- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
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Hi friends,
I’m sure you won’t mind a lengthy post about the Show as long as I include some visuals.
I have had the privilege of working with Ed and Cathy Wormser since 2005 as photographer for their premier show. This year, there were a bunch of changes, most notable the move to downtown Chicago from the suburb of Arlington Heights. The venue was hosted at the Sheraton Towers and it was right on the Chicago River waterway, and only a half mile away from Navy Pier.
Ed wanted to make the Chicago Show truly upscale and to that end the venue truly was. Of course it comes at a price and it was more expensive to stay at this hotel as well as food etc, but no different from NYC in this regard. (Next year, Ed has chosen another location very close by, but the rooms are MUCH less expensive than the Sheraton.)
This Show also includes the Premier Auction of around 100 knives on Friday evening, and they were displayed on the website and available to bid through the internet on the night of. I was invited as a non-bidding guest to observe and enjoy.
I include many shots of the small room and the attendees with still shots.
Ed and Cathy do their very best to work with the tableholders and provide delicious lunches for all attendees, among other benefits.
The Show appeared to be smaller in attendance than years past, and there would be a number of reasons that this occurred:
That said, I was also affected, by much less in sales than in years past. This time I was limited to only 12 portfolio shots from makers. (The last few years had averaged around 25-40). But, I filled in my extra time doing shots of knives brought to, and purchased at the show to my regular cadre of dealers, and so I include a bunch of them now. (Normally, I spend my time on maker portfolio shots and these dealer knives make their way to me afterwards in my studio. This year I made the time, and it was fruitful. This time spent allowed me to call it a financial success as well. (Thank you to Knife Legends and Guild Knives!)
Those that were in attendance and those knives that made their way to me were FAR and ABOVE some of the finest knives I have had the pleasure of shooting. What was lost in quantity was made up in part by quality. I suggest the collectors who attended felt the same way.
The Auction had many outstanding world-class knives and the bidding and money changing hands was still astounding. The Show may have been smaller, but this Premier Auction is one-of-a-kind in activity. Kudos for Ed and Cathy for originating this at this show.
I did not have the opportunity to photograph many of the Auction knives (although the Loerchner folder which went for $23,000 was my image...), but Rob Szajkowski did a remarkable job for most of them online and on the slideshow presentation.
Let’s take a look at the knives, and see what I mean about QUALITY:
(Continued in the next post)
Coop
I’m sure you won’t mind a lengthy post about the Show as long as I include some visuals.
I have had the privilege of working with Ed and Cathy Wormser since 2005 as photographer for their premier show. This year, there were a bunch of changes, most notable the move to downtown Chicago from the suburb of Arlington Heights. The venue was hosted at the Sheraton Towers and it was right on the Chicago River waterway, and only a half mile away from Navy Pier.
Ed wanted to make the Chicago Show truly upscale and to that end the venue truly was. Of course it comes at a price and it was more expensive to stay at this hotel as well as food etc, but no different from NYC in this regard. (Next year, Ed has chosen another location very close by, but the rooms are MUCH less expensive than the Sheraton.)
This Show also includes the Premier Auction of around 100 knives on Friday evening, and they were displayed on the website and available to bid through the internet on the night of. I was invited as a non-bidding guest to observe and enjoy.
I include many shots of the small room and the attendees with still shots.Ed and Cathy do their very best to work with the tableholders and provide delicious lunches for all attendees, among other benefits.
The Show appeared to be smaller in attendance than years past, and there would be a number of reasons that this occurred:
- The Tactical Invitational was no longer at this date or venue. LOTS of younger, willing buyers follow this crowd.
- The USN ‘Gathering’ Show was in Vegas the week before (See above)
- The Guild Show moved closer to Louisville the week after.
- The price of the new venue may have tipped the scales for others.
That said, I was also affected, by much less in sales than in years past. This time I was limited to only 12 portfolio shots from makers. (The last few years had averaged around 25-40). But, I filled in my extra time doing shots of knives brought to, and purchased at the show to my regular cadre of dealers, and so I include a bunch of them now. (Normally, I spend my time on maker portfolio shots and these dealer knives make their way to me afterwards in my studio. This year I made the time, and it was fruitful. This time spent allowed me to call it a financial success as well. (Thank you to Knife Legends and Guild Knives!)
Those that were in attendance and those knives that made their way to me were FAR and ABOVE some of the finest knives I have had the pleasure of shooting. What was lost in quantity was made up in part by quality. I suggest the collectors who attended felt the same way.
The Auction had many outstanding world-class knives and the bidding and money changing hands was still astounding. The Show may have been smaller, but this Premier Auction is one-of-a-kind in activity. Kudos for Ed and Cathy for originating this at this show.
I did not have the opportunity to photograph many of the Auction knives (although the Loerchner folder which went for $23,000 was my image...
), but Rob Szajkowski did a remarkable job for most of them online and on the slideshow presentation.Let’s take a look at the knives, and see what I mean about QUALITY:
(Continued in the next post)
Coop
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