11.19.09
Photo Plus report
Once again this year, I made it to NYC in October for Photo Plus Expo, the huge photo trade show at the Javitz Center. The weather this year was lovely most of the time, which made getting around the city delightful, and once it started pouring rain, we were all happy to be in the other-world of the Javitz.
Freestyle Photo was there again this time, and I spent a lot of time camped out at their booth, playing with their display of Holgas, chatting with Expo-goers, and meeting with people around their little table.
One group that gathered together was from the FAB, which started many years ago as an AOL chat group. Many of the folks have known each other online for all this time, and it was great for me to meet a bunch in person.
AnnMarie Tornabene
A Clump of FABsters at the Freestyle booth
Focal Press also had a great booth, so I stopped by there often to chat about my upcoming second edition with Cara Anderson, my editor, and to talk shop with the other Focal authors who were floating around.
A couple of fantastic surprises were meeting with representatives from Lomographic Society and Urban Outfitters, both of whom are now going to carry my book! These are both places I’ve dreamed of having the book in, and I’m thrilled to work with them to further the world of our beloved plastic cameras! And I chatted more with Superheadz, the Japanese company that’s creating new hits such as the Blackbird, Fly and Golden Half cameras.
Outside of the show, I had a great visit with Gary Moyer, a fellow plastic camera fiend and toycamera.com regular, and got a tour of his extensive camera collection. I chatted with bookies Harvey Stein, James Balog & Ann Arden McDonald, and got the OK for a couple of very special additions for the second edition! I also attended the Lucie Awards, which is a fantastic combination of celebrating lifetime achievement of venerable photographers, and bringing attention to up-and-coming ones. Also a fun opportunity to get dressed up and go to Lincoln Center!
One of Gary Moyer’s many toy cameras
Unfortunately, I left NY right before two parties I would have *loved* to attend: Superheadz had their whole staff in town from Japan and had a big shindig, and Lomographic Society had an opening reception at its store for its display this month of Alan Deitrich’s collection of Diana cameras and clones.
Next month my photos will be up in NY, as the Holga Inspire exhibition makes it third stop at Umbrella Arts Gallery. Opening is December 9th, and it goes through January 16th, when Tammy Cromer-Campbell is teaching a Holga workshop. Stop by and check out the show!
That’s all for now!
Michelle