Visitors line up to enter the Cologne exhibition hall, or Koelnmesse, for the opening day of Photokina, a major photography trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Visitors line up to enter the Cologne exhibition hall, or Koelnmesse, for the opening day of Photokina, a major photography trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A visitor poses for a photo in one of the many portrait exhibitions that cleverly promote photography trade products on opening day of the Photokina trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Zach Arias, a professional photographer, makes a presentation on behalf of Fujifilm on the opening day of the Photokina trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A Photokina visitor photographs a pamphlet during a presentation in the Sigma booth on opening day of the trade fair, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A mime poses for a photo in the Hama booth on the opening day of the Photokina trade fair, Tuedsay, Sept. 16, 2014. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
Zach Arias, a professional photographer, poses for a portrait on opening day of Photokina, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. Arias is a guest lecturer at Photokina, a major photography trade fair. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A model takes a break from posing for pictures on the opening day of the Photokina photography trade fair, Tuedsay, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A model takes a break from posing for pictures on the opening day of the Photokina trade fair, Tuedsay, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
There are numerous opportunities to test the latest and greatest in photo/video gear at the Photokina trade fair as models and performers are stationed throughout the hall on opening day, Tuesdsay, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A DJI representative demonstrates the use of one of the company's drones on opening day of the Photokina trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany.The fair runs through Sept. 21. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
An F-Stop gear representative models one of the company's photo packs on opening day of the Photokina photography trade fair, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A visitor takes a break on opening day of Photokina, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
With an exhibit of photographs in the background, a man takes a break during opening day of Photokina, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
A visitor leaves the exhibition hall on opening day of Photokina, a photography trade fair, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, in Cologne, Germany. The fair runs through Sept. 21. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes)
COLOGNE, Germany — Advertised as the largest imaging trade fair in the world, Photokina lives up to its billing.
The vast number of displays is almost overwhelming, as Photokina brings the imaging sector’s leading companies together in seven exhibition halls.
Visitors may experience sensory overload in what feels like an alternate dimension of anything and everything having to do with creating images, from tripods and printers to every sort of camera you can think of.
The biennial show runs through Sunday.
In addition to the photo-related gear on display, the trade fair also offers lectures and photo galleries.
Photokina is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday. Admission is 46 euros. On Saturday and Sunday family tickets covering two adults and two children ages 7 to 17 are available for 48 euros.
The next Photokina is scheduled for Sept. 27-Oct. 2, 2016.
