One day while photographing a spectacular Latin Eagles’ mural in Uptown, I found myself surrounded by gang members. Rather than panic, I offered to take a picture of them in front of the mural. I later gave each of them prints. This simple act of kindness helped guarantee me safe passage on the streets. I spent four years photographing there and never felt threatened or even hassled. The flag is Puerto Rican. The mural was painted to honor Hipolito Vega, the first Latin Eagle to be killed. He was beaten to death with golf clubs, according to a reader to contacted me.
