This Jimmy Hendrix doesn’t play the guitar, but he is a fantastic artist.
Hendrix started taking a camera on his long walks around town when he retired in in 2012. That led to a serious photography business and efforts to blend Hendrix’ technological expertise in acoustics with his love of digital images and Oxford.
Hendrix came to Oxford in 1973 to work in data processing at Ole Miss. From 1975 to 1980, he led the project to develop the student information system that replaced the old punched card, magnetic tape system with a modern, online information system.
In the mid-1980s, Jim was self-employed, publishing books and software on a C language programming package for PCs that he wrote. In 1988, he returned to Ole Miss at the National Center for Physical Acoustics where he developed devices for noise control and for correcting helium distorted speech from deep sea divers. Also, he supported other researchers with digital signal processing implementations of their ideas.
After retiring from Ole Miss in 1996, Jim worked as an independent contractor for the Navy’s Experimental Diving Unit to develop their current helium-speech unscrambler that set the standard for today’s commercial HSUs. When Hendrix became interested in photography after his 2012 retirement, he began integrating his love of acoustic technology and photography.
Jim particularly enjoys using high-dynamic range and tone mapping techniques to transform ordinary digital images into appealing works of art. Eventually, he wants to build a collection of images depicting Oxford, Ole Miss and surrounding points of interest in ways that draw out the beauty that normally goes unnoticed.
Jim’s prints and note cards are available on the Square at The Frame Up, S&J Art Gallery, The Lily Pad, Oxford Floral Company and by contacting him through his website at www.oxphoto.org. Jim is available for commissioned projects. However, he does not do studio work or social events.
