Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock usually points his camera towards his subjects, but in this month’s edition of What’s on My Desk, the tables—or rather, the lens—have turned.
“Photography is a democratic medium,” said Apicella-Hitchcock, head of Fordham’s visual arts program. “You don’t have a paintbrush in every iPhone, but you do have a camera. All you need is your thumb, and you can document the things you care about or want to bring attention to and amplify.”
Take a look below at some of the quirky items in Apicella-Hitchcock’s office at Lincoln Center.
The Guest Camera
On display on one crowded shelf is a “mint condition” Fujifilm camera.
“When I visit Japan, I often go to shops that sell really great used cameras and bring them back for our students. You can also buy them through eBay from an American store; they’re often half the condition and twice the price,” he said. “These cameras go into our equipment cage, where we lend cameras to students. But this Fuji camera is so pristine and beautifully kept that I want to admire it for just a little longer.”
Fifteen Years’ Worth of Film
Stored in several bags are more than 500 rolls of undeveloped film, Apicella-Hitchcock estimated, from Tokyo, Rome, and New York.
“As soon as my son came on the scene, my time and ability to get into the darkroom and process my film really went out the window. But I’ve never been able to stop shooting film,” he said. “It’s a bit of a problem, as you can see. I have to develop my film myself. But the good thing with images is that when you put them away and return to them later, you’re a much better editor. You can see more objectively, compared with what you felt in the moment.”
Collectibles From Decades of Trips to Japan
Twenty years ago, Apicella-Hitchcock taught at the Tokyo University of the Arts in Japan. Since then, he has traveled to Japan many times, often bringing Fordham students for his courses that explore life and culture there, including Case Study Tokyo. Along the way, he has amassed a collection of books and items related to Japanese culture—and found his future wife, who grew up on the island of Hikoshima. The best gifts he brought home from Japan were his wife and their son, who was born there.
No More Crushed Bananas
Apicella-Hitchcock has a surefire method to make sure that his bananas don’t turn into a mushy mess at the bottom of his bag.
“I always accidentally smash my bananas,” he said. “This is a banana protector that I bought at a dollar shop in Japan. I was like, how brilliant is this?”
Office Zen
Permeating his office is the subtle scent of yuzu.
“I bought this aroma diffuser from Muji,” Apicella-Hitchcock said. “It smells great. And if I ever have to do an infernal Zoom meeting, the diffuser makes it look like smoke is coming out of my background. It’s a good icebreaker.”
Young Creative in Training
Like many children of professors, Apicella-Hitchcock’s son often accompanied his father to work when he was a child. “My son spent a lot of time under my various desks at Fordham, playing with toys,” he said.
Around age 7, his son became interested in photography. Apicella-Hitchcock gave him his first camera and taught him how to develop film. “Every few weeks, a teenager’s interests migrate to something new,” Apicella-Hitchcock said of his son, now 15 years old and a student at Fordham Prep. “But he’s had all these ideas throughout his life, and I’ve enjoyed living vicariously through his creative process.”
Proud Professor and Mentor
Apicella-Hitchcock has taught generations of students. He keeps photos of them, as well as books of their printed work, in his office.
“A current student recently told me, ‘I think my uncle had you as a teacher,’ and they were right,” he said, smiling.
He pointed towards a picture of former student Teresa Baker, a newly announced 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, who took his senior seminar when she was a student. “Next month, she’s coming back to campus to do a presentation about her work and talk with my current students,” he said.
An Unusual Urn
Apicella-Hitchcock stores some of his father’s ashes in a cup that shares his name: “My dad, Stanley, was a native New Yorker from Corona, Queens, and my mom was born and raised in Brooklyn. They met in the middle, in Manhattan, where I was born.”
A Native New Yorker Till the End
Apicella-Hitchcock himself is a native New Yorker. Decorating his office is artwork by a subway artist who captured the spirit of New York (and alien UFOs).
“I was born on First Avenue and 17th Street in downtown Manhattan. I can’t travel too far from my birth spot,” said Apicella-Hitchcock, who restricted himself to employment opportunities within 100 miles of New York City after earning his graduate degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996. “I’m like a salmon. I’ll die here.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
