My mother worked in an op shop for many years. Although I don’t see her often, she would collect any film cameras that would come her way and present them to me months later.

A composer named Russ Garcia lived in Kerikeri. He was once a top composer known for his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Orson Welles, and Charlie Chaplin. He sailed his yacht from California to Auckland preaching his religion in 1969 and never left. After passing in 2011, I can only assume that his belongings were left untouched for some time.

A black rubbish bag filled with shoes appeared at my mother’s op shop one day. Inside she found an old leather case with a Rolleiflex camera inside. Having his original Hollywood Hills address engraved to the case, the camera belonged to Russ Garcia.

These are photos taken with Russ’s camera. A camera that would’ve seen the lights of Ella Fitzgerald and Ronald Reagan, Judy Garland, and Walt Disney.

I plan to continue shooting with it and restoring it as I go. It’s one of a kind.