? Are you cognizant of it in the moment or is it later?

Cheers, Cole and thanks for being an inspiration!

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Recently I have noticed a trend in b&w photography of very dark images with very bright subjects. This is more common in landscapes. Photographers seem to prefer to make darker landscapes overall. Do you know where this trend started and is this a passing trend or will it remain?

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I think of photographic vision as a culmination of my life’s experience and how I apply it through the use of a camera.

When you consider your vision is it something you apply to your photography or does it affect how you photograph naturally? Basically, is your vision passive, active or both?

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Hello Cole,
How would you describe the purpose of your photographic legacy to the world?

Philip Thompson, Victoria BC

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Because I am photographically celibate, I’m not really aware of the current trends in black-and-white photography. I am surprised to hear that dark images with very bright subjects is a trend, though.

When I was a boy, I grew up looking at all of the images of the great masters from the 30s, 40s and 50s. The images I was always attracted to were very dark images with bright subjects. I think of Ansel Adams’ image “Frozen Lake” and Paul Caponigro‘s “Running White Deer” or Wynn Bullock’s “Child in the Forest.”

Those are the images that I love, and the way I see the world. Ironically, through most of my photographic life, I was told to lighten my images and add more shadow detail. The problem was, that was not how I saw the world!

I’m a huge believer creating images through your Vision and If that’s how you see the world, then I say you MUST create images that way. But if it’s a fad or a trend, then it will pass with time.

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Hi Philip, are we related? I used to live in Nanaimo, we were neighbors!

I don’t think in terms of photographic legacy. My photographic purpose in life is to create these images that are inside of me. I recently read a quote from Rick Rubin’s book where he said that our art is like a diary entry. It’s personal and it was not written for others but written for ourselves. And that’s exactly how I feel.

The truth is that not many photographers will be remembered for long after their passing. I just returned from the Faroe Islands, where people would ask me what I was doing and we would talk for a few minutes. Upon departing, we would shake hands and they would introduce themselves, and I would introduce myself as Ansel Adams (I’m a jokester). Amazingly there would be a blank look on their face, with no sign of recognition of the name Ansel Adams. I started doing this with everyone I met, and I never met a single person who knew who Ansel Adams was. These were people from all over Europe, and not one recognized his name.

Legacy? If the memory of Ansel is already fading from the public consciousness, then what does that mean for the rest of us?

And beyond that, I don’t believe in trying to create a legacy. My goal in life is to create images that I love and am proud of.

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Hi Cole,

I have a workflow question. I have recently had to upgrade to Adobe Lightroom ( 2024) online. Can you explain how I get my newer photos into my original photos. They seem only to go into “recent photos” and not in to the desired file. Thank you so much.

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Always the hard questions Jason! The hardest part of answering your question is that I don’t know how to put how I think or feel into words.

Finding my Vision was the most important thing that has happened to me in my photographic life. It freed me from the shackles of conformity, from following the rules, following fads and trends, following common wisdoms, and following the “experts.“ It allowed me to express myself in the way I saw things.

When I stand before a scene, I just see it the way I see it. Finding my vision gave me the confidence to tune out all those other voices.

Now does following your Vision ensure that others will like your images? No.

Does following your vision ensure that you’ll be successful in the traditional sense? No.

But what it does ensure, is that you will create something that is honest and something that you love. And to me that is worth more than all the “likes” on Instagram!

Is Vision active or passive? I don’t know. I just see the way I see and my goal is to create an image that conforms to that Vision.

I find it so difficult to describe Vision and how it works, but once I found it, it was just is so incredibly simple: it is just how I see.

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Excellent answer Cole. It sounds like your vision is passive in that it isn’t a set of personal “rules” you apply. You see the image and then create it using the tools you have.

This has become the essence of my photography. When something catches my eye I start asking myself why and then I try to create that. Explaining what vision is could be an impossible task as it is so unique to the individual.

Thank you for your insight and for sharing your work with all of us.

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I never think or question myself when I’m shooting. Feel and react.

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Hi Cole,

Thank you for sharing your passion for photography, and thank you for sharing your work. It is hugely inspirational!

I have two questions that are related: are there any images that you took before you found your vision that you re-processed after finding your vision to be more in line with your vision (sorry, that is a lot of vision; I hope it makes sense……).
And the second part of the question: once you process an image, do you ever go back to it and reprocess it? Does time affect how you interpret/feel about an image?

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Hi Matt, thanks for the question. As I’ve said in other AMA answers, I am terrible about expressing myself with words, especially in regards to feelings. And of course that’s a big reason why I am a photographer.

The word “feelings“ has been coming up a lot in my life lately. I was fortunate to meet a woman named Kat Mahale who introduced me to the “felt method.“ (https://www.feelmorecreative.org/feltfulphotography) This is about viewing images through our feelings, and not through our heads. And this exposure to the felt method has affected how I create my images.

And then there is the writings of Rick Rubin, the music producer. His idea that our art is like a diary entry really resonated with me! When I am photographing something, I have all of these thoughts and feelings that I could never say with words, but I’m able to say with a photograph.

When I am photographing a landscape, it is frustrating in one sense because I can never portray the size and magnificence of the world as I see it with my eyes. But I can express my interpretation of that world.

John (you know his name) and I just returned from the Faroe Islands. When you’re standing there viewing this larger than life scene, there is no way my camera can adequately record what you’re seeing!

But I can record what I’m feeling.

Sometimes people will ask me what does that image mean, or what were you trying to say? And I’m thinking: if a photograph is worth 1000 words…then why try to describe it with a few paltry ones?

Look at the image, what do you feel?

I say: don’t ask yourself if you like it, or if it’s the type of image that you would create, or check to see if it’s sharp or technically perfect.

But rather ask yourself: what do I feel when looking at it?

Now, because my images are like a diary entry, and they’re expressing something personal, and not created to communicate something, then not everyone will understand my images.

And that’s okay because they weren’t created for them. They were created for myself, to express how I feel. If someone does relate to my images, then I feel this the cherry on top of the real prize, creating something that I love.

Am I conscious of this process? Not really. But as I’ve tried to understand what I’m doing, the “felt method“ and “my art is like a diary entry” philosophies feel right to me.

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Terry, I am laughing out loud as are many of my friends!

I’ve never even opened Lightroom before.

Sorry, you should ask an “expert“ like John Barclay!

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Hi Cole - I just completed my first 6 image intentionally and visually driven project, and I am delighted with it. Have always just collected images with similar themes, but they didn’t seem to coalesce as a group. How do you approach creating a project and is that something that is in the back of your mind when you begin shooting a new subject?

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Hi, Cole, what camera/lens do you use? (JUST KIDDING!)

Regarding vision/feeling: These days, when I create an image (includes both capture and processing), I try to create it so that it evokes in me the same strong feelings that moved me to make the image. I find, though, that the image may evoke a rather different (though often strong) response in a viewer. I have become comfortable with that, but I would hope to evoke a deeper response than “wow!” or “oooh”. Not so easy, huh?

Could you comment?

Thank!

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Hi Cole,
You keep talking about “vision”, what exactly is “vision”?
Why the the American Vision (very dark images with bright spots, which I like) is different here in UK (very light with every tones)
How do you make your living with “vision” alone?

thanks
PS: going out for Dinner, see your reply shortly

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Good morning Cole, I hope this finds you well!

My question has to do with image processing and quality. From the first moment you capture an image to the moment you finish processing it; how long does it take and what does it entail?

Thanks for your time!

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Cole,

I really enjoy your photography because it is uniquely your style. I know you do not look at other photographers’ work so it does not influence your images. But are there authors or musicians that give you inspiration?

Also, I really enjoy your blog!

Mike Lindeman

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Sherry, why did you delete your post? I thought it was a great question.

First, congratulations on looking forward and creating a new portfolio with intention, I like this method a lot. I’ve tried creating a portfolio by looking backwards, and grouping together similar images, but it always felt like a “collection” of images, rather than a portfolio.

Here’s how I work: first I look for something that inspires me. It could be a subtle inspiration, such as it was for my “Ceiling Lamps” portfolio, or it can be a big inspiration like it was for “Moai, Sitting for Portrait,“ or a HUGE inspiration for “The Ghosts of Auschwitz-Birkenau.“

What I’ve learned for myself is, if I feel any inspiration, I must act immediately. I cannot say: I’ll come back tomorrow, or I’ll come back next year. Because when I do that, I often find the inspiration is no longer there.

Then, I must have a Vision for the project, a way that I want to portray it that isn’t imitative. I have always disliked the attitude that good artists borrow and great artists steal. I was to create as uniquely as I am capable of, and that comes through my Vision.

Next, I must have a Passion for the subject. I must be excited about it and want to work on it constantly. I believe Jay Maisel said (paraphrased): If you’re not excited about the subject, why should I be?

I find my best work come at the intersection of Vision and Passion.

Next I shoot the “easy pickin” images, the obvious ones that initially caught my eye. And then the hard work begins: how do I see more deeply, beyond the obvious?

That comes with time and contemplation. Sometimes I’ll just sit at a location that I initially feet there was no good shots, and just look for awhile. And often it works!

That’s my process:
Inspiration
Vision
Passion
See beyond the obvious

Thanks Sherry!

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