When Mary Walker announced that after 20 years co-ordinating Focus on Imaging she thought it time for a change, it was Future Publishing that stepped into the breach to fill the photographic trade show spectacle-type hole in our lives. Future's called their incarnation of mayhem, madness, cameras, and consumerism The Photography Show. The Photography Show is running from 1 to 4 March 2014, opening at 10:00 each day and shutting up shop at 18:00 on the first two days and 17:00 on days three and four, held in halls 11 and 12 of Birmingham's NEC.

Should you want a few highlights of which companies will be setting up a stand, rather than having to wade through the entire list, I've pulled together one for you!

3 Legged Thing Adobe British Institute of Professional Photography Calumet Canon Carl Zeiss CaseLogic Daymen (they'll be exhibiting Lowepro and Joby products) Fujifilm Future (obviously) Giotto's Gitzo Hasselblad Hoya Kenko Kenro Lastolite Manfrotto Nikon Olympus Panasonic Ricoh Samsung Samyang Sigma Slik SmugMug Tamron Tokina Velbon

and The Ilex Press. Seeing as they publish my books, they also twisted my arm to go along for a day and hang around to talk Composition, Surreal, and Social.

Of course, these are the edited highlights. There's a great deal more on offer, from specialist insurance providers, a wealth of photo book printers, colour calibration firms, and, well, pretty much anything pertaining to photography. If you want all the details, its on the Photography Show's website.