Jeweler and Photographer
Howard Thompson, a Tennessee manufacturing jeweler, has over 40 years of experience in jewelry making and repair. He is proficient in the techniques of granulation, mokume game, casting, fabrication, fold forming, die forming and enameling. And he has taught these techniques to other jewelers.
Howard Thompson founded Thompson Jewelers in 1971. A registered jeweler
in the American Gem Society, Thompson is a former director for RJO, Inc., a national
buying group of more than 800 retail jewelry stores in 47 states. He served
as the Tennessee Jewelers Association president from 2001 to 2003. He
was named TJA Jeweler of the Year in 1998 and has received numerous awards
for design and craftsmanship.
Thompson is also an avid photographer with over 40 years of experience. He has received numerous awards and has had his work published in magazines, newspapers, calendars and advertisements.
According to Thompson, his "greatest accomplishment" was deriving many hours of pleasure from photographing and printing.
Photographer
When I take the camera out into the field, that becomes the only world that exists - the one I am photographing, I don't think about the store and I don't think about the world's situation."
"I probably get more relaxation shooting birds. You have to learn the bird's particular habits and what is special about him. It takes a lot of time. You just don't walk out there and take a picture of a bird. Well, you can, but it would look like you just walked out there and took a picture of it. You want the picture to tell something about the character of the bird." — Howard Thompson