Sunrise at War Eagle Mill

Host: Howard Thompson

Hi, I’m Howard, your host for this sunrise shoot.

My photography journey began more than 70 years ago when I received my first camera as a Cub Scout Christmas gift. In high school, I discovered my father’s fixed-lens 35mm camera and started experimenting with photography, shooting wrestling matches and spending time in the darkroom.

Eventually, I upgraded to a DSLR with interchangeable lenses. That camera became my constant weekend companion and accompanied me throughout my Navy service, where I spent countless hours exploring and photographing tide pools.

In my early married years, I was often teased for stopping every few minutes to get “up close and personal” with LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms), a fascination that continues to this day.

Now enjoying semi-retirement, I have the freedom to photograph to my heart’s content and use modern digital tools to accomplish many of the creative techniques I once dreamed of doing in the darkroom. I also enjoy producing high-quality prints, though I tend to give most of them away.

While I consider myself an enthusiastic amateur photographer, my interests span a wide range of subjects, including street photography, landscapes, cityscapes, and, of course, macro photography. I’m especially drawn to flowers and the bees that visit them – a passion inspired by my years as a beekeeper.