Bright Lights, Big City, and…SANTACON!!!

Just had the pleasure of wandering the Big Apple in search of the lights of the holidays, in the company of some very cool photogs, and with that preeminently talented duo, Fancy Girl Street Boy. (Otherwise known as Liza Politi and Ari Espay.)

The swarming holiday crowds indicate the city is back, at least in terms of visitors, once again brimming over with its customary energy and verve. Moving through streets was like playing rugby, and finding a seat in a restaurant akin to searching for the lost ark.

Times Square, never a shrinking violet of a locale, even had a constant air blast going through the grates near the statue of Father Duffy where folks could step in and go for a Marilyn pose.

And then there was SantaCon.

As their website says….“SantaCon is a charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to spread absurdist joy.”

And trust me, these goodhearted people are up for a snap.

Santa’s galore! And Santa’s helpers.

It was such a congenial crowd that I was able to shoot and move literally on full auto, and rarely even looked through the camera. I was using Z 9, with the new 17-28mm f2.8, on aperture priority about -.3EV, eye detect AF. And my light was a Profoto A10, programmed on Auto, at about +.5EV, and fitted with the new ProClic softbox. Light was controlled, seamlessly, from the new Connect Pro. Shoot and move.

Great crowd, great fun. Many thanks to the organizers who let me climb the bus.

And thanks to Ari Espay, who made the snap of me above.

Happy Holidays to all….peace on the streets, and everywhere…..

More tk…