Trying to contact View Camera Magazine re: unfulfilled subscription

Does anybody here have any connections to the folks running View Camera Magazine? I ordered a subscription back in April of last year along with a Tech Series CD. I never received either and my numerous attempts to email and call them have gone unanswered. I foolishly gave them the benefit of the doubt and have now surpassed the period in which I could have disputed the credit card charge, so my only recourse is to continue trying to reach them. Any clues or assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Jonathan

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Originally Posted by jrozes

Does anybody here have any connections to the folks running View Camera Magazine? I ordered a subscription back in April of last year along with a Tech Series CD. I never received either and my numerous attempts to email and call them have gone unanswered.

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I had an issue where I needed to contact them and I was able to get someone on the phone. Did you talk to a live person or leave a message?

-Darren

I spoke with somebody (Amanda?) on the phone about seven weeks after placing my order. She asked me to email her a copy of my invoice (which I promptly did) and said she'd look into it. Since then I've left a few messages and sent emails, none of which have elicited a response.

Her name is Andrea. Google them and get the phone number... she'll make things right.

505-899-8054 m-f 7-3 MST

"Miles, Andrea" <amiles@viewcamera.com>

http://www.viewcamera.com/

I emailed them last week to see when my subscription was up and received a reply the next day.

eric johnson probably knows how to reach Mr. Simmons ;-)

Took me about 3 phone calls and 3-4 months, and sending a copy or paypal, to get mine started, but you can usually get them on the phone.

This has me worried. I just subscribe in Dec. and haven't heard a word from them.

a bit OT but this kind of stuff has lead me not to subscribe to this rag.

i had a subscription years ago but let it go as i thought the content was not so good.

i bought the latest one to read about coffer and the dry plate article. IMO it sucked! i thought it severely lacked content. the article seemed top be a few paragraphs of intro and then fell on its face. no body no info, very sad.

next time i will just browse through it at the newsstand.

good luck to you.

eddie

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Originally Posted by Brandon Draper

This has me worried. I just subscribe in Dec. and haven't heard a word from them.

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Don't worry. The Jan/Feb issue probably won't arrive until sometime in late February. It traditionally works that way.

If you are still worried, call them. I've always found Andrea and Steve to be quite responsive when spoken to in a calm, polite, and business-like manner. I'm more worried about these types of condemning threads - if it weren't for ViewCamera many of us wouldn't have much to read while sitting on the throne.

I agree with Brian.

There is no reason for Eddie's remarks here. They don't help the OP solve his problem.

If you don't like View Camera magazine, don't purchase it.

I keep the current issue in my bathroom library, right next to the throne. Makes the time go by faster.

I expect the Jan./Feb. '09 issue to arrive sometime in early Feb.

That's what I was trying to say, buy the publications you like. There is no need to be critical the ones you don't like.

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Originally Posted by BrianShaw

Don't worry. The Jan/Feb issue probably won't arrive until sometime in late February. It traditionally works that way.

If you are still worried, call them. I've always found Andrea and Steve to be quite responsive when spoken to in a calm, polite, and business-like manner. I'm more worried about these types of condemning threads - if it weren't for ViewCamera many of us wouldn't have much to read while sitting on the throne.

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Thanks for the info. I look forward to getting my first issue.

thanks Van. very well said. i could not have said it better.

so.....What Van Said!

Van Camper,

Of course that's my belief. Your remarks are your belief.

We are entitled to express our beliefs on this forum.

If we don't agree, at least it makes for an interesting discussion.

I happen to enjoy reading View Camera. I have been a subscriber for fifteen years. I don't expect every issue to be better than the last issue.

I repeat,if you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to read it.

Stop it! Stop right now! What is all this bickering going to achieve? :(
The person who started this thread has the answer.
Call Steve or his associates and get your issues resolved. If they don't. Then call the Postal Service. That's what they are there. I did this for another magazine and once the Feds get into it, I got my subscription started plus back issues and the Editor added three future issues.
If you don't care for VC or any other photo magazine? Don't subscribe. If you are a causal reader then buy it at your local bookstore. It's that simple and best way for you to control your funds.
Sorry.
:o :o

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Originally Posted by Robert Brummitt

:o x2

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Wow... who died and left you in charge? :eek:

:)

:D

I had the same issue as the op. Tried to contact VC numerous times and gave up in the end. I still enjoy the magazine but won't subscribe to it. Just don't want to waste another years worth of subscription money that just magically vanishes

A few years ago, I was at a New Year's Eve party in a small college town. One of the guests worked on campus in the mental health clinic. He was ripe with the cynicism of faux sophistication (and perhaps alcohol) and he was making fun of the school newspaper because they had just run an article on stress. "It seems like every four or five years they rediscover stress! You'd think they could drum up something new." It seemed to have slipped his mind that there was a new audience, in need of good advice on stress, every four or five years.

Those of us who've been going at photography for longer than we care to admit, sometimes forget the newcomers. They may not have seen 'the same stuff over and over'. They may not even be aware of a particular Google search keyword. The internet is of incomparable value, but it isn't a stand-alone medium. It is at its best as a partner to traditional publishing.

A magazine is a condensed collection of topics, meant to introduce and inspire. It is not a book or a workshop. If something you read in a magazine sparks your interest, you can find a book, a workshop, or an internet site devoted to one topic.

A magazine is actual. You can put it in your library and return to it year after year. Unless your house burns down, it will be there. I hope no one believes that's true for this forum or any other website. I didn't print out the last issue of Magnachrome I wanted to keep, and now it's gone - lost even to the wayback machine.

Eddie, it's hard to tell from your post what exactly you thought 'sucked' - Coffer's article, the dry plate article, the entire issue - ?. (Precise writing seems to be one of the internet's victims.) I doubt you have seen too many articles on dry plate photography. I was the author of that article. It was an attempt at 21st century journalism. I referenced my website, which is over a hundred 'pages' of content on silver gelatin emulsions - far more than could fit in one magazine article. The website and its content is free.

Here's what I know - fact, not opinion. I have received dozens of emails from people who were unaware that dry plate was being made and that you could learn how on The Light Farm. This despite being up and running for almost a year and my regular posts here and on APUG. I assume the same is true for every author in that LF issue. People still learn new 'stuff' from between paper pages. I love the internet. I couldn't do what I do without it, but it is only one avenue of information sharing. If we don't reach out every way possible, to people of every age and entry level, all that will be left of photography is the cell phone. The only good news if that happens is that you'll have your pick of cheap, used lenses.

Sincerely,
Denise Ross

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Originally Posted by dwross

A few years ago, I was at a New Year's Eve party in a small college town. One of the guests worked on campus in the mental health clinic. He was ripe with the cynicism of faux sophistication (and perhaps alcohol) and he was making fun of the school newspaper because they had just run an article on stress. "It seems like every four or five years they rediscover stress! You'd think they could drum up something new." It seemed to have slipped his mind that there was a new audience, in need of good advice on stress, every four or five years.

...
Sincerely,
Denise Ross

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Ditto. I agree with your post.

I see it both ways, too. I get fed up with magazines like PhotoTechniques which is now almost 100% digital but I still buy it because at lest I get to see some images and get a couple of film/darkroom articles every couple of months.

View Camera magazine might have faults but it is about the last man standing. I enjoy looking through my collection of the magazines every so often and review some things I had forgotten. Thanks you, Denise, for contributing.

People get up in arms about LensWork also but I think it is great. If better alternatives became available, I would check them out too but I don't see a lot of new developments lately.

Thank you Denise. i found your article in View Camera to be informative and well written.

I called Eddie out for his criticism of View Camera magazine. Every article cannot please everyone. Why condemn the entire publication?

Destructive criticism will not improve a product, or service. Constructive criticism will lead to improvement.

I have been involved with photography since 1946 (you do the math). I learn something new about photography every day. Hope I never stop learning.

If View Camera disappears, I will miss it.

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Originally Posted by dwross

I didn't print out the last issue of Magnachrome I wanted to keep, and now it's gone - lost even to the wayback machine.

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Denise... if that is the issue with the dead rodent on the cover (the Hybrid issue) I can mail it to you. It is about 20Mbyte so make sure your mailbox has big capacity!

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Originally Posted by BrianShaw

Wow... who died and left you in charge? :eek:

:)

:D

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I'm not. But this kind of thread on"How this magazine is this or that" gets repetitive. I like VC but I don't buy every issue or subscribe. I don't to any magazine except for one cooking one and that's a gift from a relative.
I just get tired of all the negativity. You remember "Kelly's Heros"? The character Oddball played by Donald Sutherland. "No negative thoughts, man"
Unlike, Denise. I don't keep my back issues of my magazine. They get in the way. So, I give them to my local school and sold some. I rather have the space for books on photography or photographers.
I do think that the web will be the future of magazine. I get far more information from my fellow photographers who visit and share. And the discussions are far more open to everyone then say single direction like from magazine to reader.
I'm not a tree hugger but maybe less trees are used for magazine pulp.

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Originally Posted by dwross

I doubt you have seen too many articles on dry plate photography. I was the author of that article. It was an attempt at 21st century journalism. I referenced my website, which is over a hundred 'pages' of content on silver gelatin emulsions - far more than could fit in one magazine article. The website and its content is free.

Sincerely,
Denise Ross

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i wish i had seen the article denise!
your website is like a candy store :) thanks!

john

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Originally Posted by Robert Brummitt

You remember "Kelly's Heros"? The character Oddball played by Donald Sutherland. "No negative thoughts, man".

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Yup, I remember. Those are good words! I, too, get tired of all the negativity.

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Originally Posted by jnanian

i wish i had seen the article denise!

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I believe that issue (Nov/Dec 2008) is still on the news stands.

For whatever reasons, the mention of View Camera Magazine on this forum never goes without comment. Most often, there are a predictable number of negative posts. Some with merit, most without. Perhaps some have had portfoilos rejected, or have personal issues with the publisher. I find none of that of interest to myself, nor related to large format photography. It is what it is, the product of a dedicated individual with a passion for photography who has been publishing a magazine continuously for over twenty years. I have been a subscriber for most of those years. No one forces anyone to subscribe or read it. So please, refrain from the negative comments. If you can not learn something from the magazine, it is only a reflection on yourself.

I read a post above from Gem, who has been photographing for over 60 years, and is still learning. I echo his comment, as I enter my 56th year behind the lens; I am still learning. And thanks to articles, such as the one by Denise, my curiousity has been whetted and I have a source for further study.

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Originally Posted by BrianShaw

Denise... if that is the issue with the dead rodent on the cover (the Hybrid issue) I can mail it to you. It is about 20Mbyte so make sure your mailbox has big capacity!

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The issue may be lost to the wayback machine, but not to people of foresight and generous spirit. Thank you, Brian. The dead rodent is from a wonderful series of gum-over-cyanotype, titled 'Squish Series', by Christina Z. Anderson. I'll send you an address with a big mailbox.

And Gem, I love your math!

d

Well stated, Merg, Gem, and Denise.

Question: Why is it that the ones that whine the most are least likely to do any of the heavy lifting to create a worthy article for the magazines they diss, or even to make an effort to make credible technical posting online?

Denise - Kudos for doing all the heavy lifting to not only do dry plates, but to push the media through invention (emulsions, and hand coating techniques ) and to write about it. That was an excellent article in VC, and the Light Farm is outstanding.

Now if any of you newbies (under 45 years in photography) want to learn a little bit about building an emulsion, and coating dry plates in the dark, sign up for one of Denise's workshops. The last one was free for the weekend (Kudos to Kirk and Denise).

And yes, I've found one 12x20 plate holder already.

I certainly can't read all these posts without adding my two centimes worth.

I understand what it means to put together a magazine - I have been the editor/art director of an international (read in 183 countries) technology magazine based in Zurich, Switzerland for the past eleven years, and we sometimes stretch deadlines by three weeks to ensure each product meets our (read: my) demands of precision, clarity, beauty and substance.

The last issue of VC I received was the October/November issue. . . this means the last issue of 2008 has not arrived and now I'm awaiting the first issue of 2009. Although completely unacceptable I am partially to blame for considering myself too busy to call our local distributor (http://www.taosphotographic.com here in France. I paid, therefore expect results - but here in Europe one soon finds that the customer is not always 'right', and there may be some extenuating circumstances of which I am ignorant.

I don't have 45 years behind a still camera (I'm only 50), but I do have 35 years of photographic/video production/graphics design experience in 15 countries, and when I have a complaint about something I truly expect others in a professional forum to which I subscribe to respect my comments - and possibly to understand why my feelings have been distressed. I certainly don't need pontification from someone who believes tenure in life is cause for glorification.

If I must call the VC crew or Taos to receiving my missing mag then so be it. That's my subscription, not yours, and I don't intend to make it your problem.

This forum has provided me with information and an education on LF photography that I would have not been able to afford had it all been somehow compressed into a curriculum somewhere.

I'm an LF guy who came from an MF world, and Mr Scheimpflug and I still have a bit of a road to travel before we can meet on a common plane. But what a fantastic journey this is ~

Thanks to everyone - newbies and oldbies alike - for the questions that I was afraid to ask and the answers that I didn't even know existed.

Hey, maybe I'll write an article for VC on rambling. . . you may not be aware but I'm pretty good at that :D

Cheers anyway

Johnny

Don, I'm in the darkroom right now trying to touchtype this and wash my third dry plate emulsion. I hope to get you over here an we try one together.

Kirk

If you like carrots, buy some. If you like View Camera Magazine, buy some. If you want editorial control, start a magazine...Evan Clarke

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Originally Posted by evan clarke

If you like carrots, buy some. If you like View Camera Magazine, buy some. If you want editorial control, start a magazine...Evan Clarke

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I like carrots! And VC Magazine. Like a few others here have noted, there seems to be some unspoken personality conflict that leads to heavy criticism at every opportunity. I don't know what those issues are, and I really don't care to.

I've been a long time subscriber and have no complaints. I've seen a lot of very good work in the portfolio sections that I'd have never seen anywhere else. And my high school students have always appreciated it more than the Pop Photo magazines, (though they may be a bit prejudiced these days...)

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Originally Posted by dwross

A few years ago, I was at a New Year's Eve party in a small college town. One of the guests worked on campus in the mental health clinic. He was ripe with the cynicism of faux sophistication (and perhaps alcohol) and he was making fun of the school newspaper because they had just run an article on stress. "It seems like every four or five years they rediscover stress! You'd think they could drum up something new." It seemed to have slipped his mind that there was a new audience, in need of good advice on stress, every four or five years.

Those of us who've been going at photography for longer than we care to admit, sometimes forget the newcomers. They may not have seen 'the same stuff over and over'. They may not even be aware of a particular Google search keyword. The internet is of incomparable value, but it isn't a stand-alone medium. It is at its best as a partner to traditional publishing.

A magazine is a condensed collection of topics, meant to introduce and inspire. It is not a book or a workshop. If something you read in a magazine sparks your interest, you can find a book, a workshop, or an internet site devoted to one topic.

A magazine is actual. You can put it in your library and return to it year after year. Unless your house burns down, it will be there. I hope no one believes that's true for this forum or any other website. I didn't print out the last issue of Magnachrome I wanted to keep, and now it's gone - lost even to the wayback machine.

Eddie, it's hard to tell from your post what exactly you thought 'sucked' - Coffer's article, the dry plate article, the entire issue - ?. (Precise writing seems to be one of the internet's victims.) I doubt you have seen too many articles on dry plate photography. I was the author of that article. It was an attempt at 21st century journalism. I referenced my website, which is over a hundred 'pages' of content on silver gelatin emulsions - far more than could fit in one magazine article. The website and its content is free.

Here's what I know - fact, not opinion. I have received dozens of emails from people who were unaware that dry plate was being made and that you could learn how on The Light Farm. This despite being up and running for almost a year and my regular posts here and on APUG. I assume the same is true for every author in that LF issue. People still learn new 'stuff' from between paper pages. I love the internet. I couldn't do what I do without it, but it is only one avenue of information sharing. If we don't reach out every way possible, to people of every age and entry level, all that will be left of photography is the cell phone. The only good news if that happens is that you'll have your pick of cheap, used lenses.

Sincerely,
Denise Ross

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i have quoted my original post as after rereading it i think it answers the questions:

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Originally Posted by eddie

a bit OT but this kind of stuff has lead me not to subscribe to this rag.

i had a subscription years ago but let it go as i thought the content was not so good.

i bought the latest one to read about coffer and the dry plate article. IMO it sucked! i thought it severely lacked content. the article seemed top be a few paragraphs of intro and then fell on its face. no body no info, very sad.

next time i will just browse through it at the newsstand.

good luck to you.

eddie

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i would like to follow up on this. "you" people get awful worked up on what is MY opinion! i very clearly stated that the magazine lacked content, editing, and is poorly written (and delivered based on the OP question).

all the "puffed up" response was do not buy it.....i do NOT. i let my subscription lapse back in 2006! i have several friends that no longer subscribe or read it. so "your" suggestion is a poor one. all that dwindling subscriptions do it make the rag fail! instead "you" should be after the publisher to fix the problems i and others have outlined to try and revive the mag not alienate potential past and present consumers! i even have one friend the only subscribes to the magazine to try and support it as it is the only LF periodical available....but he throws it out after thumbing through it cause he even thinks it sucks and is not worth keeping!

so i am not the only one. for those of you that think this is a quality well written, well delivered, well printed, content full magazine i am shocked! you should stand up and demand more form this....or rethink your standards! i mean come on, 64 pages of material!?!?! many are ads! is there not enough info available that more well written content could be added?

Denise, you specifically asked me about your article so i will address your question. i bought this rag ONLY to read about coffer, dry plates and carbon transfer. i think your article is well written....BUT it has basically just over 2 pages of written content! i realize that your website has 100s of pages of info, but we are talking about the rag now not online content. as i stated above: "i thought it severely lacked content. the article seemed top be a few paragraphs of intro and then fell on its face. no body no info, very sad." the background was good. several paragraphs of info......3 paragraphs of "getting started"....hhhmmmm how about a bit more content on getting started like what i will need? the approx cost, potential pit falls to watch out for etc etc. the next bit "Dry Plate....." again, content is just over 3 paragraphs. i never really learned about it. i received a bit more history, but this should have already be covered in the previous "history" section in the article. you list photos of 3 different emulsion recipes....where are the recipes? overall i have some added history about dry plates but i do not have enough info to try it or to think about trying it. all i know from the article is that it is on glass and uses silver. there must be more. i believe that a magazine article should stand on its own. if further internet reading is available to compliment the mag then by all means support it with the info BUT the rag should provide me with enough info of the overall process.

the coffer article and the carbon article follow along the same lines. they all need more content and be better edited. for example look at the carbon article. there is one paragraph on bob herbst! either leave that tidbit out or dramatically expand on it. i mean come on, bob is a well know PP printer, he has experimented on aluminum, and it has 3 dimensional qualities!?!?!? AND? that is all? what the heck?!? that does not say anything! that sounds like a conclusion from a 4 paragraph general essay written by an unenthusiastic college freshman! but instead THAT is the entire writings about Bob Herbst process! nothing else could have been added? AND this is acceptable to "you" people? i am appalled at what "you" consider acceptable in print and then harass me about my opinion on my experience! shame on you! shame on the rag!

lets step back to college writing for a moment. what happened to an intro, body, supporting info, and a conclusion? is this rag a college freshman just trying to get he home work done and handed in by the due date? an article in my opinion should have an intro paragraph and then at least a min of 6-10 paragraphs of supporting material and then a conclusion! is it so much to ask to have suh information included into a piece? would it hurt the rag to have more info? are we paying by the pound? why so slim? why so short on info? content? editing?

there 22 pages of ads not counting the covers! that is over a 1/3! 7 pages of pictures with no or little text! so you are trying to say that only 1/2 of the rag is text! how much info could actually be in there? i mean of the text pages that i talk about most have supporting photos to go along with it. so that means there is probably only 15-18 pages of ACTUAL INFO in there!

so, i stick with my initial assessment of a rag that is plagued with poor distribution, lack of content and poor editing. it left me asking where is the rest? i will no buy it as i stated before. if you want to that is fine. i will ad my opinion if i like even if "you" do not agree with my opinion. what i have written is fact. go back and look at the rag, consider what i have stated and then ask yourself are you really getting a top quality, informative well produce periodical? if you think so buy it! i will not buy it that is for sure.

eddie

They asked what Eddie thought sucked and Eddie told them.

A lot of people think Western Sizzler serves really great, high-end food. And apparently a lot of people think VC magazine is pretty fine. What can you say? De gustibus non disputandum est

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Originally Posted by Dakotah Jackson

Eddie,

When are you going to Mexico to pick up Jorge Gasteazoro so you can he can head North of the Border to straighten Steve Simmons out?

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i am not interested in straightening mr simmons out. he can run his rag anyway he wants.

mexico with jorge sounds fun though.....

My apologies, QT.