Meet Kurt Jordan | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kurt Jordan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kurt, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
For my family that is an easy question. We closed our business in Phoenix Az after 18 years and suffering from an extreme case of burnout, sold the business, the house, cars, dog, and moved onto a 50 foot sailboat that we purchased in Puerto Vallarta Mexico. We spent six months learning to sail and live aboard, provisioning, home school, boat maintaince. My wife and three kids all learned to live life as an intimate team and learning the essentials of life on the ocean as we set sail south to Panama where we would choose to go right to Asia or thru the canal to the Caribbean. Once in Panama the business that we sold was abandoned by the new owner and we had to chose to return to the States or continue. We flew home and liquidated the assets. Without hesitation the family decided to sail until the money was gone. Three years later we ended our trip in Florida and the kids were sent ahead to California where they started High School and life on land. Our kids came home managing life like adults and working their way to college. To this day I can see the impact of those years afloat on how they manage their lives.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Graduating from art school they don’t tell you that it’s expensive to live life and making art doesn’t pay the bills. I have continuously photographed but right out of school I needed to make a living. I worked building displays and crates for the museums that ultimately turned into a millwork business. Which my wife and I ran with up to forty employees and work around the country and internationally. Sold that business and went sailing for three years. When we came back to the states my father in law was sick with cancer and in the middle of building a beach house near Santa Barbara Ca. I built that house and moved on to building houses in Montecito, Santa Barbara, Calabasas, and then Brentwood. During these years I would photograph for the architects and interior designers. When I walked away from building I had acquired a deep knowledge of building, lighting, landscape design, and interiors. This intimate knowledge informs my ability to document with great appreciation what the architects, designers, and trades bring to the constructed environment. I miss building but I know get the fruit of all those efforts on a daily basis. To share these projects is beyond what I had considered doing when I started photography.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sailing is it! I still own the fifty foot boat we sailed on our trip. Although renovated a couple times it still is my greatest joy. We load up with great food and wine and set sail for the Channel Islands. The least visited National Park in the entire country. Sail out to one of several anchorages where we drop anchor. Life aboard is about great food and wine, dingy ride to the beach for hiking, snorkeling, fishing, dive for lobster, and the best moments are that first cup of coffee and the conversation at sunrise in the cockpit. You tire of one anchorage there is always another just around the corner with a different adventure. People change on the water. There is no TV, radio, Instagram, social media, or phone service. You have to talk, read, dream and just be present for one another and the world at hand.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was choosing the college that I wanted to attend there were only two choices on my list. Both very different from each other-San Francisco Art Institute and Art Center College of Design. I thought that being a fine art photographer was the ultimate goal and I chose SFAI which brought me to the front of the line when you speak of fine art photography. Linda Connor, Henry Wessel, Larry Sultan, and Ellen Manchester were the mentors that I still cherish today. Linda and Ellen are friends to this day.

Website: www.kurtjordanphotography.com

Instagram: kurtjordanphoto

Linkedin: kurtjordanphoto@gmail.om