Page 20 - Cape-Camera-Sept-Oct-2021

September/October 2021 Cape Camera

A Member’s Profile

David Barnes

I was born in Kensington, Johannesburg to an Italian mother Give a rebellious 17 year old an armoured car, a 90 mm canon,
and a British father. I was the second of four children. My mother a machine gun and a 9 mm pistol and he’s in heaven. Which
passed away when I was 12 and my father when I was 18, so us teenager doesn’t like blowing things up?
kids learnt to fend for ourselves from an early age, whether that
be at Queens High, as a member of a boy bicycle gang on the
banks of the Juksei River – or getting lost in my own world while
doing art. Mathematics was another favorite though.

My first job was as an apprentice sheet metal worker for an air
conditioning company, after a friend’s dad got me the job. After
the army I was happy just to have a job. The apprenticeship was
followed by a promotion to the drawing office and I spent the
Then came the rebellious years, filled with skateboards and mo- next seven years draughting.
torbikes, as well as the discos and bars, the hustle and bustle of At this time I moved to Cape Town, while working for the same
Hillbrow. And racing cars at Kyalami. company. I was enchanted by the sea straight away and spent
The army, in my case the armoured division, was a rich life expe- my weekends at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, either racing or just
rience. One that I actually enjoyed, but would not like to repeat. sailing for fun.

19 Cape Town Photographic Society