Clarkston man’s confluence picture will be displayed onboard USS Idaho

Fri Feb 20th, 2026

A photo of the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers will be on permanent display in the USS Idaho when the U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class submarine is commissioned this spring.

The photo was taken by Neal Drury, 69, of Clarkston. Drury has been a longtime resident of the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley and has pursued photography as a hobby for many years, particularly since he retired as a UPS driver more than a decade ago.

His photo of the confluence — which also shows Clarkston, Lewiston, the Interstate “Blue” Bridge and the Clearwater River Railroad Bridge — was taken with a drone.

It was Drury’s mother, Helen Thompson, of Lewiston, who suggested that her son enter a USS Idaho contest that asked for photos that represented “Idaho’s incredible beauty.” After some additional prompting from his mom, Drury sent in a few snaps.

Early this month, he was informed his photo was among those selected. The contest received 2,325 photos from 413 photographers.

“It is quite an honor,” Drury said Wednesday. “I didn’t really think it would go anywhere, but you never know if you don’t try.”

His photo will be installed in the sub “in either a vinyl wrap or mounted on an acrylic panel,” according to information sent to Drury.

During his time as a UPS driver, Drury would keep a point-and-shoot camera in his vehicle to take pictures of wildlife or scenic views. It was after retirement that his photography habit really took off.

“Now it’s a passion between my drones and cameras,” he said. “It’s kind of an expensive hobby, but it keeps me out of the bars and jails.” Drury isn’t interested in turning his photography into a business; he gives away the shots he takes. He likes shooting jet boat races on the Snake River and motocross at the EC Enterprises Motorsports Park.“ Anything fast and colorful, that’s always fun to capture.”

Drury has also taken photos that are on display at the Port of Lewiston and at Visit Lewis & Clark Valley. Drury’s father spent his career in the Air Force, but the younger Drury didn’t enlist in the military during the Vietnam era, on his father’s advice. Drury lives in Clarkston with his wife, Tina. He was invited to apply for tickets to the commissioning of the USS Idaho on April 25 in Groton, Conn., but Drury said he doesn’t plan on attending.