My Five Minutes of Fame

My Five Minutes of Fame
(Ten, if you read the second page)

Local reporter and friend, Heather McGinley wrote a very nice article for the Portsmouth Currents section of the Virginian-Pilot that I'd like to share here.

She made me look good. Thank you, Heather.  I love what I do.


A PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

  By Heather McGinley

  Correspondent

     Most mornings, Clyde W. Nordan Jr. packs his camera and readies his mountain bike for the day’s adventures of documenting Portsmouth happenings, architecture and nature.

   The 68-year-old’s photography has been featured in keepsake albums, municipal buildings, promotional material, the news and social media.

   Recently recognized as one of two official photographers
  for the Olde Towne Business Association, Nordan uses his work to entertain and inspire, often donating his time and talents to benefit others.

   His interest in photography began at an early age. He recalls borrowing his mother’s Kodak Brownie to take pictures during an elementary school field trip to Colonial Williamsburg. His mother worked as a colorist and he would watch her fill in black and white images with the appropriate colors and shading.  

But it wasn’t until the 1980s that he started taking his hobby seriously.

   Inspired by a picture-taking friend, Nordan began researching photography. He bought a 35mm Canon on layaway and created “Olde Towne Photos” in hopes of one day selling his work.

   While continuing his 30-year career as an elevator mechanic, he began documenting community events and started working as a contract photographer with a local photography company.

   He read every book he could find on the craft, exploring new techniques as his interests expanded.

   He made the transition from film to digital in 2004 and began working with photo editing software. Soon thereafter, he donated his time and talents helping restore photos that belonged to natural disaster victims.

   “I’m still learning. I’m just scratching the surface,” he said. 

  Nordan’s day job provided him with access to Portsmouth rooftops and a unique perspective from which he captured large portions of surrounding communities as well as comings and goings at the port.

  
Nordan would process his film at the nearest one-hour
photo operation and give prints to the captains of the ships he photographed.   He began documenting ribbon cuttings early in his career, donating pictures to the owners of new or expanded businesses.

   “When people accomplish something I want to support them,” he said. “Documenting
is part of celebrating.”

   In addition to taking portraits, Nordan took pictures of Little Miss Portsmouth Pageant participants and even the Tides for a short time before they moved to Harbor Park. He has used his talents to promote local restaurants and documents the architecture of historic homes in Portsmouth and Colonial Williamsburg.

   “God sets them up,” he said of his nature scenes. “I just push the button.”

   One got him a first-place ribbon at a local art show in the 1980s. The picture was featured in a Kodak advertisement for Duratrans, and years later was featured on the Natural Bridge of Virginia and the state division of tourism’s websites.

   Nordan’s work can be found at http://oldetownephotos.blogspot.com/    where there are links to more photos on Flickr and Facebook.

   “It’s rewarding to give a picture to somebody if they appreciate it and they don’t expect it,” he said.

   Heather McGinley, ms.heather.  mcginley@hotmail.com  

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