Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

The end of the first day of the show, and the late afternoon light plays off the building reflecting in the Javits Center. My feet feel more distorted than the buildings reflections. I would like to show you what the Nikon booth at the show looked like and how busy we were after the day got going.
the first set of images are the booth early this morning before the attendees arrived, the second set with the mad house in full glory.

We ended the day, as we always do, with some fine New York cuisine, tonight it was left to right
Mark Kettenhofen, Scott Diussa, and I enjoying Pizza and John’s Pizza on Theatre Row. Not sure what happened, I loved the Pizza and company but from my expression you would never know it!

I want to end today by praising God for an answered prayer. My brother Homer is at Glenco, Georgia at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He is getting his training to work as a
Dentist at the Federal Prison in Virginia. The Physical test is very rigorous and since Homer is only three years younger than me, and has had heart problems we were all concerned about those physical tests. Well, Homer called tonight and was happy to tell me that he passed them all. He said he is by far the oldest trainee and he has become the group mascot. He was happy that the rest of the class cheered him on as he made the needed times in all the tasks. I’m proud of him and thrilled that he not only passed the tests, but that he didn’t drop dead trying…… Next thing in training is weapons use. Boy are they in for a surprise, Homer and I grew up in Harlan, Kentucky and we are both excellent marksmen, Homer much more so than myself. Homer learned to bird hunt by my throwing Gerber baby food jars into the air from behind him, where he couldn’t tell where they would come from, as he shot them in flight with a .22 caliber rifles! Yes, he is that good! Boy are they going to be surprised when they see the old Dentist shoot……

Blessings to all,

the pilgrim

* Photo notes: Yep all images P7000.

Thanks for your prayers, the first day in New York has been a great day. Above I had the pleasure of great company for Five Guys Burger and Fries in New York. Left to right, Scott Diussa,
Matt Kloskowski, Jason Stewart, Terrence Campbell, Mark Kettenhofen and the pilgrim all smiling after chowing down on some burgers and fries. You know me, I’m always up for a Five Guys trip and this was outstanding company, all five, dear friends. Earlier in the day I flew into JFK and took a taxi in to the city to the Jacob Javits Center to take part in the set up for the Photo Plus show that will go Thursday through Saturday. Below a few shots of the inventory as it was being prepared for display. We have 126 DSLRs, 320 lenses, 42 flashes, and 40 Coolpix cameras at the show.

Glass, Glass, Glass

My thanks to Jason Stewart for those numbers, he was in charge of the inventory today so he would be the man that would know what should be there, and was there. This is a tough show because it is so well attended and our booth is not stop each day, but then that is what they pay us to do, and helping folks is fun.

Now a story about the importance of
sharing a little act of kindness. Tonight
at the Five Guys all of us ordered together
and it took us a while to get it done, a
man came up behind us and though he
was nice about it, I could tell he was getting
a little tired of waiting while we cut up
and ordered. When we were finished I
told the young man ringing up our order
to add his man’s order to ours since he had
been waiting so long. He insisted
that it was not necessary but I insisted
and he was appreciative. I got a lot of
joy out of doing the right thing by him, and
by the he left we had talked several
times, and I could tell it had made his night.

It should be our first order of business that
if we are going to serve Christ that we show
that same kind of love He showed.

No trip to Time Square is complete without dropping by the Hershey’s Store on Broadway. Hey the grandkids expect a little gift!

I will post more images from the show tomorrow, and you can see just how nice the booth turned out after all the work today.

blessings,

the pilgrim

* Photo notes: All images with the Coolpix P7000.

I need to leave for the airport in about 15 minutes so my post this morning will be short. I hope when I get to New York to shoot some neat stuff to share with you. If the weather cooperates I will give it my best shot. Jay Maisel, a great New York shooter once said, “Photography is only one of two things; I want to show you something or I want to keep this for myself.” Try as I might, I can’t think of single shot I’ve ever made that doesn’t fall into one of those two categories.

New York is a shock to the visual senses so hopefully I will find something to share! Until then,
please know that God loves you and is concerned about area of your life. Remember Bob, from yesterday? God is waiting to do the same for you…….

the pilgrim

*Photo note: D3s, 28-300 AFS VR II lens.

That is the title of today’s devotional in Pathways to His Presence, by Dr. Charles Stanley, but for me it has deep personal meaning. Every day we make decision about our lives, it is critical that we seek God’s guidance so that we can experience the very best He desires for us. Let me tell you a story about a fellow I know, I will not reveal his identity, but you can trust me when I tell you I’ve know him very well, and have known him for a long time.

Let’s call him Bob. Bob is a really nice guy, a friendly, caring guy. He has a family and he works hard to support them. One problem, Bob has been trying to do all of what has to be done in his own strength. Bob believes in God, he just hasn’t depended on him. As time passed Bob got bitter about a lot of things, his marriage was not going as well as he knew it should, he didn’t like his job, or the people he worked with. The stress of life was weighing heavily on him.

As it happens Bob had a close friend that could clearly see what was happening in Bob’s life. His friend really loved him, and wanted him to have all the joy and peace that God offers us all. Bob and his friend got into a conversation about how life was going and Bob poured out his frustration and anger about his life. Bob’s friend said the answer was simple, stop trusting in yourself and give it all to God. Bob wanted no part of it, (this is what is called a spiritual battle), Bob really resisted, but Bob’s friend loved him too much to give up on Bob. Finally Bob agreed to pray with his friend and his friend led him in a prayer of release, in the prayer Bob was led to pray that he was tired and weary and couldn’t go on fighting the battles of life. Bob told God he surrendered and wanted Him to take over and guide him. Bob felt better immediately, but the real miracle(s) started come within days. His marriage got a lot better, his relationship with his children greatly improved, he started liking the people he worked with and soon was offered a new and better job. When he and his wife had to put their house on the market it miraculously sold within a few days.

Most important of all Bob knows why things changed in his life and who to thank for all the peace and joy he is now experiencing, his Heavenly Father. Bob is a real person, and this is a true story.

What’s more exciting for you is that the same God that changed Bob’s life completely is waiting for you to ask Him to come into your life as well. Is there any possible reason why you wouldn’t let God do for you, what He has done for countless others?

the pilgrim

Psalm 138:8  (New Living Translation)

 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
      for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
      Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death……..

O.K. it’s not that bad, but I do have to fly to New York for Photo Plus in the morning, I would appreciate your prayers. My favorite part of that annual trip is seeing New York City fading away as my plane flies back to Atlanta, Saturday night.

* Photo note: D3s, 28-300 AFS VR II. Top, Leafless branches as fall marches on on Kentucky. Just above, a splash of fall color, and old rusted doors.