The huge international photography fair at Paris Photo is at once exhilarating, inspiring, and an epicenter for visual overload and happy exhaustion.

From November 15 to 18, 2007, visitors to Paris Photo will have the unique opportunity to see the work of some 500 international photographers and artists from every continent. The 105 selected exhibitors come from 16 countries, with the special thematic spotlight on Italian photography. The festival’s organizers say, “This will be a rare occasion to enjoy Italy’s exceptionally rich photographic history and view the latest work from one end of the peninsula to the other.”

Since it is virtually impossible to really “see” everything in one day, seasoned visitors enjoy the fair for hours at a time, then take a break to enjoy Paris in the autumn (the Tuileries Gardens and the River Seine are just outside), and then return to soak in some more of the buzz over the four days of the fair.

Paris Photo is also a great place to meet up with the who’s who in the world of photography. And there are plenty of opportunities to meet many of the artists who will be on hand to talk about their work and to sign books.

In advance, here we offer a wide overview of some of the offerings — 120 preview picks that demonstrate the breadth of work that will be on display. You can enjoy these photos by clicking on the arrows at the right. Or, better yet, sit back and watch a high-resolution slideshow in a new window. (Give it a couple moments to load up — it will start automatically).

Cheers!

— Jim Casper