Friday, December 4, 2009

Have you ever had a connection from a distance with something for years...then finally came face to face with it?

In 1976 I bought my first bit of professional Camera equipment from 47th street photo in New York City. Year after year I would add to my collection from 47th street photo. I always wanted to visit the store if I ever made it to New York City. I had visions of a huge camera complex with everything imaginable a photographer could want.

Years later when I began my trips to the City...one of the first places I visited was 47th Street Photo. It was great to make that connection with a store that I had so often visited in my mind. They did in fact have everything one could want in the line of photo and video equipment but I was so surprised to see that it was just a one room single story shop but it indeed was filled to the ceiling with equipment.

I can recall my Grandfather talk of receiving the Sears and Roebuck Catalog in the mail each year and how excited they were to get it. They could look through it's pages and order things that they would never have the chance to have in the rural Midwest in the early 1900s. I guess this was my "Sears Catalog".

Looking at the picture above...to the right you will see the red neon "Digital" sign. Welcome to 47th Street Photo.

Dan

16 comments:

Jean said...

I love this pic because I used to shop at the same store when I was doing my photography many years ago.
I had the same mental image of it you did.
Thanks for putting it in front of me!

Jaime Haney said...

I love the hustle and bustle look this has. Nice shot

Kringle said...

I love your gift of pairing words with photography, it is beautiful! Thanks too for stopping by my blog!
Blessings
Kringle

Sunny said...

You have captured the excitement that only the city has. The bright lights, fast pace, honking taxi horns, the nitty gritty. A great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there!
Sunny :)

Dan Felstead said...

Jean! What a treat! Another 47th street photo addict! There are tons of photo shops like this in New York but 47th is one of the most reliable. Some are just basically store fronts with an online presence.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Jaime...New York City is a busy place this time of year!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Kringle...thanks for stopping by and thanks for the comment.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Sunny you summed up my feelings exactly. I love to visit but a weekend stay is long enough.

Dan

DawnTreader said...

I haven't been to a really big city in many years; now the mere thought of it tires me out...! Going back in time though, it used to be the bookstores for me... especially those that were big enough to also have a choice of English literature! Nowadays anything can be ordered from the internet, but back in the 70's and 80's it was a different story.

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader..."The times they are a changin" by you know who! Back when I was ordering from 47th street photo...there was no internet so it was browsing the catalog and ordering by mail.

Dan

Unknown said...

wonderful shot and yes, I see the store front. a very colorful and busy place. have a great weekend!!

septembermom said...

Tomorrow is my Radio City trip! I'll walk right by there and think of you! Great picture.

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Doreen and you have a great one also.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Septembermom...I hope yo have a wonderful time...I am sure you will. I will be looking forward to a post about your trip into the city!

Dan

Cynthia L. H. said...

Now, I know it hasn't been that many moons ago when the highlight of the season for me was looking through the Sears "Wishbook" and the J.C. Penney Christmas catalog.
Loved it.
Pages and pages of dolls...and all kinds of wonderment!
;^)

Dan Felstead said...

Cynthia..The Wish Book....YES...I couldn't wait for the Wish Book to arrive! I had forgotten about it.

Dan