View Camera Magazine - What would you like to see?

Steve,

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Thanks for asking your question. I hope you will return with this

question every year or so. This forum and your periodical are rowing in

the same direction. I agree with many of the recommendations that have

been previously posted. And I am very pleased that the awkward first

try at communication (in the previous thread) has become more positive.

Steve

Dan Smith's comments has my vote. I couldn't say it any better.

Hello Steve, I emailed you a month ago about a photography site that

was in need of your help. And you didn't even respond with a curt

stick it. I know you are busy but this brings me to my point of what

is and has always been missing in View Camera. That feeling of being

connected. Being connected to something bigger. Large format shooters

are different. And we are snobs. We feel we are in a separate class

and we are purists. That feeling of being connected to a group and

knowing who's who. That personal touch. John Paul Caponigro? A little

too far into metaphysical art talk. Hard to feel connected to him. Jay

Dusard? Now that is one plain talkin guy. Easy to become involved

with. Ruth Bernhard? What a great story and wonderful photographer.

And with a great approach to photography. Nothing hard about her

approach. Ron Van Dongen? Flowers that are beautiful. You the

architectural shooter. Landscapers, still life shooters. Guys like

me that shoot hand held. With modernized old equipment. We LF

photographers are all of these and more. I asked you to have a look at

a site on the web and see what community means. The site is full of LF

photographers, from those just learning to those of us who are already

teaching it. Like this site. Large format photographers come here to

learn and be a part of something unique. And you are listening to

them. But what of the new arrival to large format? Your magazine

should link that person to other places and other photographers with

whom he can become aquainted and become a member of a larger

community. Have you put the address of usefilm.com into your magazine?

Just a one line recommendation to go have a look? How about Ed

Buffaloes site? What a resource. How about the address of this site? I

haven't seen them. But you come here and ask us to purchase your

magazine. It deserves something from you in return. Link everyone

together. Like a bookmark section. Doesn't cost you much space. Where

is the sense of community? That's how you get it. Usefilm.com is such

a place. Not a clique like so many yahoo sites. But a really good

teaching site. A site that gives lessons and homework to do. Full of

nice people willing to help a new arrival get their feet wet. And lots

of images to look at. Like your magazine should have in it. So please

give usefilm.com a look and find a small place in the magazine for an

ad and include this site as well. Create a space for suggested

e-sites. Links to large format photographers sites. Help make large

format into a family. Link all the resources up. Be a leader in the

field. You will find readership will increase dramatically because

this will become "the" place to look for all things large format. And

I'd like to see a lot more emphasis on images and how they come about.

Why did Cy De Cosse start shooting still life and how does he achieve

such beautiful results? How did Hurrell light those magnificent

portraits? How does Karsch do it? How did Wynn Bullock get such high

contrast into his images without blowing out the highlights. How does

Tom Barril solarize his polaroid film before he shoots his Botanicals.

How about books that are out there that will peak our interest in

shooting? There are hundreds of them. Where in Joe Shooters area are

galleries where a large format photographer can go see examples of

work by other large format shooters. Places to stop when traveling

like Dan Smith's gallery in Provo or the venerable The F Stop in Santa

Barbara. Or where do you hang out in New Mexico. Make this magazine

"The" resource and you won't begin to be able to fill the new

subscriptions. And go to usefilm.com and take a look and see what

community is like. I plug your magazine there all the time. And some

of the other wonderful magazines out there like your companion Camera

Arts and B&W and Lenswork. They aren't competitors. They are

resources. Just like auto malls. Hint Hint. James Mickelson

I would like to see more articles about the specific aspects of the

technique used by well experienced LF photographers,a "how I do it"

type of article.

I would like to see more european photographers featured,there are

some wonderful people outside the US and their experience and take on

LF photography would be of interest to me.

Steve:

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Thanks for asking.

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Please continue to do articles about digital. It�s the future of

photography, without a doubt. There may be other sources for

information about digital, but the revolution that we�re witnessing

deserves to be reported from many different viewpoints,

especially the ones that VC can provide.

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For instance, an article could profile a great digital practitioner,

his or her techniques, how those techniques affect the final

images, and of course, a portfolio of images.

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Don�t exclude the perspectives of the working professionals (for

digital or film.) For that matter, why make a distinction? All

practitioners, commercial, amateur, fine arts, young and old, are

gaining experiences that are worth sharing.

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DW

As others have said before, I would like to see articles that are

directed at the relative newcomer to LF. Realizing that you have

probably done these types of articles in earlier years does nothing

to help us new subscribers to your magazine. We are seeking out new

ideas (to us the beginner), new or used equipment, and more

importantly to learn from those that have gone before us.

<p>

I sometimes feel that as a "newbie" I first have to resolve what your

articles are about from other means such as the web before actually

digesting the content. As James Mickelson has pointed out there are

excellent resources on the web and you might choose to be a focal

point for many of these. At the present time I see your magazine in

danger of becoming less appealing to new LF photographers like others

and myself.

<p>

Earlier you stated that the readers have claimed that 51% of them are

professionals. This is probably true and if you wish to reduce your

present readership downwards towards the 51% marker then you will

continue to cater to their needs. As for me, my first year

subscription has just become due and I have just finished asking

myself what value your magazine has provided me for my hard earned

dollars? What else might I have done with that money towards

increasing my enjoyment in LF?

<p>

I carefully reviewed the issues I received and compared their useful

content to the web, other magazines I subscribe to, and books I have

bought. The conclusion I came to is not in your favor. I am now on

the fence in regards to renewal and truly am hoping that your

magazine may become one of my premier choices in my selected area of

interest, which is LF photography. Believe it or not I have just as

much "disposable subscription money" as any professional but I am

doing it for "the pure joy of it" which would seem to be a very

strong driving force.

<p>

Crossing my fingers and hoping that your magazine changes to include

us newcomers.

<p>

Regards,

I am pleased at so many responses. I will spend the next week or two

going through them to see what common threads there are and how to

achieve a balance in the case of competing interests (less digital vs

digital is ok for example).

<p>

We are publishing an Article Index in the Jan/Feb 2002 issue covering

all articles we've done between our first issue in 1988 through the

Nov/Dec 2001 issue.

<p>

We plan to continue our coverage of the alternative processes,

working in the darkroom, we will add more how-to info in each

portfolio and do more how-to pieces, etc. We will also do more on

table top photography including how-to kinds of articles.

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steve simmons

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steve simmons

Steve, thank you for asking this great community we have here. From

the responses so far, you can see that View Camera has many

supporters here. Here is my $.02

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Here is what I would like to see in future VC issues: Printing

articles from 'master' printers, ie John Sexton. Getting started in

LF architecture: an insight to equipment needs and techniques. How

about an article from an emerging amateur?

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Since I am new to LF (May of this year), I am unaware of articles

pre-2001. Can you publish a list of past issues that you might have

sitting around gathering dust? I also like the idea of putting

together a digital darkroom for under $1500. I know I might get

flamed for that request, but I am at a crossroads for printing,

since I don't own my own printing equipment yet.

<p>

Your workshop this past May was my first exposure to LF, and you

were very approachable regarding beginner's questions. I have

learned quite a bit from VC Magazine and this forum ever since.

Please keep up the good work, and visit here often.

<p>

Andy Biggs

As another who has the magazines from the first issue I will add one

more thing. Through the years I have questioned some of the articles

& the slant of a number of issued. But over the years many of those I

first thought of little interest to me get another looking at as I

move forward, learn more and get more experience. A question comes up

& I go looking through back issues & find it, often in one of the

articles that didn't interest me the first time or a few years back.

I see this as a tough balancing act for Steve, putting out a product

people will buy & want to continue to buy while stifling the urge to

focus it so narrowly that it covers one aspect completely at the

expense of other areas. Each issue is interesting or at least has

something of interest for me. I wouldn't mind seeing a few very in

depth articles running over a few issues. One thing that might help

is a reference box occasionally pointing out earlier issues that

covered a similar subject...which might help sales of back issues as

well. The format specific issues are fun though surprising in the

lack of response from many of us when the call goes out months in

advance for images in these formats. Try it again & see if it picks

up. Your issues with solid contests are good as well and I wouldn't

mind seeing more of them with some very specialized topics or formats

mixed in with general 'open image calls'. I could easily see a photo

call for infrared or Bergger warmtone or Ilford coldtone or such with

prizes from the product makers or distributors as part of the awards.

Product or format specific might help bring attention to certain

aspects of the LF family. Heck, even announcing something

like "Yellowstone in LF B&W" two years ahead of time might spur many

who want to go there to shoot to finally get going and result in an

interesting issue. I am not quite so worried about pixelography

compared to photography but more so with the final image and am most

interested in how the images came about, why some were taken and the

thought that went into them during various stages of the process.

And, I do enjoy the interviews of John Paul Caponigro but sure would

like to see an in-depth retrospective of his father as well as some

other 'icons of photography' still living, something past the

interviews. Some have been done and more remain. Keep up the good

work.

Dear Steve,

hope you don't regret asking now!

<p>

My personal angle on this is from the point-of-view of a professional

photographer (only occasionally get to use LF for professional work),

most interested in the craft of large-format, 'fine-art' photography,

for personal work.

I have little interest in digital for LF.

<p>

The main reason I buy View Camera is for the articles on both big-name

and lesser known photographers. Interviews, features etc. which get

into the minds of the picture-makers, which talk not only about the

technical and practical side of their work, but also about what

compels them to make the work, the thought process, the philosophies

behind the pictures.

I can't believe people are so dismissive of John Paul Caponigro. Do

they really want to read a magazine which talks only of technique or

equipment, and not about the philosophical or spiritual process of

making Art?

I read and enjoy many of the articles on technique, but you could swap

twenty of those articles for the feature on Sally Mann, or the

interview with Richard Misrach, for example.

<p>

My only criticism, as an Englishman, is that the magzine has a very

'American' flavour. I'm interested, of course, in American

photography. However, it would be great to see some work from the

UK/Europe. There are some really great people working in large-format

over here: Jem Southam, Thomas Joshua Cooper (American I know, but

resident in Scotland), Thomas Struth, etc. etc.

<p>

Finally, I would very much like to see my own work in your magazi

Sorry.....in your magazine :-) !!

<p>

howcome the end of my sentences always cut short?

Who is Captain Ferricyanide? Perhaps he or another maven of

Ferricyanide bleaching can offer some hands-on instruction in this

process. I've been getting dark yellow stains on Ilford Multigrade

paper when doing selective bleaching of dark black lines. Is this

staining avoidable? Remediable?

Thanks for asking.

You should continue your coverage of both traditional and digital

processes. However, most import, you should rededicate yourselves to

showing fine quality images, and not those of here today-gone

tomorrow gallery promoted trendies who lack technique and vision or

those of moderately accomplished amateurs who get published primarily

because they are famous for other things. There are many lifelong,

highly accomplished, professionals who need and deserve greater

exposure. At the end of the day we all learn the most from seeing

great photographs.

Here is what we are planning for the next few issues

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an issue on portraiture in Jan/Feb 2002

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an article comparing Azo with vc paper in Jan/Feb 02

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an article index from 1989 through 2001 in the Jan/Feb issue

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an article on color transparency films for outdoor work in jan/feb

2002

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John Paul will continue to write as he has time. The reviews on him

seem to be mixed but he does bring a context to his articles that no

one else does

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an article on using filters sometime in 2002 (for b&w)

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an article on Thomas Joshua Cooper is in progress

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an article on setting up the digital darkroom for less than $1500

sometime in 2002 (black and white and color)

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an article on making the contact print and an issue showing

photographers who only make contact prints - smetime in 2002

<p>

we are working on other ideas and reviewing all of your comments.

Thanks

<p>

steve simmons

Steve, thanks for asking. How about more coverage on photographic

permanance, archival processing of B&W materials. What does Wilhelm

say about this subject? How do the accepted masters in the fine art

field process for permanence. What products improve archival

permanence most effectively?

I have been a subscriber for several years and look forward seeing

this subject and the others suggested in upcoming issues.

Ed O'Grady

Steve,

I would enjoy a retrospective of Paul Caponegro's work.

I would like this opportunity to restate my opinion of John Paul

Caponigro and his articles and interviews in View Camera. I reread my

response about John Paul's interviews and it wasn't what I meant. I

enjoy his interviews very much and his articles on digital printing. I

was just using him as an example but failed to do a very good job.

Please keep him on the payroll Steve. But also add other voices to

your Magazine. Thanks. James

Gee, they came out of the woodwork on this one.

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My rec's are; Portraiture(covered), competitions, in-depth camera

reviews (especially older models for the new enthusiast), old/new lens

reviews and test, centerfold (camera optional), handheld 4x5 article,

2x3 cameras article, Dunkin Donuts coupon, View Camera hats and

t-shirts.

<p>

Get up a small budget and I'll produce a TV show for ya.

Gursky, interview him and get him to talk technical. In view of the

noise lately on this forum about the going-digital-trend and View

Camera's role in this, this may be a useful illustration of combining

the best of the two worlds.

Also, does Meyerovich still use the same techniques as during his Cape

Light project, or did he come up with novel insights?

Lots of good suggestions above.

<p>

Coming from the U.S., I'd also like to see more work on photographers

in other parts of the world, where the aesthetic and historical

influences are much different from those in the American tradition,

Gursky just being one of the biggest names.

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Hard to get enough info about classic lenses, but of course, I know

you've already published articles on them and they aren't making any

more of them. How about publishing a _View Camera Magazine Guide to

Classic Large-Format Lenses_, compiling articles from past issues

maybe with some solid comparison data, tables of resolution and

coverage and--most importantly--photographs made with these lenses

that show their special qualities?

<p>

Have you ever done something on repairing and maintaining classic

shutters? That's something I would like to see.

Well, I'll toss out an idea, in regards to some of the posts about

preservation work. I know you all did an issue interviewing the 2

primary HABS/HAER guys, and some other preservation architectural

articles in year's past, but I also enjoyed the article you did on the

Chicago Albumen Works and the introduction of Centennial POP. Along

the lines of archival storage, although there's a heck of alot of this

info out there already ....anyways, maybe do an article about the

Image Permanence Institute, the PAT and the updates to the ANSI

specs....alot of people talk about archival storage, but really don't

have an understanding of the "marketing" that goes on in some of the

products out there....I'd also be interested in some more on the

Chicago Albumen Works and the work they're doing in regards to

preservation masters and conservation work on safety-based films....I

know this isn't exactly "large format" shooting, but it still might be

interesting to see an article about floating emulsions off decayed

negs etc. Besides fine-art, the majority of the larger institutions

around use sheet film, and I imagine will continue to do so as long as

possible....my opinions here, not my employers.

With so much said, a few short comments:

1) Steve, don't be intimidated by the ludites that do not want to see

more Digital stuff. They are probably the same ones that saw the

portent of doom in such modern amenities as "artificial ice". For

them you could have a few articles written by .....psychiatrists.

2) Don't limit articles to subject matter on the basis of equipment

cost. The misguided pragmatism of those who propose such is the road

to ignorance. A good magazine should open minds and be more than a

Sears catalogue.

3) The LF community has a large population of the color blind or the

pretentiously so. Humour them by all means, besides, it's cheaper.

But do publish more articles dealing with color. We humans were given

the great gift of a colourful world and the eyes to glory in it.

Yes, colour photography is artistically more difficult as the good

Ansel found out but that is no aliby for all the snobbery of the

colour blind.

What I would like is a reason to pick up your magazine when I don't

even have time to read it. The first two years I read your magazine I

didn't even begin to undertand thoes articles on doing some

complicated procedure or other -- now I go back and read them and I

now they are there. If I am too tired or busy to read, I must pick it

up for my archive and I will read it in six months. For the last near

on year, there has been none of this in your magazine. I don't want

to keep an archive of digital gizmoes that will be obsolete. Your

magazine was a reference book bought monthly, now it is a "Dr.

Tomorow" flyer.

Dean Lastoria

I wish to again express my appreciation for all of the input I've

received in the last week or so. Please be assured we are carefully

reviewing all of the comments. Some articles are already developing

out of the comments and I am sure that more ideas will develop as we

review the suggestions.

<p>

In the next few weeks we will be updating our web site and one of the

possibilities is that we will try an area where people can upload

images and receive comments. However, before we try this I have two

questions

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is there any interest in us providing this type of service?

should it be open to everyone or just subscribers? It is going to

cost to create this service and subscribers are helping support our

efforts.

<p>

Another question. Should we post articles on the web site? If so how

current should they be?

<p>

steve simmons

If there were a searchable archive online of back issues, that would

take care of the problem of requests for older articles, and if it

were available only to subscribers, that would certainly convert me

from a frequent newstand purchaser to a subscriber. If it were a

subscribers-only service, of course, it would really have to be well

done with a good search engine, up to date, and a reasonably fast server.