redundant? perhaps. But whats the deal with VC mag?

[David A. Goldfarb]

After about 4 years of subscribing, I just let my subscription lapse. If things improve, I might subscribe again.

I continue to subscribe to _LensWork_ and _Aperture_, and I'll subscribe to _Emusion_ as well.

[philldresser]

I used to subscribe to VC (via the antiquated UK system) for around 3 years when I first got into LF, but have let this lapse this year for a variety of reasons
1. Like others have mentioned there are some issues that didn't float my boat, however in most issues I found one or two articles which captured my interest. I found this to be a decreasing occurance, and so stopped buying.
2. The typos were becoming worse.
3. When the UK system changed to a year sub from the bimonthly direct debit I realised that it was not worth the money(from my perspective) and decided to put the savings towards my 'Get a new lens' Fund.
4. All the adverts for equipment were biased to the USA (understandably) and were of little relevance to me in the UK

I also lost interest in the mag because I found little to inspire me on the road into LF. It all just seemed to 'far' away from where I am and what I wanted from the medium.(Hope that made sense)

I might try it again some day but for now VC stays on the shelf, and the lens gets a little closer.

Phill

[hortense]

Ostensibly there is a Copy Editor (Becky Noland)? However, in addition to "copy" layout needs to be perused.

This will shed more light on this subject: http://www.apug.org/forums/showthrea...286#post176286

[roteague]

4. All the adverts for equipment were biased to the USA (understandably) and were of little relevance to me in the UK

I can identify with you here; I really like to buy Photography Monthly. I just bought the July issue last night, and all I can say is "wow!!" The "Top 50 UK Landscapes" makes me want to get on an airplane and visit.

[steve simmons]

In defense of View Camera magazine

here goes

All of the comments about how we only care about our profit margin, the advertisers only care about their names being spelled correctly, how we don't care about our audience are very mis-informed. Lets look at a few facts.

1. When we started VC and this has continues, we had a policy of starting and finishing articles on consectutive pages, None of this start for two pages and then send you to the back. This policy has been followed about 98% of the time. Many other magazines break articles up to get 'more excitement' up front. We felt this lessoned the editorial integrity of the magazine.

2, We don't drag our readers through pages and pages of ads just to read one article. Most other magazines will have 1/3 to 1/2 page of editorial and the rest of each page in ads. VC does not do this. Our advertisers all worked with us to let us form shopping sections where ads are clustered so we could keep the portfolios, etc. cleanly presented for the viewer/reader. The advertisers cared and still do, care about the content that they have agreed to do this with us when other magazines will not treat the editorial material with such respect. Most consumer magazines are really driven by ad revenue whereas VC is more balanced between ad and reader revenue.

3. How many other magazines do 4 color black and white portfolios? This is expensive but is something VC has done more of than any other consumer photo magazine I am aware of.


If we did not care about the content of our magazine, and if our advertisers did not have a great deal of integrity of their own, VC would look very different than it does. Are we perfect. Not at all. Do we need to improve some aspects of our magazine. Yes. But some of our constant critics might consider backing up and looking at the big picture of who we are and what we do.

steve simmons

[roteague]

Steve, you probably don't hear this often enough, but I for one appreciate those very things you point out about your magazine and I look forward to every issue - many times I find myself going to the bookstore several times a week to see if the latest issue is on the stands. The reason I haven't subscribed, is because I can get the magazine at the bookstore long before I can get it in the mail (I used to subscribe to Outdoor Photographer, and dropped it for this very reason).

[brimc76]

We respond to every e-mail we get. We have sent out second copies to people in Canada and they still don't get them sometimes. It baffles us endlessly and we do not know how to solve the problem. Most people get them fine.
steve simmons

I had a one year subscription that just ended last June. I had to call or write to the magazine and steve to get every issue. I was told it was because of Cdn. Customs but I would see the magazine on the newstands and I still never got mine. In June I finally received the March/April and May/June issues together after writing numerous times. As a paid up subscriber I was only given access to the special "subscribers only" area of the VC website once. I also receive 3 other U.S. publications through the mail and every single one of these comes through without a problem and before I see them on the magazine rack at the local stores. I don't think Canada Customs has anything to do with the problem but I do believe that VC magazine's custom of dealing with subscribers have everything to do with the poor service.

[scootermm]

In defense of View Camera magazine

here goes..... 3 VERY good point

If we did not care about the content of our magazine, and if our advertisers did not have a great deal of integrity of their own, VC would look very different than it does. Are we perfect. Not at all. Do we need to improve some aspects of our magazine. Yes. But some of our constant critics might consider backing up and looking at the big picture of who we are and what we do.

steve simmons

Steve
All 3 of those are very good points and things that I like and admire about the magazine. If I didnt find there to be wonderful traits within the magazine I wouldnt have even commented on it.
I dont know the manner in which the magazine is created, I dont know which programs, software, what computers etc.... but in every major layout program in existance there is the basic ability to spell check. Microsoft word even has one of the best spelling and grammar checks out there.

Like has been stated before. The content is AMAZING. I am eternally grateful to the wonderful information and imagery I have been exposed to. one of the first things I saw that got me interested in VC photography was michael mutmansky's article on his visit to the BNSF trainyard with clay harmon. INSPIRING. I am eternally grateful for that.
but the point remains that I think there is so much that gets lost when such miniscule simple things dont receive the time needed to fix them.
it just seems to not make any sense.

you receive it as constant critics but the basic assumption that a nationally distributed magazine would have a couple iterations of editing before printing IS NOT critical. its common courtesy to the readership.

[BradS]

In defense of View Camera magazine

here goes... (snip: three good reasons)

steve simmons

Steve,

These are the very reasons it causes me pain to see all the spelling errors, typos and simple grammatical mistakes. One issue, I actually stopped counting at fifty (50)! I remember reading an article that had misspelled the names of common large format shutters and lenses.

I too look forward to every issue. Like others, I typically make several visits to the book store every other month to see if the latest issue is out yet. It is precisely because the magazine has so much potential that I comment at all. If it was just another commercialized assault on my intellect (like 99% of the magazines on the shelf), I wouldn't even bother.

Please don't blow me off as one of you "constant critics". The only reason I spend the time to comment is because, I care! I want a better magazine for my $7.00.

Very Sincerely,

Brad S.

[steve simmons]

We have contacted the printing company, who mails out the domestic and foreign copies and asked them to check into the problem with Canadaian subscribers. We are baffled but do not dispute that there is a problem. We will do whatever possible to solve this.

steve simmons