Jordahl working on photo book of Maplewood Park

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published 12:00 p.m., November 17, 2009

Roland Jordahl, Pelican Rapids wildlife and nature photograher, always is excited about his next project. A 58-page book containing 206 photos taken in Florida just came off the press, and his next book will include a variety of photos taken in Maplewood State Park, east of Pelican Rapids.

For several years he’s worked as a field editor for the national publication of Birds & Blooms, and is one of the photographers for Birds Bloom & Blooms, and Birds Blooms Extra magazines. His work continues to be published in other publications, as well.

“I feel fortunate to be doing what I like,” said the retiree, “especially when many nature photographers are half my age.”

In 1992 Jordahl, after his move to the Pelican Rapids area, became captivated by Maplewood State Park. Seventeen years later, the park next to South Lake Lida still is a gem for Jordahl. This fall he captured two bucks in the same photograph, taken at Maplewood.

He lives with his wife, Leona, on the southeast side of Pelican Rapids.

“With Maplewood only five or so miles away, I don’t have to go very far to find lots of birds, wildlife, flowers or landscapes,” he said. “During autumn, there’s no better place to take photos of the fall colors.”

He appreciates the quiet and solitude of Maplewood State Park, just like other areas such as in Florida and Texas where he and Leona have resided during the winter months.

The photographer is a native of Lake Benton in southwestern Minnesota who graduated from Mankato State University with a B.S. degree in music education and a M.S. Degree in media and technology. Jordahl later studied at the Winona School of Professional Photography and graduated from the New York Institute of Photography.

He taught vocal music in Preston, Minn., from 1960 to 1963 and vocal music at Arlington, Minn., from 1963 to 1968. The military veteran’s next move was to Glencoe where Jordahl became the district director of media and technology, a new position.

His family, which along with wife Leona includes daughter Annette and son Jim, lived in Glencoe for almost 24 years. While in Arlington and Glencoe, Jordahl also was a studio photographer and took weddings and portraits.

These days he appreciates being able to take photos that include even some wildlife on the endangered species list, such as the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker and Whooping Crane.

He sees the beauty in creatures such as the Red and Blue Painted Bunting. Male Painted Buntings are the most spectacularly colored of all North American songbirds, with a combination of red, blue, and green feathers.

“It’s wonderful to take photos of God’s creatures,” he says.

Jordahl is inspired by this quote from John Muir, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."

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