I paid a visit to the Photography Show recently in the cavernous halls of the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham.
Thousands of snappers flock to the event in the hope of bagging a bargain on gear and immersing themselves in the imaging world. I managed to get a few quid shaved off a very expensive lens purchase and my kit is now pretty much complete and my bank balance much slimmer.
As well as retailers and photography brands, the show features quite a few stands whose brands, such as those representing lighting companies, have hired professional models, giving visitors the opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have to capture images of men and women accustomed to looking good in front of the camera.
There was also a creator playground with sets and props offering the chance to capture interesting images in some surreal settings.
And despite having more than 40 years’ experience as a professional photographer, I picked up a few tips I can put into practice in my future commissions by listening to some of the speakers – you’re never too old to learn.
It’s always interesting too to see other photographers’ work, and the event had plenty of people’s prints on display.
The flip side of all this is that I had to turn down one commission I was offered to cover an event that coincided with my visit to the West Midlands. I hate turning work down, but I had no choice as everything was booked for my stay for the event.
Next year the event moves to London, so I’ll have to go a bit further to keep up to date.
Now I need to get earning again to help pay for that pricey lens!
