Photo Mags

[ziggy84]

Hi everyone,

So just curious. What photo magazines do you like to subscribe/look @? So far I've purchased a few Shutterbugs and Digital Photo magazines. I'm thinking of subscribing to Digital Photo; only 19.97 for two years!

 

[e.rose]

I'm subscribed toooooo... Professional Photographer.

Cause it's free.

With my PPA subscription.

 

[ziggy84]

I'm subscribed toooooo... Professional Photographer.

Cause it's free.

With my PPA subscription.

Can't beat free!

 

[KmH]

The magazines you mention pretty much cover the same subjects in about an 18 month period, then start over. Their equipment reviews seem kind of like infomercials.

I get Photoshop User and Rangefinder magazines regularly. Photoshop User is included with my NAPP membership (Scott Kelby's - National Association of Photoshop Professionals).
NAPP membership includes many other benefits including software and hardware discounts, Photoshop tutorials/training/webcasts, a Help desk, forums frequented by Photoshop experts and much more.
Click on the Benefits tab here - Photoshop User | Learn Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Digital Photography | NAPP

Rangefinder is geared to studio owners/photographers - Photography News | Imaging and Photography Magazine - Rangefinder

 

[ziggy84]

The magazines you mention pretty much cover the same subjects in about an 18 month period, then start over. Their equipment reviews seem kind of like infomercials.

I get Photoshop User and Rangefinder magazines regularly. Photoshop User is included with my NAPP membership (Scott Kelby's - National Association of Photoshop Professionals).
NAPP membership includes many other benefits including software and hardware discounts, Photoshop tutorials/training/webcasts, a Help desk, forums frequented by Photoshop experts and much more.
Click on the Benefits tab here - Photoshop User | Learn Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Digital Photography | NAPP

Rangefinder is geared to studio owners/photographers - Photography News | Imaging and Photography Magazine - Rangefinder

Thanks again on the helpful info KmH

 

[bratkinson]

I got 'turned off' to industry-specific magazines back in the 70s with stereo magazines, then again in the 80s with PC magazines. As mentioned above, they basically recycle the 'meat' articles, and the reviews of equipment never stop.

But consider this...they make most of their money from advertising. Advertising from the same manufacturers as the products they are reviewing. Need I say more?

And the advertising usually occupies 60-70% of the total number of pages. I just don't need that anymore. So, sometimes when I'm travelling and need something to read, I'll pick up a photography oriented magazine and buy it. But that's about it.

 

[KmH]

In other words buying or subscribing to some of those magazines is essentially buying a magazine oft advertisement

No doubt both Rangefinder and Photoshop User have advertisements too.
As far as Photoshop User and NAPP membership, the wide range of discounts we NAPP members can take advantage of save me several times the cost of the membership every year.
Rangefinder is provided gratis to studio owners.

 

[Derrel]

Buy whatever you want. There is ALWAYS something new to learn. Surely you can pick up a few things from a year or two's worth of ANY photography magazine. Attempting to predict what one can or will be exposed to in magazine issues that are yet to be printed seems sort of Nostradamus-like...in a bad way...

 

[dbvirago]

I've had Rangefinder for years as it's free. I pay for PPA because I can't afford the free subscription LOL. I would like to find a mag that focuses more on photography than equipment, but not sure it exists. PPA is great for the business side of things, and Rangefinder always has some great articles covering other photographers.

 

[Overread13 1]

My experiences somewhat mirror the others - too many of the regular photography magazines are geared toward beginners so many articles are quite light on actual content. You get some good ideas presented but few are willing to go into the meat of any discussion. Thus as intermediate and higher level photographers chances are there is a lot less content in them - esp after a year when the recycling of repeat articles begins.

The other downside is the adverts - I know they have to make their money but when half or more of the pages are just advertisements it really gets to be a bit too much - if you want that many ads just get Adtrader and similar papers.

I would suggest National Geographic as a good option for well written articles and some outstanding photography. The photoshop magazines also seem to come with a bit more content to them; although you will need the latest CS version to make full use of them (always annoys me when I read beginner articles in beginner magazines for photography and they expect the rank amateur to have bought the several £/$100 CS 5 to use the article )

 

[KmH]

It's my understanding photography magazines the UK and Europe are somewhat better than US photography magazines.

 

[Mr_Mac]

We get Popular Photography (only because it was free) but it seems to be like the rest. Once in a while there is an interesting how-to article.

 

[ziggy84]

I got 'turned off' to industry-specific magazines back in the 70s with stereo magazines, then again in the 80s with PC magazines. As mentioned above, they basically recycle the 'meat' articles, and the reviews of equipment never stop.

But consider this...they make most of their money from advertising. Advertising from the same manufacturers as the products they are reviewing. Need I say more?

And the advertising usually occupies 60-70% of the total number of pages. I just don't need that anymore. So, sometimes when I'm travelling and need something to read, I'll pick up a photography oriented magazine and buy it. But that's about it.

Very true. I am a newb, so some of the stuff is very helpful for me, but you do make a point; majority of the mags are advertisements. Thanks bratkinson

 

[ziggy84]

In other words buying or subscribing to some of those magazines is essentially buying a magazine oft advertisement

No doubt both Rangefinder and Photoshop User have advertisements too.
As far as Photoshop User and NAPP membership, the wide range of discounts we NAPP members can take advantage of save me several times the cost of the membership every year.
Rangefinder is provided gratis to studio owners.

So I checked out NAPP. I have a question though. If I go through with the membership, what Photoshop program do they mostly use on their workshops, tutorials, and mags? I own Elements 8, and I've been using Lightroom 4 and planning on buying it. CS 6 on the other, is really expensive and I don't think I'm going to drop $700 on that program when I'm still trying to learn Lightroom/Elements. With that said, is CS 6 something I should invest in? It seems like Elements is a bit more advanced then Lightroom..is it?

 

[ziggy84]

I've had Rangefinder for years as it's free. I pay for PPA because I can't afford the free subscription LOL. I would like to find a mag that focuses more on photography than equipment, but not sure it exists. PPA is great for the business side of things, and Rangefinder always has some great articles covering other photographers.

A mag strictly on the art of photography would be great! Let me know if you find one dbvirago! So far I've been reading Bryan Peterson books for the time being.