The Great New York Photo Show.....(maybe not so great)

OK, my own fault. After being pissed off for any number of reasons at the last half dozen “Photo Expos” here and after realizing just what a waste of time it was to attend, I did. No excuse. I just did. And yeah, as expected, maybe a bit even more disappointing than last year. For openers, there were fewer exhibitors. See, it's the biggest trade show in the East and the people we come to see aren't showing up. Then there was the perennial “Legion Of The Lost:” the equipment laden amateurs who think this is their chance to show off their collection of camera crap.. This year, photo equipment backpacks were a particularly popular item. They were originally intended for carrying gear to remote areas; they were not intended for a schlepping around a crowded exhibit floor. These are the same folks who wear backpacks on the subway. Enough said.

And once again, this year there was a single booth devoted to darkroom equipment, One company that still makes enlargers, And they are probably one of the few exhibitors who still make stuff in America! Mr 'relationship' with Bessler began back when I was photographer for my Junior Highschool Newspaper.  My darkroom was a corner of my bedroom, draped with GI surplus rain ponchos to make it almost dark. I still had to wait until it was dark outside to get real dark.  And the centerpiece was a Bessler enlarger, borrowed from some distant relative and used for most of a decade.  Anyway, did enjoy chatting about them good ol' days with the lovely lady manning the Bessler booth.  Most people walked by with no idea of what was being sold there.

And for several years running the “Saddest Booth Of The Show” award goes to that monument of greed and stupidity we call Kodak! Yep the folks who actually invented digital photography and then proceeded to sit on it for the next 20 years because they didn't want to loose the big bucks generated by film and darkroom chemicals and all that. By the time they finally worked their heads out of their collective asses, the digital photo world was in full swing and the company that also pretty much invented photography was looking at a new word: bankruptcy! This year instead of occupying the huge space they once ruled over at this show, they had a tiny booth off to the side with one somewhat embarrassed kid hawking some dippy little cameras with the once proud Kodak name stuck on them.

Strangest of all: several booths booked by companies from China. Not much interesting in their displays. They weren't selling much. People at the booths didn't seem to be too interested in what was happening. Just so there was no mistake, they did have their flags on the tables. As they say in the old neighborhood: in-frigging-scrutable!

 And that was the show.