Creative
Seasoned and skilled Michigan-based photographer Dave Thompson approaches his creative work with the eye of a visual storyteller. Through Thompson Photography, his creative body of work is defined by an intuitive understanding of light: how it moves, how it reveals, and how it shapes meaning. Whether working at a grand scale or within quiet details, Dave’s imagery is marked by deliberate composition, tonal balance, and a patient sensitivity that allows each scene to unfold naturally within the frame.
While Dave serves as the official photographer for the Michigan State Capitol Commission and regularly supports the work of architects, designers, engineers, and historians across the United States, his creative practice extends far beyond. His photographs capture complex spaces and moments in time by using light as both subject and guide. Subtle highlights, long shadows, and layered textures become tools through which structure, craftsmanship, and intent are revealed.
Much of Dave’s work explores what often goes unseen, including ornamental architectural details, weathered surfaces, fleeting moments of illumination, and the quiet geometry embedded in built environments. This same attentiveness carries into his photography of landscapes and wildlife, where timing, atmosphere, and restraint help shape images that feel both grounded and poetic. Across disciplines, his work balances precision with emotion, clarity with mood.
Based in West Michigan, Dave draws lasting inspiration from the state’s rich history, as well as its four very distinct seasons, and its expansive vistas. The rhythms of water, wind, and light along Michigan’s 3,000 miles of coastline echo throughout his portfolio, reflecting a deep personal connection to The Lakes. His passion for history, for craft, and for the ever-changing qualities of light unifies his work, resulting in images that are as enduring as they are evocative.
“As a photographer, I see light as color. Everything else is filter.
Of course the best filter is the atmosphere itself, constantly changing the the light and giving you infinite possibilities from pre-dawn to past dusk.”
- Dave Thompson
