Last week, I attended a conference hosted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) to document the keynote address and the cocktail event that followed at 10 on the Park in the Time Warner Center in Upper Manhattan, NYC. Several distinguished professors and executives  shared their insights with a group of about 100 consultants from various firms as the topics of global business and technology seemed to dominate the panel.

I shot the conference segment of the event in a large, well-lit room using (mainly) a 24-70mm zoom lens, filling in with an on-camera flash when needed. I also took out the 12-24mm wide angle for a few all-encompassing shots to add to the batch. After the conference concluded and the sun fell below the horizon, the attendees gathered in the cocktail area where several consulting firms were set up showing off the latest software and industry technology. My assignment was to capture the attendees engaging in conversation and networking with the various firms, each of which had tables set up to display company information. For this, I wanted to be a bit more inconspicuous so I switched to the 50mm 1.4 and did away the flash entirely. I didn’t have much leeway as cocktail gatherings tend to be dimly lit but I was able to grab a few really nice ones.

Food and drinks were served and guests mingled and networked with one another until the night came to a close around 7pm. Rarely in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the timing and location were  afforded me the perfect opportunity to drop in on one of my favorite restaurants in New York, La Boite en Bois on West 68th St.