An exhibition of photographs by John McCormick, a retiring staff photographer at the University of Lynchburg, opens this month in the Daura Museum of Art’s Gallery II. The exhibition, “Just a Guy with a Camera,” is composed of work from McCormick’s almost 40-year career in photojournalism and serves as an endcap to his 13 years at Lynchburg.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 31. The exhibition is free, open to the public, and will run through Thursday, June 20.
McCormick has had lots of ups and downs in his life. His career began at the Glasgow Daily Times, where he captured the essence of daily life in Kentucky and honed his skills. It was during this time that he met Cindy, who would become his wife and partner in many adventures throughout their lifetimes.
“It’s funny how your life changes,” he said. “My English teacher in high school sold his Mamiya-Sekor camera to me for $50 bucks and taught me how to process film. Later, [as a student] at North Carolina Wesleyan College, I supplemented my income doing images for the yearbook when I wasn’t playing baseball for the school.
“When I realized I didn’t have the goods to play Div. III baseball, I moved on to Ole Miss to complete my physical education degree. Bored, I went to a drugstore and picked up an American Photographer magazine that listed the top five schools for photojournalism.”
One of those schools was Western Kentucky University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in photojournalism and said, “My life was forever changed.”
His career took him to newspapers such as the Nashville Banner, where he documented life in Music City and rubbed shoulders with celebrities from entertainment to politics. His daughter Kessley was born while the family was in Nashville. He continued his “prolific” career at The New & Advance in Lynchburg from 1987 to 1998.
“I photographed country music stars and Hollywood celebrities, as well as national political figures while working for the Nashville Banner,” he recalled. “I photographed the Kentucky Derby and professional football games.
“Even at the News & Advance, I was photographing U.S. presidents.”
However, after seeing the decline of newspapers and feeling sad about “seeing the worst side of humanity,” McCormick transitioned to a new chapter as a photographer in the communications and marketing office of Virginia Tech in 1998. While there, he met Deborah Blanchard, who would eventually be his first supervisor at Lynchburg.
In 2011, McCormick came to Lynchburg College, where he found a home as the College’s first full-time photographer. His role extended beyond capturing images to nurturing new talents like Nat LeDonne ’18, who is now Duke University’s director of athletics photography, and dozens more.
“One evening, after working here for only a few weeks, I said to my wife ’Please slap me if I ever complain about this job. It’s gonna be a great gig.’ And it has been. I love the campus, I love the people. And I love the students,” he said.
And, it appears, the University of Lynchburg community loves him, too, and will feel his presence, through the images he took, for years to come.
“John McCormick has been a constant presence and innovative leader in capturing the true essence of Lynchburg,” said University President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shetlar.“His photography shows the day-by-day transformation of this campus and its community.
“When John looks through his lens, he sees the heart of this University — then he shares it with us and the world through his photos. Though his absence will be felt, his images will remain a powerful Lynchburg legacy.”
During the summer, the Daura Museum of Art is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Admission is free. The museum is closed on holidays and University breaks.
For more information or appointments, email dauramuseum@lynchburg.edu or call 434.544.8595.
