photographer: bruce fernandez
I purchased my first camera from an family friend, who was a well known puppeteer and amateur photographer. As it was told to me, he was mugged while carrying it on a trip through Manhattan's Lower East Side. He fought off his attacker, while gripping the camera tighter than the clenched jaws of a pit bull. For his efforts, he received a gash to the head, that eventually covered the camera in blood. I clearly remember the red stain left behind on its leather case. Being just a twelve year old kid, living in the outskirts of LA, his story to me, made that camera symbolic of danger, adversity and adventure. Looking back, I don't remember asking why he was willing to part with this camera; I mean, he took a beating to keep it, right? Maybe I never asked because my focus was on all the adventures I could have – as its new caretaker.