PDN in NYC!

Talk about C-R-A-Z-Y!

I just spent the last 22 hours in one of my favorite cities in the world,
New York City!
I flew up for the last day of the 25th Annual Photo District News Expo, which took place at the Jacob Javits Center. There were hundreds of vendors, from the Canon and Nikon killer booths to the album and printing and binding companies, to world-renowned photographers giving presentations about their work and technique, to web hosting companies and SO much more!

I went in part because several album vendors I've been researching had booths up there, so it was great to get to touch and feel some books and ask the vendors a million and one questions. It was also great to go to an expo in the industry in which I want to grow my business.
I also went because, well, I love New York and I'll take any opportunity I can to go there!
I brought back a flood more of information and have plenty more homework to do on my end!

Here are 2 quick shots i took at the expo.



this is the Canon presentation area, and as I walked into the expo, they were demonstrating the new 5D, which not only do still digital images, it also does video at 1080i and allows for still frames to be taken as well. A 5D that does film AND video. Freakin' incredible. I think it's safe to say that all watching this demo, yours truly included, were drooling over this new 5D.

this guy is the awesome Jerry Ghionis, an Australian wedding photographer

At the end of the expo, my heart was set on doing some vintage
shopping in the Greenwich Village.
Generally, I rock with and have a good sense of direction, yet, somehow, this sense of direction disappears when I'm in Manhattan. So i walked in the rain (drizzle - it wasn't too terrible), and asked directions to make sure i was heading in the right direction. I pretty much wasn't :)

I hit a drug store to take some shelter from the rain, and asked a group of NYU students where the Greenwhich Village was, and since they happened to be headed in that direction,
they let me tag along for several blocks until I was in the right neighborhood.

After we split, i happened to walk by a church and saw a group of gospel singers moving, clapping and a crowd standing in the pews......so I have to say that i have ALWAYS wanted to see gospel singers perform in person and here was my invitation!!!

I asked one of the people by the door if i could come in for a few minutes and i ended up staying for nearly an hour. The Middle Collegiate Church was having their Gospel Choir Festival and i caught the last 2 groups singing, and i was moved to tears. Literally.

The music, the signing, the people standing, lifting their hands, shouting out "Amen!" and words of encouragement - this environment enveloped me and moved me. It was AMAZING.

Here's what i saw from where I sat - the very last pew of the church
(this was the last song, where all the choirs sang as one):


I managed to get my camera out and gather up enough courage to walk up (ALL the way from the back of the church) to the front, right to where the choir was singing, and took this shot.
I wish i knew her name. She was INCREDIBLE.



The entire choir - ALL of the choirs - were absolutely amazing.
I only hope to have another chance soon to be witness to this once more.

After some shopping (I got some kick-ass clothes!),
I headed back to the bus station on 42nd to catch a bus to NJ,
where I spent the night with some friends.

Here's a cool work of art in the station:


It was pouring at this time, but i still decided i had to take some shots of a rainy 42nd Ave,
so I grabbed these shots, while constantly wiping my camera and lens dry :)



And that, my friends, was my 22-hr trip to the big apple.

I LOVE NEW YORK!