THIS MONTHS UK B&W MAG

[jpeets]

I have leafed through B&W over the last few issues, but haven't bought. I have basically stopped buying photography magazines, because

- most are spending way too much time on selling new digital gear that is hugely expensive and only marginally an improvement over the previous iteration. The item that was hot stuff last year is a piece of s##t this year.

- the tech/aesthetics/how to information seems to consist of the same 3 articles rehashed repeatedly in slight variation

- analog stuff has largely disappeared from the mags despite resurgence in the "pro" or "fine art" world

- the prices of mags continues to rise while editorial content goes down

- much of the photography is stuff I don't care for - e.g. cliched "urban" shots, out of focus stuff you cannot quite make out, pretty but commonplace scenics, etc. etc.. If I find a photographer whose work I like, I look online or buy a book of their work that will have decent reproductions

and finally, I have picked up more from APUG and a a handful of other sites than I have in hundreds and hundreds of dollars' worth of magazines

In other words, I appreciate the contributions of APUGGERS a heckova lot!

[Kevin Caulfield]

So nobody else is missing the Letters? To me they are one of the most important features of ANY publication, as they are the link between "people like us" and the magazine itself. They also provide a valuable method of providing feedback, both positive and negative.

[yardkat]

I do miss the letters, actually. I kind of liked thinking about the writer getting a new tripod.

[arigram]

Yeah, what's up with removing the Letters?
Every publication has them, even comic books.
And often they can be more entertaining or enlighting than the articles themselves.
For one thing, it shows also the attitude and philosophy of the magazine and editors towards the readership.

[Dave Miller]

Originally Posted by Kevin Caulfield

So nobody else is missing the Letters? To me they are one of the most important features of ANY publication, as they are the link between "people like us" and the magazine itself. They also provide a valuable method of providing feedback, both positive and negative.

I quite agree about the importance of "readers letters" within a magazine, but maybe forum such as this are taking that roll over.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by jpeets

I have leafed through B&W over the last few issues, but haven't bought. I have basically stopped buying photography magazines, because

- most are spending way too much time on selling new digital gear that is hugely expensive and only marginally an improvement over the previous iteration. The item that was hot stuff last year is a piece of s##t this year.

- the tech/aesthetics/how to information seems to consist of the same 3 articles rehashed repeatedly in slight variation

- analog stuff has largely disappeared from the mags despite resurgence in the "pro" or "fine art" world

- the prices of mags continues to rise while editorial content goes down

- much of the photography is stuff I don't care for - e.g. cliched "urban" shots, out of focus stuff you cannot quite make out, pretty but commonplace scenics, etc. etc.. If I find a photographer whose work I like, I look online or buy a book of their work that will have decent reproductions

and finally, I have picked up more from APUG and a a handful of other sites than I have in hundreds and hundreds of dollars' worth of magazines

In other words, I appreciate the contributions of APUGGERS a heckova lot!

Fair due's to you Jaan, I agree with everything you say and I have more money in my pocket.

Cheers
TEX

[Tom Kershaw]

To be fair there are still some excellent magazines around such as LensWork that provide a high quality and different experience compared to a web presentation.

Tom

[Soeren]

Originally Posted by arigram

Yeah, what's up with removing the Letters?
Every publication has them, even comic books.
And often they can be more entertaining or enlighting than the articles themselves.
For one thing, it shows also the attitude and philosophy of the magazine and editors towards the readership.

As the Iron Lady once put it
"The worst part of Public relations is...... the public"
Kind regards

[Dave Miller]

Originally Posted by Tom Kershaw

To be fair there are still some excellent magazines around such as LensWork that provide a high quality and different experience compared to a web presentation.

Tom

You mixed plural and singular there Tom which got me all of a quiver, for a moment I thought you were going to suggest something else worth subscribing to.

[Iwagoshi]

I have recently come to realize that this B&W Magazine is not what you all are talking about and there appears to be no connection between the two. Because of this thread I have been buying this magazine, the wrong magazine. If it makes any difference, I like this months B&W Mag (US-Novato) and might pop for a subscription.

Terry