Holdthefrontpage reports that the British Press Photographers Association's web site is getting an unusually high number of visitors. Check them out to see what all the buzz is about.

Over the last five years, I have attended at least three of these events. They come with varying degrees of promise. The seminars can be a hit or miss and at $80 a pop they are a bit steep for freelancers. But one does get to meet people, put faces to names, see some amazing photography and hope that one day you too can show off your work in that august space called the Jacob Javits Center.

I received a complimentary exhibit pass. I'll report back here if I see anything of significance from the market. With everything going digital, I suspect there will be a slew of new doo-dads. With Christmas looming ahead, I bet this is a big selling season for merchants.

Tonight's panel discussion, The War on Photographers, spear headed by Paula Lerner and Editorial Photographers should be a real treat. If you are a freelancer, I urge you to attend. It's OUR future. It's free. 6.30-8.00 p.m. Room# 1E15.

Lahiri's new book is out. And so is her publicity machine (and no, I don't get a dime for pushing her writing). She will be at The New Yorker festival that begins today. Here is the blurb:  

Jhumpa Lahiri and Michael Cunningham
7 P.M. Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West $15

Jhumpa Lahiri's début story collection, “Interpreter of Maladies,” some of which first ran in The New Yorker, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000. Her first novel, “The Namesake,” part of which appeared in the June 16th & 23rd issue, will be published in September.

Michael Cunningham's novels include “A Home at the End of the World” and “The Hours,” both of which first appeared, in part, in The New Yorker. “The Hours” received the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and also the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction; a feature film adapted from the book won an Oscar and two Golden Globe awards this year. Mr. Cunningham is currently working on a new novel.

And before you race out and try and get tickets, allow me to burst your bubble – this has been sold out!

For photographers [yes, another sold out show, but worth mentioning]:

Photography Master Class
1 P.M. Condé Nast Corporate Auditorium, 4 Times Square $30

New Yorker staff photographers Robert Polidori and Martin Schoeller will share their insights into photographing for the magazine. Mr. Polidori will talk about his landscape photographs of Cuba and Chernobyl, and Mr. Schoeller will discuss his portraits of such subjects as Bill Clinton, Lil' Kim, and Robin Williams.

Robert Polidori became a staff photographer in 1998. His work is included in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He won the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography for a second time in 2000 and has published several books, the most recent being “Zones of Exclusion: Pripyat to Chernobyl,” which will appear in September.

Martin Schoeller has been a staff photographer since 1999. His work was featured in “Skin: Surface, Substance, Design” at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum last year. His portfolio “Hip-Hop” won the Society of Publication Designers Silver Medal in 2001.