Black and White Photography "Cole Thompson" The Ghosts of Auschwitz-Birkenau | Featured Artist

At 14 years of age, Cole Thompson knew he was destined to be a fine art photographer.

Even at this early age he found himself drawn to a particular style of image, one that would literally cause a physical reaction in him. They were dark images created by Adams, Weston, Bullock and others. He knew that I was destined to create such images.

“The Ghosts of Auschwitz” Portfolio in Thompson’s own words:
What can be said about Auschwitz-Birkenau that hasn't already been said? What can be photographed at those sacred places that hasn't already been photographed?

As I thought about what had occurred there I wondered how any human could do such inhumane things, and then I recalled "The Mysterious Stranger" by Mark Twain. In this story a young boy named Seppi is talking to Satan about a man who had brutally beaten his dog. Seppi declared that this man's act was inhumane, to which Satan responded:

"No, it wasn't Seppi; it was human--quite distinctly human."

Satan points out that no other creature on the planet would treat another this way...except humans.

I had not intended to photograph during my tour of the camps but after being there a few minutes, I felt compelled. With every step I wondered about the people whose feet had walked in exactly the same footsteps as mine. I wondered if their spirits still lingered there today.

And so I photographed ghosts.
Cole Thompson

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