For photography collectors looking for an auction this week, the place to go is Camera Club of New York's (CCNY) fourth annual benefit. Hosted by Calumet Photographic, the doors open at 6:00 pm this Wednesday at 22 West 22^nd Street, NYC.

I stopped by last night for a preview and found all hands on deck. Director John Stanley; former board member Saul Robbins, who was instrumental in moving CCNY to its new location; President Caren Rosenblatt; and board member Allen Frame, who curated the exhibition, were joined by interns to mount the 125 or so prints being offered.

Left to right: Larry Fink, Still Life, Moses Soyers Studio, 1960, modern inkjet print, copyright and courtesy the artist; Amy Elkins, David, New York, NY, from the series Wallflower 2008, C-print, copyright the artist, courtesy Yancey Richardson Gallery; Host Committee members, l-r, Allen Frame, Caren Rosenblatt and Saul Robbins unroll a digital C-print by Hugo Tillman, an image from his book, Film Stills of the Mind, photo: Peggy Roalf.

The selection, as anticipated, is awesome. The roster includes emerging and established photographers, reflecting CCNY's mission of providing a place for them to develop their craft through its facilities, programs, and collegial environment. The 125-year-old organization, which has served as a base for photographers from Alfred Stieglitz, an early member who documented Camera Club's activities in his groundbreaking publication, Camera Notes, to contemporary artists includind Merry Alpern and Santiago Mostyn.

Works have been donated by photographers, dealers, and collectors who support CCNY's activities. And the club makes it easy for photo fans to participate, with an entry fee of just $10. Minimum prices are modest considering the quality of the work being offered, which could make the silent auction an exciting scramble. A selection of limited-edition and unusual photo books is also being offered for sale.

The roster includes established and new talents, with a few early vintage prints, including Erica Allen, Mariette Pathy Allen, Merry Alpern, Amy Elkins, Larry Fink, Martine Fougeron, Allen Frame, Samuel H. Gottscho, Lori Grinker, Henry Horenstein, Erica Larsen, Leigh Ledare, David Levinthal, Wayne Liu, Alex Morel, Santiago Mostyn, Saul Robbins, Caren Rosenblatt, Lynn Saville, Will Steacy, Aaron Siskind, John Stanley, Hugo Tillman, Baron Wilhelm Von Gloeden, Eric Weeks, Shigeki Yoshida, and many others. In addition, a print by Dana Miller, recipient of the 2009 New York Photo Festival Portfolio Review Award will be the raffle prize. Click to view the auction preview.

The fourth annual Camera Club of New York auction is being held at Calument Photographic, 22 West 22^nd Street 2^nd Floor (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) on Wednesday December 2^nd from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. If you are unable to attend and would like to place a bid, please contact CCNY not later than noon on December 2^nd: 212.260.9927 or info@cameraclubny.org. For information about upcoming events, workshops, internships, residencies, and classes, please visit CCNY's website.

About CCNY's heritage: The archives are housed at the New York Public Library. Related collections are housed in the New-York Historical Society and George Eastman House Library in Rochester, New York. This detailed record of the Club's history reveals a dynamic organization with a strong commitment to education and a heritage of showcasing the works of photographers known and respected worldwide. It is the Club's mission to continue these traditions and maintain the vitality of The Camera Club of New York for those who seek out photography's expressive potential.

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