- April 19, 2024
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There’s a hidden gem in Winter Park for those who love all things related to cameras.
Walking into Kiwi Camera is like diving into the brain of its owner and founder Michael Livera — a local with a passion for photography.
Walls and cabinets are lined with a variety of film and digital cameras, and all sorts of mechanical photography equipment sit atop tables and workbenches.
His shop is the physical embodiment of the work Livera has done since he was a kid growing up in Central Florida, and he is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its biannual camera swap meet this Sunday.
“It’s a buy, sell, trade (event), and it’s free for everyone,” Livera said. “I don’t charge the dealers. I don’t charge the people coming. It’s a community event — it’s like an anti-Craigslist. You can actually see the stuff and have a professional check it out.”
The flea market-style event will include 20 to 30 dealers set outside of the shop, and people can freely move about and enjoy the thrill of checking out camera gear. Attendees also can bring their own camera equipment to sell or trade, Livera said.
Along with the swap, Livera and his wife also will be cooking breakfast and lunch free for visitors to enjoy as they shop.
For every swap meet, held each spring and fall, Livera sets up a donation jar to raise money for charity. This year, Kiwi will be collecting donations for the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando.
For Livera, the event is a way to give something back by providing the community with a chance to celebrate photography.
“When I moved into this location, I always talked about doing this,” Livera said. “There were traditional camera shows that would show up in the hotels around the state, where they would charge $150 for the dealers, and it would cost $20 to get in to buy stuff, and it was a little expensive.
“I always wanted to have my own little thing where it was kind of more about photography and not about the camera collectors,” he said. “I want people to shoot with them, not put them on a shelf and look at them — I thought the best way to do that was to show off how easily accessible these ‘expensive cameras’ are.”
Although the store he has now only has been around for 10 years, Livera has been offering his camera fixing wizardry for going on 30 years — while his passion for the craft goes back even further.
Livera first was introduced to photography by his shop’s namesake, his uncle Bill Dickinson — whose nickname was “Kiwi” when he served during World War II.
“He had a darkroom in his trailer in Apopka, and when I was 10 years old, he taught me how to shoot black-and-white film and process it in his little darkroom there,” Livera said. “I caught the bug.”
Livera went on to photography school before becoming a commercial photographer. After five years as a photographer, Livera decided to switch gears and went to camera-repair school at Spokane Falls Community College in Washington State.
“It’s really nice to be able to fix things for people and actually make their lives a little bit easier and less stressful,” Livera said. “I’ve been doing that in many capacities as an assistant or working in camera shops, and now having my own place — actually solving some problems and doing good work. It’s pretty gratifying.”
