About Me

My photo
Hola! Hello! Bonjour! Szerbus! Ciao! My name is Catalina and I'm a freelance photogrher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hola! Me llamo Catalina y son una fotografa en Charlotte, Carolina del Norte. Although a straight-A student in high school, I loathed and somehow managed to skip Physics in order to print in the dark room. Now, with the passing of each day, I am more and more passionate about photography and the moments I can capture through my lens - abstract or otherwise. Enjoy!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

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.

Example

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.
Example
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):
Example

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.

Example

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:
Example

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 :)

Example

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

I LOVE NEW YORK!

3 comments:

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - The Schultzes

Ummmmm.....SO cool! How fun! :)))))

Anonymous

WOW!!! you certainly know how to maximize 22 hours. Good for you!!!

Susy

Anonymous

As always....you took some spectacular photos.

Susy

Copyrights

All images on this blog are COPYRIGHT protected.

Images are not to be reproduced, downloaded or published without permission from Catalina Photography.

CoolPhotoBlogs

Hi!

Thank you for visiting my blog!
You can check out more of my work at www.catalinaphotography.com
I am happy to answer any questions you might have and always appreciate your feedback via this blog or email me at
catalina@catalinaphotography.com