Null Pointer Exception when reading a file

I have two activities: In the first activity I am passing the String "pathName" to a second activity. I am receiving the extra okay and I can create a File from this path name. The problem arises when I try to call .listFiles() from that file.

Code: First Activity

    public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> parent, View v, int position, long id) {

            String pathToSend = albumDirectory+albumList.get(position);
            Intent i = new Intent(getBaseContext(),GalleryImageSlider.class);
            i.putExtra("pathName", pathToSend);
            startActivity(i);
        }

Second Activity:

    List<File> imageList;

    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_capture_gallery);

    Intent i = getIntent();
    filePath = i.getExtras().getString("pathName");
    albumFile = new File(filePath);

    Log.d("Fragment","File Path: " + albumFile.getAbsolutePath());
            //I can see this directory on my tablet, and I can see the files within. So the file
            path is correct

    try{
        imageList = Arrays.asList(albumFile.listFiles());

    }
    catch(NullPointerException e){
        Log.e("Error", "NPE: " + e);
    }

I understand that .listFiles returns null if there are no files to be read. But there are files, and I can see them when I look in my tablets file manager.

Anyone see a way to resolve this? Thanks before hand.