Focus Mag

[tim atherton]

Linking in to the Jock Sturges thread, I was just reading the Focus Mag article, and it's actually not bad - among other things, an interesting comment that when the FBI went after him, five (?) Grand Juries of his peers failed to take issue with his work.

www.focusmag.info/aug07focus2.pdf

Aside from that, there are a few articles that touch much more on contemporary art photography, which is a little surprising, as I'd started to think most of these sort of mags - like Black and White (US and UK), etc don't look at anything that is at all contemporary.

Interesting Gillian Laub work from Israel (though I don't imagine it's LF?)

[BrianShaw]

... and Sturges isn't the only photographer working in that genre that has had equipment/negs/images seized and been investigated by the authorities, only to later be "absolved" of any potential wrong-doing. Fabio Cabral had similar experience.

[Robert Hughes]

I just typed on Tim's link to FocusMag. 96 Megabytes? That's a heckuva lot of pixels.

[Greg Lockrey]

I just typed on Tim's link to FocusMag. 96 Megabytes? That's a heckuva lot of pixels.

It's a 176 page PDF file.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I just typed on Tim's link to FocusMag. 96 Megabytes? That's a heckuva lot of pixels.

For some reason, the duotones don't come in properly when the PDF is created for web optimization (a 25 MB file). So, to preserve the actual duotone look to those images, I had to create a high quality PDF and reduced its file size...you have no idea how long it took me to create the damn thing. This DELL pice of @#$%^% had smoke coming out of it by the time I was done. I'm almost ready to switch to a MAC and be done with this damn thing.

[Marcus Carlsson]

I just wonder why you publish the pdf-file before you can even buy the magazine? Is it to get people more interested?

Eventhough I'm dying to get a hold of that magazine, I will really try not to read it before it land in my bare hands :)

/ Marcus

[Doug Howk]

I've been dropping my subsriptions to print version of magazines; and much prefer a pdf/web distribution model. For some of my favorite pubs, would be willing to pay for downloads.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I just wonder why you publish the pdf-file before you can even buy the magazine? Is it to get people more interested?

Well, a lot of people on this forum have been very good to me and I want to be able to give them something as a personal thanks. I don't have much, I'm definitely in no way rich...so all I have is my magazine... I could try and bake something for them, but the last person I baked for wound up in the hospital with food poisoning. Apparently, you're supposed to check the expiration date for eggs and milk and such.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I've been dropping my subsriptions to print version of magazines; and much prefer a pdf/web distribution model. For some of my favorite pubs, would be willing to pay for downloads.

That's unfortunate. I much prefer the print version of magazines... I mean, look at a sample PDF of LensWork... nowhere near as nice as the real thing.

[roteague]

That's unfortunate. I much prefer the print version of magazines... I mean, look at a sample PDF of LensWork... nowhere near as nice as the real thing.

David,

Nice work. I really like the article on Peter Lik. I first came into contact with his work a number of years ago in Australia. I visited his gallery on Maui a few months ago, and have heard that he has opened on on Oahu as well.

[Marcus Carlsson]

Well, a lot of people on this forum have been very good to me and I want to be able to give them something as a personal thanks. I don't have much, I'm definitely in no way rich...so all I have is my magazine... I could try and bake something for them, but the last person I baked for wound up in the hospital with food poisoning. Apparently, you're supposed to check the expiration date for eggs and milk and such.

I just wish more publisher thought like you did. Ok, I can understand that you can't live on giving away things for free, but I can say that in a photo-forum in Sweden I posted the links to your pdf's and that added lots of readers/buyers of your wonderful magazine.

BTW! I never bake, I just buy the cake :)

/ Marcus

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

David,

Nice work. I really like the article on Peter Lik. I first came into contact with his work a number of years ago in Australia. I visited his gallery on Maui a few months ago, and have heard that he has opened on on Oahu as well.

Thank you, Roteague. I was fortunate enough to be able to oversee the printing of the form that his photography and I must say it is absolutely stunning! My personal favorite galleries were Wayne Norton's, whose work was reproduced in LenseWork last year, Peter Lik's and Julie Meredian's.

I also think Joseph Smooke's work is intriguing and thought provoking.

[Hugo Zhang]

Tim,

Thank you for posting the link.

Hugo

[Don Boyd]

Thanks for the link, I really enjoyed the variety of images. I too much prefer sitting back in a comfortable chair, reading and turning pages. So, I just subscribed to Focus.

[roteague]

Thank you, Roteague. I was fortunate enough to be able to oversee the printing of the form that his photography and I must say it is absolutely stunning! My personal favorite galleries were Wayne Norton's, whose work was reproduced in LenseWork last year, Peter Lik's and Julie Meredian's.

I also think Joseph Smooke's work is intriguing and thought provoking.

Thanks David. I hope you feature more work like his.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Hi all. I haven't had time to come here and chat with you as much as I would like. I just to had to replace our long-time Editor, Steve Anchell with a huge name in the fine art photography industry, Stephen Perloff who is the current acting Editor of Focus Magazine, which will hopefully become permanent. Anyway, I wanted to once again offer photographers on here another opportunity to be inside of our next issue which will contain interviews with Jerry Ulsemann, Arthur Tress and Lisa Holden. The opportunity is a free 1/6 page ad in the photographer directory. I haven't even had a second to breathe to offer people this opportunity...so here we go again. Free 1/6 page ad color or black and white. Just send me a hi-res image, 300 dpi, tiff CMYK or Grayscale and your contact information in the e-mail. Send it to david@focusmag.info.

[paulr]

Sounds great. 300dpi at what size?

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Sounds great. 300dpi at what size?

Ooh sorry. If the image is vertical, a height no larger than 3". If the image is horizontal, a width no longer than 3".

For example, Tim Atherton's image in the last issue was 2.25 x 1.75 and was a vertical image. Please do not send me any RGB files.

[PViapiano]

Thanks for the free Jock Sturges issue(s)!

This edition of Focus is probably one of the best printed pieces I have ever seen. The quality is luscious...a big step forward.

Congrats!

[MIke Sherck]

The Jock Sturges issue just showed up at my local Barnes & Noble last week. Bought it. The magazine is improving steadily, which is all anyone can ask. Carry on! :)

Mike

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Thanks for the free Jock Sturges issue(s)!

This edition of Focus is probably one of the best printed pieces I have ever seen. The quality is luscious...a big step forward.

Congrats!


The Jock Sturges issue just showed up at my local Barnes & Noble last week. Bought it. The magazine is improving steadily, which is all anyone can ask. Carry on! :)

Mike

Wow, thank you both for the compliments. We're good, but I still see some room for improvement. We're using a new printer out of Exton, PA who does some amazing things. The level of attention and care that he gives me is more than I could have ever hoped for. He works with a lot of photographers who are looking to print materials for their photographic business. www.brilliant-graphics.com maybe some of you could use his services...

[Pete Watkins]

Tim, I'm shocked! You're just trying to wind me up again but I ain't biting.
Pete.

[tim atherton]

hmmm - well it looks like you are, but you're apparently really, really slow as this was posted in June.... :eek:

[John Hannon]

I can't access the PDF. Looks like the link is gone.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I can't access the PDF. Looks like the link is gone.

The link was only available pre-production. Now that the magazine is out on newsstands, the digital version is no longer available.

[Pete Watkins]

CENSORSHIP.
Pete.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Uh, hey, anyone have an upcoming show mid-late September or anytime in October? I've got a space at the end of an article that wasn't long enough. It's about 8 x 3.75. I can only promote upcoming exhibitions or galleries advertising a photographer in their collection....

Let me know.

[Jan Pedersen]

Yes, beautiful mag. The print quality is the best i have seen in a magazine.
Only gripe in this last issue is the cropping of the Magnum photo of the wounded woman with the soldier on guard.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Yes, beautiful mag. The print quality is the best i have seen in a magazine.
Only gripe in this last issue is the cropping of the Magnum photo of the wounded woman with the soldier on guard.

In being so busy with all of the commotion of putting together this issue, doubling my writing staff, adding on more and more articles, expanding the page count, looking at the rights and wrongs of last issue's reproductions (as has been noted, there were many, many more rights than wrongs) I completely missed this. I looked at the original file Magnum sent me and they sent me the image as it was SUPPOPSED to have appeared...and not, unfortunately, as it did.

I will have to issue a photographic retraction and an apology to Phillip Jones Griffiths in either this or the next issue.

[paulr]

I don't envy anyone who has to get a magazine out the door every month. Mindboggling amount of work, and never enough staff.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I don't envy anyone who has to get a magazine out the door every month. Mindboggling amount of work, and never enough staff.

Every month and I'd be dead by now...I try to shoot for every 60-75 days.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Every month and I'd be dead by now...I try to shoot for every 60-75 days.

Speaking of which, the new issue is at the printers and should be printing by next week. As usual, the PDF to the issue is available online during the time the issue is at the printer's. As has been noted in the past, the quality of an actual printed product far surpasses the quality of a PDF... either way, enjoy.

www.focusmag.info/oct07.pdf

[Marcus Carlsson]

(I whish I knew your name so I didn't have to say)

FocusMag, I just want to thank you not only for teasing us with the new issue, but the last one was superb. Not just the content, but the magazine itself is one of the best magazine I have ever seen. I really love when I get the magazine in my hand.

/ Marcus

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

(I whish I knew your name so I didn't have to say)

FocusMag, I just want to thank you not only for teasing us with the new issue, but the last one was superb. Not just the content, but the magazine itself is one of the best magazine I have ever seen. I really love when I get the magazine in my hand.

/ Marcus

David...Dave...Bob... I'm sure if you ask around on here, some other people can find a few names to give me as well...however, I wouldn't repeat those names in front of polite company.

Thank you for your kind words. I don't know who the person was who said this, but "You ain't seen nuthin' yet." Next issue is the Collector's Edition....which is ALWAYS a fun time of the year for us.

[tim atherton]

This looks like a really good/nice issue - it's definitely evolved

[Dave Wooten]

Keep it up Dave and congratualtions on your success....I have every issue!

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

This looks like a really good/nice issue - it's definitely evolved

I'd like to thanks Adobe InDesign CS3 for the help in that. A good number of new features in there. To think that 10 years ago, everyone thought the Industry Standard was going to be Quark...

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Keep it up Dave and congratualtions on your success....I have every issue!

How many copies of issue #2 do you have and what condition are they in?

[Jan Pedersen]

Look forward to get the new issue. Really appreciate the new pinting technique now shows the real tone/gray scale as the photographer meant it to be and not the same tone scale on all photos as in the B&W and LensWork magazines.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Look forward to get the new issue. Really appreciate the new pinting technique now shows the real tone/gray scale as the photographer meant it to be and not the same tone scale on all photos as in the B&W and LensWork magazines.

The last thing I'd ever want to do is speak for Brooks, but I think the intention behind LW is exhibit a beautiful black and white photograph and present it under a different light with a warm-grey duotone. I don't think his intention is to say "This is how the photograph really looks when you see it!" The printing process that LW uses is very advanced and is quite excellent.

But I do agree that stripping a photograph of any tone whatsoever and converting it to grayscale and saying "This is how this photograph looks in real life and you should buy it!" well, that's a mistake we made for 12 issues and a mistake we will never make again. Now the hard part is helping some photographers understand that black and white photography isn't meant to be grayscale... there was a lot of new scanning going on this time around... it's amazing to hear "My photography looks so much better when it's not in grayscale!"

[Dave Wooten]

How many copies of issue #2 do you have and what condition are they in?

Dave,
That is the Thomas Barbey-The Art of Montage Photography, and the Andre de Dienes issue.
I have 2 copies (INKED) in perfect condition. One I kept in the sealed plastic wrapper.:)

[Marcus Carlsson]

David, I just wonder if you won't add more to the back-issue as pdf? Naturally I buy your magazines, but sometimes it's a lot easier to just sitt infront of the computer just watching those images and read the interviews.

BTW. I too just love the latest magazine and surely the print looks a lot better. I can't wait to the next one appears in the newsstand.

/ Marcus

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

David, I just wonder if you won't add more to the back-issue as pdf? Naturally I buy your magazines, but sometimes it's a lot easier to just sitt infront of the computer just watching those images and read the interviews.

BTW. I too just love the latest magazine and surely the print looks a lot better. I can't wait to the next one appears in the newsstand.

/ Marcus

The website business is very tricky, unfortunately. There are images in which certain photographers, who have honored us in agreeing to grace our pages, who have asked not to have their work appear online. Completely understandable. I'd have to really go back and take a look at what issues do appear online... but right now, all of my website focus is on the new website we're building, photoconnoisseur.net, which is just going to be a tremendous resource for photographers and collectors alike.

[Dakotah Jackson]

But I do agree that stripping a photograph of any tone whatsoever and converting it to grayscale and saying "This is how this photograph looks in real life and you should buy it!" well, that's a mistake we made for 12 issues and a mistake we will never make again. Now the hard part is helping some photographers understand that black and white photography isn't meant to be grayscale... there was a lot of new scanning going on this time around... it's amazing to hear "My photography looks so much better when it's not in grayscale!"

If the photographer made the photograph one way, PRINT IT THAT WAY. If you want him to change how he prints/sees his prints/sees and interprets his world, then discuss it with him. Your place is not to take his/her creative effort and change it the way you think it 'ought to be'.

It is this attitude that turned so many off when you first came on these forums and it appears you have not changed.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

If the photographer made the photograph one way, PRINT IT THAT WAY. If you want him to change how he prints/sees his prints/sees and interprets his world, then discuss it with him. Your place is not to take his/her creative effort and change it the way you think it 'ought to be'.

It is this attitude that turned so many off when you first came on these forums and it appears you have not changed.

Hi Dakotah. I think you're mis-understanding something. When you reproduce a photograph in grayscale, you basically strip the midtones and create a very flat looking black that is impossible to have as rich a true gelatin silver photograph and create a very flat, boring image. Also, my comment was speaking out against magazines that reproduce color, warm or cold tone images in grayscale. The purpose of reproducing a photograph in a magazine is to make it look as close as possible to the original.

My "attitude" is that a magazine that claims to exhibit fine art photography, should reproduce it in the highest quality possible. Photographers and collectors deserve a magazine that will do that. There are so many other wonderful magazines to buy on newsstands today... in order to get the attention of people who are considering buying one, you have to take the bar that they set for quality in a magazine and surpass it. That is what we are trying to do...We are not "changing" per se, how a photograph looks... in fact, we are more closely reproducing it than any other magazine that reproduces photography in grayscale. I'm sorry you are mis-understanding my intention.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

For all of those who ordered single copies/subscriptions to this issue (jerry uelsman, arthur tress, lisa holden), we've been a bit delayed at the printer's due to a paper problem. We're going to be completely changing our paper in the next issue because of this problem. We should be done binding by the end of the week and send out this issue next week. We've also got our Collector's Edition coming out in a month and a half, so it'll be like one magazine right after another. Apologize, once again, for the delays.

[Howard McPherson]

In May 2007 I bought issue # 12 of Focus magazine. I then sent for a two year subscription and asked that it start with #13. Instead # 12 was sent to me. On July 29, 2007 I paid for an additional 3 years, so that I am owed 29 more issues. So far I have only received # 12. In previous emails over several months I never heard from them. I sent to them an email about 30 minutes ago. One time I called and was told to send an email instead(no answer). This looks like a great photography journal. Has any else received their subscription issues? Thank you. Howard McPherson

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

Hi Howard. I believe I've addressed everything about this with you through e-mail. Hope my solution solves your problem. We've been transitioning (through no request of our own) to a new server and new software with our server... this caused massive problems with e-mail. I think we've finally gotten the kinks worked out, though...