The Online Photographer

If you're in New York or within a tolerable commute, B&H Photo's BILD Expo is coming up on June 17th and 18th (a Tuesday and a Wednesday) at the Javits Center, the huge convention center on 11th Avenue between 34th and 38th in New York City. You can register for free here.

The two-day show features more than 100 speakers, mainly in the areas of photography, filmmaking, and content creation. While there are many side features adding value to the proceedings (portfolio reviews are one good opportunity), the main show under the big top is gear: more than 250 exhibitors will display oceans of gear on the show floor.

Thandiwe Muriu, courtesy of the artist and 193 Gallery

Among the scheduled photography speakers are Peter Hurley, a headshot specialist and Canon Explorer of Light; Christina "Mitty" Mittermeier, a global conservation photographer and photo-essay storyteller; Scott Kelby, photographic educator, instructional book author, and founder of the digital publication Photoshop User; YouTuber and Instagrammer extraordinaire Peter McKinnon; and Thandiwe Muriu, a Kenyan artist and fashion photographer who creates surreal illusions using vibrant kitenge fabric (African print cotton, also known as ankara or Dutch wax print), reflecting themes of womanhood and identity. That gives an indication of the great variety. Something for everybody. Advice from Mike (apart from "never give advice," which is excellent advice): be adventurous with the speakers. Don't just go hear people you know will be safe for you. Explore new things.

I've attended many photo expos at Javits over the years, and it's a trip. Two days is perfect—any more than that and you begin to get overwhelmed. At least if you're an introvert. (Gear is great, but in appropriate doses.) It's also a great place to talk directly to factory reps, marketers, and small entrepreneurs about all kinds of photo-related products. It's likely you might also stumble across something useful that you didn't know existed, which is always fun.

Mike

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Featured Comments from:

John Camp: "Thanks for this. I didn't know. I will by in NYC from June 17–20 for another event, but will be sure to stop in to this one. Thanks again."

Mike replies: I owed you one. You suggested during my keyboard search that writers don't really need to type fast—we spend most of our time thinking, editing, revising, re-arranging and so forth. That insight turned out to be key (no pun intended) to finding my way to a less painful way of typing.