Nikon users recommend photography magazines - which and why

In a recent thread some people didnt think terribly well of American Photo, which made

me wonder which magazines about photography are worth the $ and time to read.

 

Make your recommendation and give some reason why.

 

If there are magazines you really really dislike, pin them up by the ears and give some

reasons why, as well.

 

Background: I subscribe to American Photo, Popular Photography, and Canada's Photo Life.

Personally, I think any magazine that emphasizes equipment is a waste of time. You can get more real information from the manufacturers' catalogs, brochures and websites, and opinions that are generally as valid from the web.

 

I'm more interested in seeing what people are doing with their equipment - the photos. American Photo has long been good at this and remains good at this.

 

But one thing I've learned after several years of doing b&w photography: the more specialized the area of interest, the more polarized and quarrelsome the readership. Diversity is not a good thing among photographers.

 

In some cases, sure, I'm interested in how photographers use their equipment. For example, recently reading that a commercial photographer is archiving photo files primarily by storing them on hard drives, which are then removed from the computer and stored in some sort of safe box or vault, was interesting. It made most of our CD/DVD based solutions seem futile in comparision.

 

I get lots of photo mags in the mail. I don't look at 'em much. Elle and Elle Decor are more interesting - better photography.

Actually, if I'm interested in specific information about a Nikon product, I'm more likely to consult free sources on the web than traditional photo magazines. While I don't always agree with their conclusions, I find guys like Thom Hogan, Moose Peterson, Bjørn Rørslett, Roland Vink and sometimes Ken Rockwell, quite informative:

 

 

http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm

 

 

http://nikondigital.org

 

 

http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html

 

 

http://www.photosynthesis.co.nz/nikon/index.html

 

 

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm

 

 

I would note that I also find reviews and comments here on photo.net by Bob Atkins and Ellis Vener to be quite informative.

I have been taking "Photography Monthly" since soon after it came out. It concentrates on

what you use cameras for - taking picture and is very useful on how to improve your

photography. Its directed towards the amateur, but talks to you as a pro - no

condescension. Balance between film and digital is good as is the quality of the printing.

Not too sure on its availabiliy outside of the UK. More details on this web site:

 

http://www.photographymonthly.com/

Black and White Photography - very technique focussed, the equipment articles they have are usually about historical cameras.

 

Nikon Pro - it's free for NPS members and it's up to date on all the kit. Only 3-4 issues a year which is probably frequent than the product range changes still.

 

Not Amateur Photographer - Amateur Equipment Junkie it should be called!

Second Photography Monthly. Other than BW it is the only one I buy on a regular basis. It can be found at most bookstores like Barnes and Noble. I believe it costs $8-$9 an issue and is ?55.00 ($100) for a subscription of 12 issues.

 

Scott

I like the british magazine called Digital Photgraphy. It costs $12 in the US. American Photo is good too. Nikon World is awful! They do not give any good info, it's like reading a Nikon catalog of their products.

These are a bit more professional -

http://pdnonline.com

http://www.rangefindermag.com

http://www.digitaljournalist.org

It depends on your photographic interests. Some people's favorite photography magazine is National Geographic. My favorite photography magazines are Vogue and "W".

The only one that I subscribe to is Lenswork. I just love the quality of the B&W reproduction in there, and the articles are interesting and thought provoking also. They often feature view camera work or medium format, but digital has cropped up on a few occasions.<p>Occasionally, I will buy a Pop Photo off the newstand if it reviews a piece of gear I'm interested in. Shutterbug - last one I bought from the newstand had reviews of B&W films by Roger Hicks and Frances Schultz, and was put out sometime last year (maybe two years ago?).<p>Outdoor photographer - seems like a big camera company advertisement. Rather superficial also, to my mind.<p>My wife subscribes to Vogue. They always have very good photography in there. Outstanding when Avedon was still shooting.<p>She gave up on "Lucky". She said that the magazine looked like it was written and put together by amateurs, and the photography was mediocre to boot.

Its very simple.

Simply go into my favorite bookstore with a membership discount card and march out with a stack of photography magazines!

 

Of course i do a little previewing to make sure they have interesting articles. Afterwards I read them, make notes etc. Then I give them all away to friends and libraries otherwise I would drown in paper : )

 

The Mags that I especially like are:

 

Shutterbug: For hardware/software news. Good Graphics and photo Tips / technques.

 

Photoshop Magazine: Pricey at $10.95 but worth it for getting the latest and greatest on the no. 1 photographers sofware tool.

 

American Photo: Good Articles for film and digital. Not too much fluff.

 

British Mags in general like Digital Photgraphy because they tend to be a little more serious about sharing useful information on technque.

 

BW (Black and White): has great articles on Black and White of course which lend themselves well to the film or digital enthusiast.

 

Interview: A celebrity and fashion magazine. I like it because it provides good edgy full size photo portraits of celebrities and ultre fashion.

 

GQ and Vogue: For Fashion of course!

Architecture Digest: Just for examples of good Interior shooting.

 

I typically spend upwards from 50 to $100 on mags each month as a resource for good ideas. Cheaper then seminars!

 

Good luck!

 

Ted

Over the last year I've let all of my equipment-centric subscriptions run out...between what's readily available on the web and the time gap in print publishing, magazines are a less effective resource to turn to for the latest. Without all of the advertising I also feel the web reviews and forums provide me a much more raw review of the equipment I'm interested in knowing more about.<br>

Instead I've turned to more inspriational material like "Lenswork" and "B&W Magazine". I also occasionally pick up the British mag "Digital Photo" for interesting PS techniques...some of it can be cheesey, but occasionally worthwhile.

I read several mags on the newsstand and I occasionally purchase one. But the only photography periodical I've subscribed to recently is LensWork (www.lenswork.com; Brooks Jenson editor). Great images and interviews every issue. Flipping through this mag makes me want to invest in medium / large format gear and re-teach myself darkroom techniques.

 

Ted

www.pbase.com/turnert

I really enjoy French Photo, American Photo's sister mag and National Geographic - both for the pics.

Lenswork is indispensable.

 

Black and White magazine - both the British and the American are good, but I much prefer the British.

 

PDN - because you really should know what's going on with the business and with your rights as a photographer.

 

Outdoor Photographer - because their columnists are the real deal, and because I still mourn Galen Rowell.

LensWork - Best photo reproductions of any publication (the pages glow and the images seem 3-dimensional) great interviews, interesting articles and thoughts for any creative field, not just photography.

 

Aperture - thought provoking images

 

View Camera - Contemplative photography with esoteric equipment & technique articles

 

Camera Arts - a mix of what's hot in photography as art

 

National Geographic - everything fascinating in the world

 

Smithsonian - Great historic perspective wonderfully written

 

Double Take - No longer available but wonderful documentary stuff

Photo Techniques, for excellent articles on the craft aspects of both digital and wet photography.

I agree about French Photo - lots of great inspiration in there.

 

And thanks for those other links, Eric... I get kinda tired of Ken sometimes (though he is

informative) and I can recite Bjorn's tests in my sleep!

My favorite is Photoshop Magazine (pricey). Also, because old habits die hard, I still generally read Photographic...what I'd liked about them was all the technique articles (especially the old Dean Collins "Basics" column).

 

In general, I'll look at the table of contents and if I see info on techniques I'd like to learn or workflow of some professional that I like or samples of great photography or even photography critiques, I'll consider buying the magazine. If it is primarily equipment reviews (other than expendibles: film, paper, ink, etc), I'll pass.