All Good Things Come to an End - Black and White Photography Magazine (UK)

[Ron Bose]

When I first found the British magazine 'Black & White Photography' on the shelf of my local Chapters here in Ontario, Canada I thought that I'd won the lottery.

The format was refreshing, the content was music to my ears. Lacking in reviews of the latest uberDSLRs, or the latest new super-zoom, this magazine just covered black & white photography in it's purest form.

Initially it was very much film based but in later years it brought in enough digital to keep both tastes happy.

But Ailsa has moved on, the new man at the helm has started to infuse his vision on to the magazine. I'm afraid it has made a sharp turn toward 'all the other' populist photography magazines.

The new Canon 1D MkIII was reviewed because 'such an important camera introduction could not be ignored'. Other articles which make me want to cry involve 'learning how to see'. Even the huge 'advertising features' from camera suppliers albeit B&W specific ones are a turn for the worse IMO.

And then the kicker - Les McLean answering questions from readers - god give me strength - I saw this kind of thing thirty years ago in British photography magazines. Not that there's anything wrong with Les, he's a great guy, but please ....

I have every issue published of this magazine, but now I'm seriously thinking about leaving it on the shelf ...

Along with Polaroid Instant Film, all good things must come to an end ... mediocrity rules !!! :mad:

[David Luttmann]

I agree to a point. I still read it because I still read it. Lame reasoning, I know. But old habits are hard to break.

I still prefer Aperture, Lenswork, Focus, Silvershotz, View Camera and Light Leaks.

[Eric Rose]

Lenswork is the only magazine I subscribe to. The magazine you refer to is a good one for tyros. Both film and digital. I think most people on this forum are beyond Black and White Magazine when it comes to finding new ideas or artistic stimulation. I'll flip thru it at the newsstand but it's not motivated me to bring out my wallet for some time.

View Camera is another magazine that I purchase probably 80% of the time from the newsstand. All the printer reviews that have been in there recently have left me cold as I can find all the info I want on that type of thing on the net.

[Rob_5419]

Can't disagree with anything anyone has said about B&W Photography magazine, except I don't read it, not because I don't read it, but because I don't have time for canon fodder.

The magazine has pretty much been the publication of apug.org, with most of its members contributing to it in some shape or form. The current twisted little editor of B&W magazine would have been better off parading his abilities in the small ads glamour section of his former homestead magazine (equally trite, but more so in colour)...

Bring on Lenswork ...

PS - what is Light Leaks?

[roteague]

Unfortunately, Outdoor Photography (UK) seems to be going in the same direction as well. Their lead article on the last issue I've seen - "Understanding RAW". I buy it because I love all the location articles, but they too have a new editor.

Both magazines are owned by the same company, and both magazines now have new editors. Does that tell you something?

[Jan Pedersen]

Black & White was a pretty good magazine while Ailsa was still there. I made the mistake buying one last month and that was the last issue i ever will spend money on.
What a change a year makes.

[Roy Hammans]

...I have every issue published of this magazine, but now I'm seriously thinking about leaving it on the shelf ...


It is a great shame that what used to be a reasonable read at a reasonable price seems to have taken a bit of a nose-dive since the new editor took over. I've stuck with it, so far, simply because I have a subscription - which at least has the fringe benefit of delivering plain covers with no overprinting, nothing but the title and full-bleed image - and there have been some great covers.

There seems to be less content of substance now and lately there have been some pretty bad inclusions - sadly, many of these from the new editor. There are plenty of magazines available for the market that B&W now seems to be aiming at.

The journal I look forward to with the most relish now though is Ag (http://www.picture-box.com/) magazine, which still maintains a high standard, both of images and text, albeit at a slightly higher annual price.

[Ole Tjugen]

... What a change a year makes.

Give the new man a chance. He hasn't been editor long enough to be able to do more than start thinking about chenges yet, as you would all have realised if you'd thought about it for a moment.

I don't intend to cancel my subscription, at least not yet.

[davidb]

B&W UK is now about $12 here in the US and no longer of any value to me.

I plan on buying 3 subscriptions this month:
B&W (usa)
Lenswork
View Camera

[Colin Robertson]

Yes, the magazine has changed. I've been a regular since the first issues, and have been a subscriber for a couple of years. The magazine has featured some great portfolios, and made space for comparisons of developers, lith, discussions of zone, etc. However, since the recent change of editor the magazine has started to read more like 'what-digicam?'.
Now, I'm happy to be patient for a while to see if a magazine I like can sort out its editorial policy. The great strength of B&W magazine was that it had it's own niche and its own readership- if it chooses to try and push its way into more direct competition with the other big titles, will it find more new readers than it loses? My subscrition runs for 6 more months, and it would be good to see the mag back on form by then.
PS- Hope Ailsa's doing well.

[David Luttmann]

Can't disagree with anything anyone has said about B&W Photography magazine, except I don't read it, not because I don't read it, but because I don't have time for canon fodder.

The magazine has pretty much been the publication of apug.org, with most of its members contributing to it in some shape or form. The current twisted little editor of B&W magazine would have been better off parading his abilities in the small ads glamour section of his former homestead magazine (equally trite, but more so in colour)...

Bring on Lenswork ...

PS - what is Light Leaks?

http://www.lightleaks.org/

I love the images here. I play a fair bit with two Holgas and a Diane camera. Those, along with 4x5, get me away from all the DSLRs of my day work and allow a completely different way to see the world.

[Ron Bose]

Give the new man a chance. He hasn't been editor long enough to be able to do more than start thinking about chenges yet, as you would all have realised if you'd thought about it for a moment.

I don't intend to cancel my subscription, at least not yet.

Ole, I'm all for giving people a chance, but it's obvious that he is steering this publication away from its former excellence to something that is looking way more mainstream.

How long will it be before Eamon McCabe, Mike Johnston decide that this wasn't the gig they signed up for ?

This magazine used to be about the art and the beauty of the medium, now it's turning into another vehicle for selling stuff .... I really hope I'm wrong ...

[Eric Rose]

Hey come on, as long as the checks don't bounce you will still see Eamon and Mike.

[roteague]

I just looked at the Christmas 2007; it didn't look bad to me at all. A lot of film stuff in it.

[Brian Ellis]

Can't disagree with anything anyone has said about B&W Photography magazine, except I don't read it, not because I don't read it, but because I don't have time for canon fodder. . . .

Canon fodder? I hope that was intentional but intentional or not it's great. You've come up with a new name for useless information about Canon digital cameras. : - )

[Ron Bose]

I just wanted to add, this may not be the Editor's doing of course, the publisher may demand a better circulation and therefore steer the ship toward the mainstream ...

Sound familiar ?

[IanG]

It's worth saying the editor posts on APUG and is very receptive to comments, both good and bad. Unfortunately UK magazines are rarely run like View Camera, Lenswork etc where the editor is the publisher. It may well be a case of standing up to the publishers, and he needs our constructive support.

Although a subscriber I haven't seen a copy since August, so cant comment on the recent changes, until I'm back in the UK and read them.

Ian

[Jan Pedersen]

Give the new man a chance. He hasn't been editor long enough to be able to do more than start thinking about chenges yet, as you would all have realised if you'd thought about it for a moment.

I did give it some thoughts. But, the changes i have seen is going in a different direction than what i like to see in a magazine that i have to pay for.
Main stream as Ron Rose is saying is the best words i can find.

jan

[roteague]

I did give it some thoughts. But, the changes i have seen is going in a different direction than what i like to see in a magazine that i have to pay for.
Main stream as Ron Rose is saying is the best words i can find.

jan

I understand. I've considered dropping Outdoor Photography as well - the latest issues feature article "Understanding RAW" isn't what I buy the magazine for. I buy it for the photography issues, not computer software stuff.

[David Luttmann]

I understand. I've considered dropping Outdoor Photography as well - the latest issues feature article "Understanding RAW" isn't what I buy the magazine for. I buy it for the photography issues, not computer software stuff.

If I have to see another "Raw" article, I'm gonna chunder.

[darr]

B&W UK is now about $12 here in the US and no longer of any value to me.

I plan on buying 3 subscriptions this month:
B&W (usa)
Lenswork
View Camera

I stopped buying it last year. I subscribe to all three above plus Photo Techniques. I have Lenswork Extended as well and have not had enough time to look at the past two CDs that are here sitting on my desk. Time to clean off the desk!

[John Kasaian]

B&W UK is now about $12 here in the US and no longer of any value to me.


Arista edu.Ultra 100iso 25 sheets for $10.99

Now which is more inspiring, a fresh box of film, or...?:rolleyes:

[buze]

I wonder why I don't see any mention of "AG" here. It's /the/ best photography magazine bar none. Printed like a book, on proper paper, square format, /excellent/ printings of photographs and the whole of a magazine feels more like a photography book.
It'd seldon available in kiosks, but the subscription is well worth it.

Oh yeah I ditched the two sus mentioned rags some time ago. These are just poor excuses to print adverts.

[Jim Chinn]

For me the problem with magazines like Black and White is I can find far better and timely reviews and opinion about digital products on the web. That means as the digital content goes up, the value of the magazine declines for me.

On the wet photography side, I can pull out 20 year old issues of Camera and Darkroom and Photo Techniques and find the technical articles pretty much still applicable today (or I have a book that covers pretty much any subject). So unless the images and portfolios are something special I have little reason to purchase anymore.

I do agree with opinions of AG. Very much has the feel of Camera and Darkroom from the 1980s with exceptional portfolios and reproduction quality.

[Jan Pedersen]

It's still morning here so i may be a little slow :o Can someone enlighten me about "AG" seems that i am missing something special.
Thanks..

[IanG]

AG = Ag or rather Silver, it's published in the UK, and its extremely well written and a very good resource.

Ian

[Jan Pedersen]

Ian, Any links? The first 10 pages on a Google search does not bring anything up (Except agriculture)

[Colin Graham]

Here it is Jan, http://www.ag-photo.co.uk/. I've been having better luck with ask.com lately.

[Jan Pedersen]

Thanks Colin.

jan

[buze]

Ian, Any links? The first 10 pages on a Google search does not bring anything up (Except agriculture)

Comes first here with "ag photo mag"

[Colin Robertson]

New issue just came in post, and looks pretty good. Go have a look.

(Just to be clear, new issue of B&W Photography UK)