Recommend me a Photography Magazine

Felix

Felix

Felix

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Joined
25 Jan 2003
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As per title really? I am looking for Xmas gift ideas and thought a subscription to a photography magazine would be a good one. If it makes any difference one that is more for SLR users.
 
Practical Photography is pretty good, been about for years and covers a wide range of articles. About a year should do, they start repeating after that. i.e there's always a 'landscape issue', a 'travel issue', a 'portrait issue' every year. I buy it when I need something to read on the occasion I get a train somewhere...
 
Depends you looking for technique or to learn about photography masters and use it for inspiration.

I would prefer, aperture or exposure. but they arent quite your glossy how to mags, there more like the national geographic collectors editions of the photography world.
 
cyKey said:
Yeah its ok ;)
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Personally i was pretty disapointed with professional photographer. Apart from cykeys article (which was very good) most of the magazine was just advertisments. Thats the trouble with photography magazines really. You might want to get a book instead.
 
brocksta said:
Personally i was pretty disapointed with professional photographer. Apart from cykeys article (which was very good) most of the magazine was just advertisments. Thats the trouble with photography magazines really. You might want to get a book instead.
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And I'm getting a little dissapointed with most of the ones that I read as well. The reviews are generally behind the times because of the internet. Much of the advice can also be gleaned from the internet as well. There are other things that niggle me that I won't go into here as well. ;)

I agree with brocksta that you'd be better off buying a book and reading that. It's what I did when I started out. :)
 
I've had a subscription to Practical Photography for almost a year. I won't be renewing it though because, as has been said above, I am now noticing that they are recycling themes

It is a good magazine though in my opinion
 
AdWright said:
I've had a subscription to Practical Photography for almost a year. I won't be renewing it though because, as has been said above, I am now noticing that they are recycling themes

It is a good magazine though in my opinion
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Yeah I gave up on them for the same reason. I like Professional Photography because it is aimed more at the pro photog. It has articles with other pros and doesn't really feature "How to take an spring/summer/autumn/winter landscape" every 12 months.
 
Felix said:
I think you guys have just confirmed what I thought.

OK, what books then?
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I dont really buy many photography books. More photographers who publish books about their work like Annie Leibovitz (Portrait photographer)

But I would highly recomend anyone who enjoys photography to buy the Martin Evening Photoshop CS Range. But there will be a CS3 version out in spring next year.
 
Felix said:
I think you guys have just confirmed what I thought.

OK, what books then?
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For what it's worth I think these magazines are redundant if you have an internet connection. They are a month behind news and their articles are almost often worse than online pages.

Google is our friend, as is Isle of Jura Malt. :)


For technique I'm not sure, but to look at in wonder I love the Ansell Adams books. Some photographs are artistic, some just show perfect composition and a good subject but Ansell Adams photographs blow me away each and every time I see them.

Well worth a look imo.
 
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brocksta said:
Personally i was pretty disapointed with professional photographer. Apart from cykeys article (which was very good) most of the magazine was just advertisments. Thats the trouble with photography magazines really. You might want to get a book instead.
Click to expand...

I have actually bought the next mag on the basis that there were adverts in it that I hadn't seen before, plus some knowledge and feel for things I hadn't read before. Okay the articles in the mag that Cykey was in weren't that great, but there are some interesting things in it that you don't see in other mags.

I subscribe to Digital photographer mag, and buy amateur photographer weekly mag (out on Tuesdays).

Books are a whole different animal. There are loads of supposedly great photographers (if you believe the hype on the covers/adverts) that do books. The majority of them are just basic tips in glossy format that you could get by asking questions on the net, or buying another cheaper book.

Basically look around, and post on some forums where pros hang out (not sure if you can post links to them as they generally have ads to sites that sell camera equipment, so I won't) as you'll find what you need in under an hour of looking.

Ansel Adams books are okay ;)
 
I'd recommend Practical Photgraphy given you are just starting out. Also maybe pick up Amateur Photography sometimes too?

For books, check out Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.
 
I'm just about to get my first digital SLR on Friday and in preparation I picked up Digital SLR Photography magazine last month (launch issue), 2nd issue came out last Thursday. So far it seems fine for me a complete noob :D

Also got a book on order - Understanding Exposure, I saw this recommended on a few other sites so thought I'd pick that up.
 
For beginners:

More often than not you can get good books from the library. I've also bought a few good books from the local charity shop!
 
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