  J, H, K, and L photometry for the stars in the central 2' (5 pc) of the
Galaxy are presented. Using the observed J-H, H-K, and K-L colors and assumed
intrinsic colors, we determine the interstellar extinction at 2.2 mic (A_K) for
approximately 1100 individual stars. The mean A_K (= 3.3 mag) is similar to
previous results, but we find that the reddening is highly variable and some
stars are likely to be seen through A_K > 6 mag. The de-reddened K-band
luminosity function points to a significantly brighter component to the stellar
population (> 1.5 mag at K) than found in the stellar population in Baade's
window, confirming previous work done at lower spatial resolution. The observed
flux of all Galactic center stars with estimated Ko (de-reddened magnitude) </=
7.0 mag is approx 25 % of the total in the 2' X 2' field. Our observations
confirm the recent finding that several bright M stars in the Galactic center
are variable. Our photometry also establishes the near-infrared variability of
the M1-2 supergiant, IRS 7.
