Bonnie Brown: Q&A with Former University Photographer Robert Jordan

*The latest installment in the Ole Miss Retirees features former university photographer Robert Jordan. The organization’s mission is to enable all of the university’s faculty and staff retirees to maintain and promote a close association with the university. It is the goal of the Ole Miss Faculty/Staff Retirees Association to maintain communication by providing opportunities to attend and participate in events and presentations.

Robert Jordan is a talented individual. He has brought so much joy to so many through the years by using his considerable skill and expertise to capture milestone moments. During his employment at Ole Miss, he was the consummate professional, perfectionist, and true artist. He went to great lengths to ensure that each shot was the very best one.  

Brown:  Are you a native Mississippian?  Where did you grow up? Tell me about your childhood.

Jordan: I was so lucky to have a very “Norman Rockwell” childhood in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.  Most Saturdays I would ride my bicycle across town to one of my friends’ houses or meet them downtown at Lovelace Drugstore to buy comic books and drink Barqs Root Beer until the street lights came on and it was time to go home. I got my first summer job when I was 14 or so washing boats and mowing grass at Ft. Bayou Sporting Goods and I worked a different summer job every year thereafter from construction to Acme Photo.  Once I got my driver’s license, my grandfather, let me use his farm truck to get around. My friends and I would collect bottles to sell to buy gas and ride around town on weekends. Back then, Ocean Springs was a small town and we didn’t need to lock our cars or homes.

Photo by Sam Pryor

Brown:  How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a photographer?  

Jordan:  Choosing photography as a career was a journey that took a few years to reveal itself.  I received a Kodak Instamatic camera as a Christmas gift when I was 14 or so. I had so much fun photographing flowers, pets and whatever caught my eye. Income from my summer jobs as well as odd jobs for my parents and grandparents helped pay for film and processing. In my senior year of high school, I received a 35mm camera as a Christmas present and I dipped into my savings to buy a flash, telephoto zoom lens and wide angle lens to go with my new camera.

In high school, I was in the Diversified Occupation Program which allowed me to go to school in the mornings and work in the afternoons as a First National Bank of the South teller.  I’m pretty sure I was the only 17-year-old in my school to have a checking account. I liked working in the bank so I chose a Banking and Finance major when I enrolled at the University of South Alabama (USA) in Mobile, Alabama.

Shortly after starting school at USA, I saw an ad in The Vanguard student paper for a staff photographer position at the paper. A few days later I was sitting in the Vanguard lobby clutching a drugstore photo envelope full of 4×6 prints.  The other photographer applicants were better prepared with typed resumes and big prints in fancy leather portfolios.  I nearly left, but I really wanted the job and was truly surprised when I was offered the position after interviewing. I couldn’t believe I was shooting photo assignments, getting free film, being published, and getting paid.  Within a year I had also landed a job at Calagaz Photo and I was freelancing for half a dozen Mobile real estate companies. I was shooting lots of assignments, making good money, and my grades were slipping as I lost interest in my studies.  It was at this point that I decided to switch majors and pursue a career as a professional photographer so applied to several colleges with photography or photojournalism programs.

Brown:  Who most influenced your craft and style?  I recall that you don’t like automobiles in your photos.  

Jordan:  I tried to emulate so many famous photographers by picking apart what made their photos so memorable and trying to incorporate those elements into my work.  I learned that focusing on the essential elements and removing non-essential elements makes photos more impactful. Ole Miss is a truly beautiful campus and I learned that including pedestrians and cyclists in photos gives a sense of scale and makes the campus look more welcoming.  Likewise, minimizing unwanted distractions like utilities and cars improves the composition.

Brown:   I recently saw a photo that you took using three cameras.  Can you tell us about that?

Jordan:  I’m pretty good with puzzle solving so this project was right up my alley. You can shoot panoramic photos with one camera by taking three views in sequence and then stitching them together in Photoshop.  The catch is that players on the field as well as the fans in the stands move between when the photos are taken, so things don’t stitch together perfectly. The solution is to take three identical cameras with identical lenses and camera settings and shoot three photos at exactly the same time to eliminate time shift errors.  I contacted Physics and Astronomy Machine Shop Supervisor Michael Reep and he built a platform so I could mount three cameras on one tripod. I then wired the cameras together so they would all shoot at the same time.

Photo by Robert Jordan

Photo by Robert Jordan

Brown:  You have been referred to as a “Legendary Storyteller “and have won numerous awards.”  Is there one of which you are most proud?

Jordan:  I have been fortunate to have my work recognized in numerous photo competitions, but my favorite competition is the Nikon Shootout that takes place each year at the University Photographer’s Association of America (UPAA) Technical Symposium. Over 100 university photographers from across the US, Canada and overseas who attend the symposium are given a one or two-word assignment by a Nikon representative and then we all turned loose at the same location and given a limited time to shoot a photo that best captures the assignment.  Each photographer turns in only one image, straight from the camera, no Photoshop or editing of any kind is allowed. The Nikon representative then selects one photo as the winner. I like the format of the competition, the tight timeframe, and the fact that we are all working in the same area and under the same conditions. Two other UPAA members have won the award two times, but so far I am the only person to win the Nikon Shootout three times. Here are the photos that won:

2003 UPAA Technical Symposium hosted by Eastern Kentucky University

Assignment location: Churchill Downs 

Assignment: ‘Tension’

Photo by Robert Jordan

2005 UPAA Technical Symposium hosted by SUNY College at Brockport

Assignment location: historic village near Brockport, NY

Assignment: ‘Old Photograph’

Photo by Robert Jordan

2011 UPAA Technical Symposium hosted by Brigham Young University

Assignment location: ‘This is the Place’ state park

Assignment: ‘Cooperation’

Photo by Robert Jordan

Brown:  Talk about your path to Ole Miss.  Who hired you?

Jordan:  After two years as a Banking & Finance major at USA, I applied to several universities which offered a photography or photojournalism degree.  Before I heard back from any of universities I was offered a job working 20-hours a week as a student photographer for the Ole Miss Public Relations Department under the legendary photographer Jack Cofield.  Ole Miss only had a couple of rudimentary photography classes, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work for the Public Relations Office while getting a Journalism degree so I transferred from the USA to Ole Miss.  Soon I was also working at the Daily Mississippian, freelancing and shooting for the Associated Press.

Brown:  During your career, you were a part of all the big events.  Which one stands out and why?

Jordan:  I really enjoy photographing Ole Miss in all four seasons, and each academic year is filled with annual events, sporting events, important dedications, amazing special guests, and, of course, each academic year culminates in commencement. But Ole Miss has only hosted one Presidential Debate so that would have to be my personal stand out event.

Early on I was guaranteed backstage access to photograph Ole Miss administrators greeting Barack Obama and John McCain as they arrived, but I wasn’t guaranteed access to the debate itself since there were so many national media outlets and a limited number of seats available.  In the days leading up to the debate, I made frequent requests to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) for access as the official Ole Miss photographer. On the day of the debate, I followed one of CPD media liaisons and then did not let him out of my sight until he finally gave me a seat in the balcony so I would go away.  The Presidential Debate was an important event in the history of Ole Miss and I am glad my persistence paid off.

Brown:  What is your favorite Ole Miss photo?

Jordan:  Tough question!  The one that got the most likes and shares on social media is probably this photo of Ventress Hall.

Photo by Robert Jordan

Brown:  I remember referring a student to you years ago to do her publicity photos when she was running for Miss Ole Miss.  I seem to recall that you had a good record of the students you photographed being selected for Miss Ole Miss.  Can you speak about that?

Jordan:  Wow, you have a really good memory!  I had a really good track record for the Miss Ole Miss candidates I photographed winning, but as time went by my freelance photography opportunities had to take a back seat to my Ole Miss photography schedule.

Brown:  After being in the “eye of the storm” so to speak each day at Ole Miss with all the activities and events, has retirement seemed dull to you?  How have you transitioned to retirement?

Jordan:  Ole Miss is home to thousands of students and hundreds of faculty and staff who are doing amazing things every day.  I loved the challenge of telling the Ole Miss story through photos and for 33 years I was the first person in the office every day as well as many nights and weekends.  Once I reached the tipping point where retirement would pay the same as working and there were a couple of great photographers ready to pick up the reins, I knew it was time to retire.  When I posted my pending retirement on social media a friend summed it up best when he posted “Find your niche, own it, and get out while you’re still young enough to enjoy life!”

Oxford really is a great place to retire.  There are so many wonderful sporting, social and entertainment opportunities at Ole Miss.  Plus, the Oxford Park Commission and Leisure Lifestyle programs are terrific. In addition to home projects, I’ve been playing in the weekly Ole Miss Senior Golf Scramble, golfing with friends, and playing canasta. Clarissa and I started playing pickleball three days a week, as well as going on frequent hiking and canoeing trips with the Oxford Park Commission.  Also, I still enjoy fulfilling photography needs for clients, so I’ve set up Robert Jordan Photography LLC.

Photo by Robert Jordan

Photo by Mae Stone

Brown:  In your Robert Jordan Photography business, what events do you photograph?  Can you sell Ole Miss photographs now that you’re retired?

Jordan:  So far I’ve photographed a few performances and events at Ole Miss, the official portrait for another college’s president as well as photographing several historical artifacts that were really fascinating.  I’ve also copied and done digital restoration on old photos for folks and I’m gearing up to be able to digitize negatives and slides as well as photograph original artwork. I love technical challenges and new learning opportunities and now that I’m retired I can focus on each client’s needs in a way I couldn’t when I was working full time.  I never know what interesting project will come my way next.

The photos I shot as an Ole Miss employee belongs to Ole Miss and many of them are available to purchase as prints or gifts by logging onto www.olemiss.photoshelter.com.

Brown:   Everyone has that most “memorable” day at work whether it was really good or really bad.  What day was that for you?

Jordan:  We all have good days and bad days, but no particular day stands out as noteworthy.  Bad days are when I try my best but come away disappointed with the photos, knowing that I could have done better.  On days like that, photography feels like work. My good days are when I get to meet new folks, learn about their work and I am able to create an image that tells their story visually.  Also, when someone takes the time to say ‘nice photo’—whether it’s an email, comment or note—also makes for a great day. Everyone would like to feel that they are a valuable member of the Ole Miss family and that their work makes a difference.  I’ve always made it a point to share my knowledge with the photographers I have worked with, compliment them when their work is on target and tried my best to be perceived as a mentor rather than a boss.

Brown:  Please talk about your work with the Nine Lives Cat Rescue.  

Jordan:  I’ve always been a “cat person” so it’s been my pleasure to volunteer with 9-Lives to help rescue, re-home, and improve the lives of cats and cat owners.  9LCR has no overhead cost to speak of, so all the money they raise makes a difference in the lives of the cats in our community. About 5 years ago I was contacted by the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society.  So many folks search for adoptable pets on-line these days and good photos can boost adoption rates significantly. OLHS were getting great photos of their dogs, but struggling to get good cat photos, so they asked if I could help.  I jumped at the opportunity and suggested that I come in early in on Sunday mornings when the shelter was quiet. I asked if they could help find a good cat wrangler to assist. They gave me a key to the building and I worked with a couple of volunteer cat wranglers before being teamed up with Penni Bolton. Penni is really awesome at coaxing the best out of the cats who are often scared or unhappy. Penni deserves much of the credit for the successful cat photos. The hardest part of working with both organizations is not bringing any new cats home with me.

Brown:  What can you tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?

Jordan:  Without my camera, I’m a bit introverted and tend to feel uncomfortable in social situations. Also, I’m good with faces, but terrible at remembering names.

Bonnie Brown is a retired staff member of the University of Mississippi. She most recently served as Mentoring Coordinator for the Ole Miss Women’s Council for Philanthropy.

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