A Gallery of Birds

An Oxford photographer shares his work on a particular, and often unpredictable, subject matter: birds.

Written by Leslie Criss | Photographed by Robert Jordan

Life changed for Robert Jordan the first time he picked up a camera. He developed a passion for photography he’d not had before.

“I have no musical talent,” he said. “None. I am not artistic as far as drawing or painting. Honestly, I had no way to express myself until I picked up a camera.”

A native of Ocean Springs and longtime resident of Oxford, Jordan attended the University of South Alabama and studied banking and finance.

He became consumed with photography while working with the student newspaper and eventually transferred to Ole Miss when he was offered a job working 20 hours a week as a photographer in public relations. He received a degree in journalism at Ole Miss in 1983. After four months at the Delta Democrat Times, Jordan returned to Ole Miss, where he spent 33 years as a photographer for the university.

Now retired, he continues to be passionate about photography, but he shoots for fun rather than for income.

His interest in bird photography was stirred after he purchased a 200-400 ml lens from friend and photographer Tom Davis.

“I got the lens home and wondered what I was going to do with it,” he said. “I was sitting, watching the bird feeder. I like doing something I’ve never done before. I become obsessed until I achieve a certain ability and then I move on.”

“That’s how it was with the bird photography. I’ve taken a break, but I am getting ready to start heading to the Delta or Sardis and do more bird photographs.”

While Jordan’s photography skills are stellar, he is still learning about birds.

“One morning, I wanted to find and shoot a kingfisher or osprey,” he said. “I loaded up my equipment, drove to Sardis and waited three to four hours and saw nothing. I got home, walked into the house and a foot from the steps going inside, there was a hawk on the ground with its back to the house.”

He got his big lens, walked outside and into the woods, crept up the hillside slowly and saw the hawk had in its talons a male cardinal.

“I got two photos in a fraction of a second before the hawk flew away,” he said. “I spent hours waiting for a shot and ended up finding one just feet from my house. Very unpredictable.”

In retirement, Jordan also enjoys helping others in their photography journey. Several times a year, through Communiversity at Ole Miss, he teaches a photography class.

“I have always loved working with photographers to teach them more about photography,” he said. “This is a great opportunity through continuing education at Ole Miss.”