Charles Tompkins Photography

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Charles Tompkins Photography Charles Tompkins is a "traditional" Photographer with an extensive archive of Black & White Prints You can always trust a true photograph.

Throughout my lifetime, photography and music have remained my passion. My attraction to un-amplified string music in the 1960's set me on a path of capturing various stringed-instruments and bluegrass artists that I admired, many of whom are now considered icons and legends. It was through my travels across America’s beautiful countryside and white-water canoeing along its waterways, that my portfolio took shape by my love of the great outdoors. From the West Coast to the East, from the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I have maintained a strong proponent of traditional photography and “Silver” imagery and develop “gelatin silver” prints from film, in my own dark room. There is nothing more believable than a handmade, silver print, a thing of great beauty that captures a moment of time, allowing us to view a small fragment of the photographer’s “reality” at a given instant, frozen in metallic silver. A digital image may not convey that magical moment quite as well, because of the high level of manipulation that can be seamlessly applied to any image. I will incorporate the use of digital format but primarily for use as digital reproduction versus digital creation. I had the opportunity to study and acquire the skills necessary to master the “Zone System of Photography” under the instruction of Ansel Adams. The Zone System was a technique developed in the 1930's by Adams as a way to standardize proper exposures for black and white film, which represent the tones of an image from the darkest areas of your photograph to the brightest, whitest areas of the photo or print. Ansel perfected this vision through a process called visualization, which requires the photographer to “pre-visualize”, or imagine how the final photo will come out. Ansel has had an obvious impact on my work and technique and the development my own style, others that have influenced me are: Walker Evans, Edward Weston, Mark Power, Ross Chapple, and Woody Guthrie.

Rappahannock County honors Legendary Photographer, Bluegrass Musician and Founding Member of the Rappahannock Associatio...
09/08/2026

Rappahannock County honors Legendary Photographer, Bluegrass Musician and Founding Member of the Rappahannock Association for Arts and Community (RAAC) Charlie Tompkins.

Charles Tompkins passed away on May 24, 2026. For more than 50 years, Tompkins enriched life in rural Rappahannock County, helping to preserve the Virginia Piedmont’s heritage of natural beauty and traditional music, staying mostly behind the scenes or behind a camera lens, rarely stepping into the spotlight, but when he took center stage, it was almost always with a guitar in hand.

Tompkins’ body of work, from rushing rivers and rural landscapes to bluegrass greats and historic landmarks, was exhibited in galleries, juried exhibitions and shows (solo and multiple) from Washington, Virginia, to Washington, D.C.

Charles Tompkins Photography Studio and Art Gallery was established in Rappahannock County, Virginia in 1997. For decades Charlie has captured and preserved moments of time through traditional, larger format silver imagery. His vast collection of black and white, and silver prints that he, himself, hand-develops illustrate his immense passion for life and include themes of Rushing Water, Mountain Scapes, Places of Interest, and traditional un-amplified String Musicians.

Charles Tompkins Gallery in Washington Virginia is OPEN to the public
Mondays from 10 am – 3 pm, for Scheduled events and by appointment
only.

https://fallarttour.org/studios/charles-tompkins/

A well written dedication to our local photographer, and philanthropist Charles Tompkins. Written by Daphne Hutchenson...
07/04/2026

A well written dedication to our local photographer, and philanthropist Charles Tompkins. Written by Daphne Hutchenson for Rappahannock News

Charlie Tompkins built community with art, music — and a helping hand

Rappahannock County honors photographer, bluegrass musician, and community builder Charles H. Tompkins III, whose decades of quiet work shaped local arts, celebrations, and traditions.

By Daphne Hutchinson
Rappahannock News & Foothills Forum Contributing Writer

Rappahannock County honors photographer, bluegrass musician, and community builder Charles H. Tompkins, whose decades of quiet work shaped local arts, celebrati...

Charles Tompklins "Charlie" was not only a fine art photographer who captured this beautiful countryside from high to l...
06/25/2026

Charles Tompklins "Charlie" was not only a fine art photographer who captured this beautiful countryside from high to low, but was also a traditional stringed musician who captured some of the grandest moments from the formation of the iconic Bluegrass Music scene from the 60's to current. You are invited to join us as we gather to honor Charlie with a planned concert featuring the Hollow Band for two free concerts this Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Dark Hollow's core lineup features: Paul Fincham (banjo, baritone vocals); Rodney Clatterbuck (mandolin, lead vocals); John Cook (rhythm guitar); Wesley Fincham (lead guitar); Randy Lloyd (electric bass).

Growing up in Woodville, band leader Paul Fincham was taught how to play the guitar by his neighbors, the legendary John Jackson and John's brother Freddy. with special guest and renowned fiddle player Don Herron will perform. Herron played with Bob Dylan for 20 years, and has also played with BR5-49, the well-known Nashville-based country band. Rappahannock's own, the talented Linda Orfila, who is featured on Charlie Tompkins, Music from the Deep and Narraw, will also with the band.

Saturday, June 27, at 3PM and 7PM,
@ the Little Washington Theatre
291 Gay Street

** PLEASE NOTE: The 7PM show has reached full seating capacity with wait list only, but seats are still available for the 3PM show.

A Special Thanks to Association for Arts and Community RAAC.org for putting together this final request to host The Dark Hollow Band.
Charlie Tompkins played a key role in establishing RAAC in 1982 and assisted in fulfilling RAAC's mission of bridging art and community. These two concerts will be the final performances at Little Washington Theatre before closing for a year-long renovation

Charles Hook Tompkins III12/20/1942-05/24/2026Seeker of Light ~ Catcher of Chords As a traditional, fine art photographe...
05/28/2026

Charles Hook Tompkins III
12/20/1942-05/24/2026

Seeker of Light ~ Catcher of Chords

As a traditional, fine art photographer Charles “Charlie" Tompkins captured light in its natural surroundings with a timeless, ageless beauty. As a photojournalist, he was able to preserve and archive bits of our history for future generations to look upon, and as a lover of music, he honored the culture by recording moments that brought forth some of the legendary musicians of the times.

"Photography is a means of recording ones pilgrimage" - Charles H. Tompkins

Image of Artist catured by Cherl Crews

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Washington, VA
22747

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+15409870020

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