THIS MONTHS UK B&W MAG

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by David_Corfield

I'm here Frank! I've been busy on the mag thats all - sorry! I don't log on every day but am always available at my work email to take on board ideas and criticisms! With best wishes, David

It's good to know David, thanks. And I do appreciate your posts and contributions to this discussion.

However...

As a non-fickle buyer of every issue and a constant subscriber since Issue 4, I really would like to know (3rd and final time of asking now!) is the new (a la Issue 77) ratio of digital to traditional in the magazine here to stay?

It's a pretty straightforward question and I would very much appreciate a straightforward answer.

Thanks in advance,

Frank

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

Roger my pet hate "Marshalls Oils"

Only Americans can desecrate a B&W image with them . . . . . . . . So Frances is forgiven :-)

Dear Ian,

And Indians -- be fair!

Cheers,

Roger

[Dave Miller]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

Go join them, the UK bunch when they next meet up, ask Leon for details . . . . . . 5th-7th October.

Dave Millers re-enacting the Miller's tale with a camera in Canterbury :-)

Ian

I am? They never told me that

[Bob F.]

Originally Posted by Ian Grant

Go join them, the UK bunch when they next meet up, ask Leon for details . . . . . . 5th-7th October.

Dave Millers re-enacting the Miller's tale with a camera in Canterbury :-)

Ian

Having read the Miller's Tale, that's a thought to turn anyone's face a Whiter Shade of Pale...

Bob.

P.S. Also not recommended is any of tripping of the light fandango and of turning cartwheels across the floor - although feeling kind of seasick is a definite possibility - regardless of any crowd calling out for more.

[David_Corfield]

Hi Frank.

No.

The magazine is here to serve the needs of the reader and although it does reflect the way technology is changing the way we capture and create images I am busy examining its strengths and weaknesses - hence my presence here seeking opinion.

I know in no uncertain terms how passionate you are about silver halide photography but must stress that we are the magazine for the monochrome photographer - and digital has a place. How much of a place depends on reader feedback.

Put it this way Frank: I've just been talking to Leica and shall be living with an MP soon and reporting on my rediscovery of manual, no frills, film based photography. You have here an editor who is determined to find the right balance for this magazine. And I am determined to give you all out there a solid reason to buy it every month.

So I need YOUR ideas and opinions...

Cheers!

David

[roteague]

Originally Posted by FrankB

As a non-fickle buyer of every issue and a constant subscriber since Issue 4, I really would like to know (3rd and final time of asking now!) is the new (a la Issue 77) ratio of digital to traditional in the magazine here to stay?

I don't think anyone could really answer that question without the ability to be able to look into the future. The fact is, digital is the predominate force in photography these days - we may not like it, but it is the reality. No magazine can ignore this, and still survive on the bookstore shelves - not only woudn't it sell, the distributors probably woudn't carry it.

Having said all that, I'm glad that David has stated a firm stance on keeping some film in the magazine. I buy a lot of issues, not every one, as I pointed out before I don't buy it if there is too much digital content - the magazine is a lot more expensive for me here in the US.

David, I have bought and plan to continue buying your magazine, because I appreciate your commitment to film. Keep in mind, 99.9% of my work is in color - in fact, I have not shot a single B&W image in almost a year. But, I still like your magazine.

[David_Corfield]

Thank you Robert, myself and the magazine appreciate your support!

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by David_Corfield

Put it this way Frank: I've just been talking to Leica and shall be living with an MP soon and reporting on my rediscovery of manual, no frills, film based photography.

Eeeeh, lad! No frills? Tha'st got a meter. When I wor a lad we had to boil our own cows' bones...

Cheers,

Roger

[David_Corfield]

Thanks for that Roger!

[FrankB]

Thank you, David.

I appreciate it was a really difficult (aka lousy) question and I really am grateful that you stepped up and gave me a damn good straight answer.

I appreciate that you can't ignore digital. (I'm fortunate in that I can!) As you say, you will have to find that balance that is right for the magazine. Whether that balance will also be right for me remains to be seen, but for now I'll wait and see. And help in any way I can.

Okay so, what would I like to see more of?

• The printer's art (always my first stop! Especially if Leon's printing!)
• Monochrome workshop (with some traditional content)
• Portfolio and Reader Gallery

Edit - Darkroom Workshop ought to be in there too but Mike Crawford really doesn't do it for me. He's dropped some real clangers in the past which makes it hard for me to trust his guidance. Now if you had Les McLean, John Blakemore, Tim Rudman...

The features tend to be variable. If they're on a subject that flicks my switch then they're very good. If not then... well, I'm sure they're still very good but my switch remains unflicked!

It's be nice to see a series where monochrome photographers took us around their local area, showing us their favourite locations. Just within APUG UK you've got Leon in the South East, Les in Northumberland, Richard (RH Designs) in the Dales, etc., etc, ad (near enough) infinitum. If you get desperate I'll chuck something in from the North West (although you'd have to be pretty desperate! ). Look into Europe and across the pond and it'd keep you going for ages! - End Edit

What would I like to see less of?

• Equipment reviews - Be different. Be the only photo mag on the stand without them! State it up front, make it a selling point! Be about the human aspects of the image - the vision and the technique, not the hardware. If you absolutely have to have them then make them of things that other magazines never review. For example - Enlarger lenses, slide projectors, matte cutters, hand-colouring dyes, toners, darkroom easels, etc. Reviewing things that are already reviewed by all the other photo mags and all the computer mags isn't really setting the magazine apart...!
• DSLR listings - B&WP UK isn't "What DSLR" and (IMO) shouldn't be. Comparative listings are read in WH Smiths by people who then put the magazine back on the shelf and leave without buying it!
• "Why I went digital" articles explaining how it solved all their problems (conveniently ignoring all the new ones it created)
• Digital in general - I know you can't ignore it but the news stand is already super-saturated with it. CD-ROMs are crystallising out of digimags and appearing on the front cover! Be different. Instead of, "Oh, and we also do the token film-based couple of pages in each issue", CELEBRATE TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY!

And the killer regular feature... -

Regular prominent coverage and support of Ilford's "Defend the Darkroom" initiative with what readers can do to assist!


My 2p.

Thanks again,

Frank