Exams are finished and excitement is in the air. Friends, family, peers, and teachers all gather together in celebration of this monumental occasion. Students enter the main event with a musical intro from “Pomp and Circumstance Marches.” Diplomas are awarded, tassels are moved, “Congratulations to the class of 2017!” is spoken, and caps rain from the sky in celebration of this long awaited achievement.

If 10 years ago someone had told me that Sony would be competitive in the professional photography world, directly competing with the likes of Canon and Nikon, I would not have believed them. I think the most surprising thing is how they are doing this; not with the traditional DSLR, but instead with full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras.

I remember purchasing my first SLR and how much I loved all the bells and whistles it had. Growing up I have always loved tech, and collecting new equipment. I guess collecting is part of photography, and in a way capturing a moment in time is collecting that moment. I know I picked a very expensive thing to collect. Because of this one of my favorite times of the year are when the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and when Camera & Photo Imaging Show (CP+) are happening. I love seeing all the great new gear, and this year shows did not disappoint.