Born and raised in Winter Park, Florida, Merrell Thompson developed a love for photography at a young age, capturing the world around her. Though she majored in economics at Vanderbilt University with an interest in business, Thompson knew she wanted to channel her creativity through photography. She fondly recalls the first day of college when she wrote down her goal to be both a photographer and an entrepreneur.

After marrying, having three children, and working at NBC, Thompson’s photography took a back seat. However, her love for adventure and nature kept her photographing family trips, refining her skills along the way. Though she settled in Atlanta in 2001, Thompson continued spending summers in the mountains of Cashiers, NC, a tradition she shares with her own family today.

A pivotal moment in her photography came with the advent of drones. “I was so inspired by this new perspective that I’d never seen before,” Thompson says, reflecting her signature enthusiasm for exploring new angles.

Thompson’s work seeks to capture the emotion of a moment rather than just its appearance, inviting viewers to feel as though they are experiencing it firsthand. Her photography spans travels, nature, animals, powerful cityscapes, underwater life, and starry skies. Specializing in unusual angles and perspectives, her striking black-and-white and color photos remind us of the miraculous beauty and diversity of the world around us.