Some of his scientific research involved the design and application of radio monitoring devices (telemetry) to study physiology and behavior of free-ranging animals. While he received some photography training in graduate school, he is predominately self-taught and started taking nature pictures at an early age with a Brownie camera, a spotting telescope, and the encouragement of a befriended, small town photographer as brief mentor. He is thus someone who is intellectually drawn toward the natural world, and photography allows him an opportunity for emotional expression in his profession. Gordon believes that while the mind influences the heart, it is more the heart and not the mind that motivates and channels people's behavior toward nature.