Good Magazines

Hey, I just inherited an old 'blad, i got a filter for it (thanks to

you guys) and a shade, and now i kinda want to know how to use it

best. I have plenty of slr experience, but I want to take it to the

next level. I dont like looking at computer screens to much, and i

dont have a strong interest in digital (im a printmaker- we like to

spend lots of time in studios/darkrooms, cleaning up and working), and

im wondering:

What a good photo magazine in which i can learn a lot, but whose focus

is not on Digital, and would preferably be towards medium formats,

light issues, printing techniques, etc. Thanks a lot- Dave

One comes to mind right away and that is LensWork Magazine - http://www.lenswork.com/ Always something interesting in there. Excellent reproductions.

 

Another I like, but is more in the learn by example vein, is Shots Magazine - http://www.shotsmag.com/ An interesting magazine put out by a guy who is strongly committed to the image. Low tech for sure - it doesn't even come printed on glossy paper.

 

Some others that teach by the quality of images inside are Contact Sheet (http://www.lightwork.org/publications/index.html), Aperture (http://www.aperture.org/), and Blind Spot (http://www.blindspot.com).

Subscribe to <B>Hasselblad FORUM</B> magazine for examples of what other photographers do with a Hasselblad.

Black and White Photography is heavily oriented to technique rather than technology.

<p><i>Black & White Photography</i> out of the UK is an outstanding magazine. While it does contain some articles on digital, it's focus on B&W and the relative immaturity of B&W digital solutions mean that it still does a lot with traditional techniques and printing. Highly recommended.</p>

Like Jorn, I very much enjoy Lens Work, however, I think it should be noted that it tends to focus more on ideas and images than on techniques and technical issues.

 

One way to find good magazines is to go to the bookstore associated with a decent art school (if you have one near you) and look through the magazines on the magazine rack. This allows you to make a first hand survey of what is available. Of course they won't have everything, and you may have to come back a few times to catch the quarterlys and suchlike, but it is one way to go at the problem.

A new one that's just coming out is: http://www.emulsionmagazine.org/

 

You can read about it on APUG.org.

For lighting and general ideas, I have found my wife's _Vogue_ better than most photography magazines. The French one is more innovative than the American one.

Dave, not sure if you are still looking for magazines, but one of my favorites is called 'Photo Techniques' which is a bi-monthly publication with a lot of darkroom technical discussions. It does cover digital, but mostly good old fashion printing.