Nacho Cordova is No Longer With Us
It’s a sad day in the iPhoneography community. This weekend, we lost one of our own. Yesterday, Nathaniel “Nacho” Cordova was involved in a fatal collision involving his motorcycle and a pickup truck pulling a 28-foot travel trailer. Nacho was 46.
In addition to his iPhone photography, Nacho was a popular associate professor and chairman of rhetoric and media studies at Willamette University.
I never met Nacho personally, but we occasionally exchanged emails. Most of our exchanges were online in forums.
Those of us who knew Nacho beyond his iPhoneography knew him to be an all around awesome guy. He was smart, eloquent, and always gracious. I saw him be a supportive friend to people online he’d never met face-to-face.
In discussions, his points were always intelligently made but never at the expense of anyone in the discussion. When Nacho contributed to a discussion, I always felt like he broadened my viewpoints just a little.
His photography was and still is beautiful. Or moving. Or the perfect capture of a moment. Nacho had an excellent eye for composition, shape, texture, light — he saw the whole image and conveyed the perfect moment, whether it was the stillness of a church or the smile on his subject’s face.
Nacho Cordova was a wise, wonderful and gentle soul.
I proudly have Nacho’s blog, foto-rhetoric, in my blogroll. Not only do I love his photography, but his words are remarkable and insightful as well.
Nacho, your vision, your words, your friendship and your grace will be missed by all those you have touched. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Michelle, his family, friends and students.
=M=
~~~~
Marty is a self-employed graphic designer in the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex. He is an avid Rangers baseball, Chicago Cubs, Packers and Highbury Arsenal fan. In addition to capturing random moments with whatever camera is close by (usually his iPhone), his other interests include coffee, film, music, and traveling in seats 5E and 5F with his fiancé.
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Well said all, especially Marty and Kaphinga. I’m stunned & so very sad. Like Kaphinga says I can’t quite believe the impact someone I only knew online can have – a true testament to Nacho and his vision, clarity of thought and kind and generous soul. I will miss him. I can’t imagine what his family & close friends are going through right now. Peace and strength to all.
I had no idea. Thank you for covering this, Marty. Rest in peace, Nacho. Gods blessings to his family.
I’m saddened and shocked by this news, just awful and tragic. His work is an inspiration and his comments always insightful. He surely will be missed by this community. My heart goes out to his friends and family during this difficult time. May they find peace.
MI corazon esta destrozado por la gran perdida de Nacho siempre tellevare en el corazon
He was always so supportive to everyone in the community and to me personally. I can't believe it. So tragic.
Nacho is taking iphoneography to a higher level…he’s taking it to heaven.
Nacho's taking iphoneography to a higher level…he's taking it to heaven.
His work has been and always will be an inspiration for myself and for others. Rest in Peace, sir.
Great Tribute Marty. It makes me so sad that I never got to meet him in person, but his beautiful soul, wisdom and talent shone through in everything that he did.
What a thoughtful tribute Marty. A very sad loss for his family, his students, and the iPhonegraphy community. A truly generous and talented man.
So sad…
Like so many others, I never met Nacho, nor talked to him. I didn't even interact with him directly, but his images on iPhoneart.com always inspired … and he was so open to mentoring, guiding, critiquing, sharing what others call "trade secrets". He helped me grow as an artist … it means so much to me that he would take the time to help strangers; he didn't need to but he did anyway. He was the guiding light in so many respects … one who validated iPhoneography as an art form. It truly is a sad day. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Nacho, you will be missed.
Marty:
I do believe you have captured the Nacho I knew as well. Well-chosen words beautifully stated.
I join you in your prayers for Michelle and her family during this difficult time.
Clint
Rest in peace, Nathaniel ” Nacho ” Cordova. My deepest condolences and sympathies to his family. He will be sorely missed.
Marty, your words perfectly capture the way I feel about Nacho. I never met him in person too but he’s somehow in my heart. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for his family and friends to cope with the loss. My prayers go to them.
My condolences to his friends + family.
In days of great sadness for me, I learned this news in disbelief and I do my sincerest condolences to the family. Nacho, with his generous comments has encouraged me to enter in a community mourning the loss of a inimitable friend.
it's amazing, the connections we make with people online. you don't realize the impact until something like this happens. nacho, i will miss your beautiful art and your thoughtful, insightful comments. peace to you and your family…
Nacho, you will sorely missed by this family. My daughter is finishing up her rhetoric studies at Willamette in a year and you were her rock. Her inspiration. Her freind. We are devistated by your loss.
Rest in peace Nacho. See you in heaven.