Meet Alex Hernandez | Cultural storyteller. Videographer and photographer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Hernandez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, how do you think about risk?
Risk for me is something I was always taking without realizing it. Both of my parents to a risk to leave their home country of Mexico to start a new life here young age. as I grew up, both of my parents took bigger risk in order to bet our lives on here. I ended up moving to Mexico and going to middle school there. I came back to start high school here and finish it. Both of those moves were risk I had taken without fully understanding what it could’ve led to. I look back, and I’m very thankful for taking those risk as it advanced my understanding and knowledge of both lives in the US in Mexico. as I got older, I fell in love with my passion of photography and videography. Four years ago, I had my daughter. And I asked myself can I take one more risk in order to pursue this passion and make it into a career. it was a hard decision as I Still have responsibilities that would not stop even with this financial and career change risk. If I can at least say I’ve tried it and show my daughter and family that we are allowed to take risk and potentially see the life we want then I’m going to take it. I am on month number five of going full-time with my photography and videography as I left my career of five years in the automotive world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
First thing I would consider myself most proud of is how I represent the world around me through my photography. It started with sharing the culture around me of low riding, and I realized how it was such a jaded culture for us, as it was an every weekend thing. But for a lot of people around the world they’ve never been able to see one in person. And being able being able to show low riders on social media platforms and making them feel like they are part of it is one of the best feelings. Another thing that I am truly proud is being able to give a voice to otherwise people who are afraid to be seen or heard. I come from an undocumented home and make sure to share the one lives growing up in those circumstances. As well as working with nonprofits and other organizations that continue to help undocumented families. When I look back to see how I am today, I am truly thankful to have the friends and strong support system around me. That is the real reason why I’m here today. The reason I came up with the word misunderstood was because of the life I lived living in the US and then moving to Mexico. I wasn’t really sure where I ever fit in since I didn’t last more than five years in each size. And there’s a lot more to the name misunderstood but that’s the gist of it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Man, so the world of Sacramento California is amazing. My itinerary would look a little different than some others as low writing is a big part of it. You have big staples Like Franklin Blvd., Broadway and capital. As well as parks like Miller Park, William Park places we will have multiple events throughout the year with hundreds of low riders. You could see little kids running around having fun oldies, Spanish music and more playing throughout the park food barbecues and snacks all sunny day long. When it turns to tonight, we cruise the streets and we’ll go to Sacramento where there’s lights food and entertainment all night long. Staple places Will, burger tower Café, Vallejo, restaurant, and more throughout Sacramento. We have new places like Doko, the new Arena of the Sacramento Kings basketball team.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s a lot of people I’d love to shut out, and there’s a lot of people I looked up to leading up to the moment of chasing my passion and making it a career. Specific people like Mauricio, a.k.a. Ciotattoos has attributed to me taking the leap. As well as Angelo, a.k.a. tattoo_Angelo. Both this owners and entrepreneurs with kids and other big responsibilities that are related with. Another shout out would be to the organization Brown issues. They helped me reach abroad. Our audience with my work. Some of that work being published on CBS national news multiple local news and being a part of one of the largest Lowrider art gallery shows in northern California.

Website: Misundrstoodphotog.wixsite.com

Instagram: @misundrstood.photography

Image Credits
All my photos.