Thanks Dave, that's a helpful and balanced contribution.
Even though I'm a regular contributor to B&W, I'm not privvy to the decisions made by the editor and nor should I be. The editor has to answer both to the publisher and the readership and I don't envy the position one bit. I'd guess that the truth is even more complicated.
Someone earlier commented regarding the quality of printing, I agree, it could be better, but that would simply push the price higher... As for being for beginners - we were all beginners once and we all have to start somewhere, don't we?
When I was a beginner, nearly forty years ago, I'd have been overjoyed if a magazine as "sophisticated" as B&W had existed then. In those days it was AP or Aperture and very little in between (you should have seen the print quality of AP then!) If B&W is hopelessly middle brow, then I'm glad to be middle brow.
I'm happy for anyone who feels they've outgrown B&W, but I'd also like to welcome and encourage new readers. Better still, I'd like to welcome and encourage new photographers - it's a good and life affirming thing to do.
Jerry |