Saturday, November 16, 2019

Photo Plus Expo 2019

"Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution." ~ Ansel Adams.
Good morning; afternoon; and evening friends and fans! Wow, it's been months since I've posted anything on here in months and I realize I haven't been posting anything in relation to photography, but I should begin doing that.

Where to begin, where to begin. For the past year since my last adventure to the Photo Plus Expo at the Jacob Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan, I haven't been active in my photography adventures until recently when I had gone to Panorama Camera on West 29 Street to have my Minolta X-370 serviced when several other places no longer service all things Minolta [lack to no parts]. As a heads up, they ask for a $25 estimate and whatever the price may be for your line of Minolta camera in use. My camera works well since having my camera serviced a month ago. Onto business of my update at the Photo Plus Expo... Shall we begin?

I had a great time at the Photo Plus Expo this past year and I am very much looking forward in attending next years Photo Plus Expo at the Jacob Javits Center. I was able to accomplish what I had in mind from last year but will stick with my plan for next year and will add Mr. Louis Mendes, a street photographer, to a full roll of film for next year's Photo Plus Expo. For those interested in attending next year's Expo, feel free to register for the Expo and in my opinion, it's best to register at least in advance rather than having to register on the day of the Expo or message me so I can add you to my package or I'll send you an invite. There's a lot to do at the Expo, depending on what you're looking to accomplish, may it be improving your photography skills, create a portfolio in hopes of being able to create a book on Blurb and in which will be one of my book projects that may be in the works, and in some ways network with fellow photographers. Yet in my own way, I don't know where to begin with my adventure at the Photo Plus Expo and I didn't get to attend all three days but did attend two out of three days this year. First things first, I did purchase three five packs of Kodak Portra 400 from B&H before heading to the Expo and I did use five out of ten rolls of film but with a minor mess up... I've accidentally developed five unused rolls of film and thought that my camera had decided to some how call it quits after having my camera [recently] serviced due to shutter issues from a year ago. To say the least, I will use my Japan Camera Hunter 35mm Film Hard Case purchased at B&H a little over a year ago to keep my film organized for photography walks or photography assignments (such as for school or for work, whichever). Secondly, I'd have to focus on my finances to lower my charge card balances so I can continue to save up for film in the New Year (film such as: FUJIFILM Fujicolor Pro 400H Professional Color Negative; Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative; and Ilford XP Super Black and White Negative Film). Third, I'm looking to do the Lunar New Year photography project in hopes of reconnecting with family on my mother's side of the family.

This year at the Photo Plus Expo, there were puppies at the Expo for those who are into pet photography, I felt like this would have been up your alley so to speak and I like most animals (except for birds, I'm not a fan of birds at all, don't ask why but I do like guinea pigs; dogs; cats and as long as they're not sharing my sleeping arrangements with me) but thought the dog photography was fun but quite interesting. Some of the puppies were napping at the time of my arrival mid morning and it was worth it. In the end, I hope the puppies will be back next year and I'm looking forward for that level of adventure in the photography world. I just mainly went around to nearly every model and used at least one roll off 36 exposure film on each model. My day two, which would be considered day three for those who had attended all three days of the Expo. Yet, I was still able to pull off last three rolls of film. I didn't get to stick around long enough to see if I would be able to get free items like I had last year on where I was able to manage to get several rolls of Ilford HP5 Plus Black and White Negative films and the guy had the Ilford booth had recognized me from last year. I suppose I have that recognizable face. One of the models who was there last year had recognized me as she had done the safari theme a year ago and we were talking for several minutes but only to find out that she lives somewhere in my neighborhood near Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. So on the last day of the Expo when I was done with my final roll of Kodak Portra 400 film for the day, just as I was about to turn and leave, I hear someone calling my name, I look up and see Barbra, whom I've met at the Expo several years ago with her husband (I forget her husband's name). We chatted for a bit and in a way, I know was there because of her Instagram pictures but wasn't sure if she was still there until that moment. Hopefully we can meet up at a future Photo Plus Expo events.

The next day, I had gone to B&H since certain items were discounted price until that Tuesday (October 29, 2019) and I honestly wanted to purchase a Sirui 3T-35K Table Tripod or even a Sirui P-306 Aluminum Monopod but instead purchased a Manfrotto Windsor Camera Reporter Bag for DSLR but didn't have enough cash on hand to make such purchase due to owing charge cards a high amount. I hope to begin saving up for a regular tripod, a monopod, and a table tripod. One thing I need to focus on is paying off my three charge cards and begin saving up for what's needed, such as buying additional Kodak Portra 400; Ilford HP5 400; Ilford XP2; and a Sirui P-306 Aluminum Monopod and a Sirui 3T-35K Table Tripod (Black)/Sirui 3T-35K Plus Tripod with C10S Ball Head (Black) For the moment I'm going to focus on what I need to focus on and my main focus is to find another job so I can financially support my photography and eventually save up for a digital camera. I'm a bit hesitant when it comes down to Digital photography and I have nothing against digital photography at all, but I do in the end feel that digital photography lacks something that film may have. Yes, I do realize there's that instant gratification in digital photography that film photography lacks in and there's that quite instant gratification in film photography that you can't get in digital photography. More about this in another blog for another time. The next day, that Sunday (the day after the Expo), I had gone back to B&H to drop off my ten rolls of film apart on me. Sadly, my old Lowepro camera bag is falling apart on me and may want to set the bag on fire at some point. To top it off, my new Manfrotto Windsor Camera Reporter Bag for DSLR (Gray) is my own birthday present!

Warm regards,
Jennifer