CameraArts, View Camera and PhotoVision

[Aggie]

..

 

[removed account4]

aggie:

on the mailing label there is a user name / password that you use to access the articles online. i ALWAYS throw mine out by accident ... vc is happy to email you the password/user name if you ask them for it .. i know i have dne that a few times and they emailed back in less than a day

-john

 

[steve simmons]

I have had a subscription to VC and Ca for almost a year now, and have yet not been able to access the free articles. Why?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The instructions for both View Camera and cameraArts have been on the bottom of each magazine's Table of Contents page for the last several issues. In addition, in the Dec03/Jan 04 issue of CameraArts there is a more detailed explanation in the Publisher's Statement. The explanation will also appear on page 3 of the Jan/Feb 04 issue of View Camera.

We have been placing important back articles and supplemental info from each issue on the web pages in the Subscribers' Section. You need a User ID and a Password to access these sections of our web pages. That info is always on your address label.

Happy Holidays

Steve Simmons

 

[BobF]

I love VC magazine as a quality publication that for the most part does a good job.

So I just have to wonder why the publisher insist on doing something that irritates so many of it's readers. I hope this subscriber's section thing brings in a LOT of extra subscribers as it sure seems to cause a lot of irritation for a wide variety of reasons. I know it irritates me as a "buyer" but non-subscriber since 97. From discussions on several forums many others have their own problems with it.

Yes Steve, I know you don't understand why it should be irritating but it seems that is only because you aren't listening to your readers.

Bob

 

[efikim]

Well, it contributed to my decision to stop buying VC. Of course, I wasn't permitted to subscribe in the first place, not being resident in America.

 

[steve simmons]

Yes Steve, I know you don't understand why it should be irritating but it seems that is only because you aren't listening to your readers>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You are right, I do not understand. At a time when other magazines are cutting back on the number of pages they put out and going to cheaper paper we've held constant on the number of pages, using the same quality of paper, and are actually producing more material than before for our readers. We are also producing this material in a PDF format which has become the industry standard for making documents portable and transferable. Why this irritates people is truly beyond me. Perhaps we should stop and then they will be happy again????!!!!!

Now, why does the password change every issue? Because if people let their subscription lapse they no longer will have access to that section of our web site. It is really very simple. The info is on the address label every issue. As time goes on we make it more and more obvious by participating in forums such as this one and by providing explanations in the magazine for everyone. We provide our Canadian and UK distributors the info so they can pass it along to their subscribers. Just ask them.

No, we won't quite producing the extra material and making it available on the web to our subscribers. We think it is a worthwhile activity and will continue.

Now, for the naysayers --- What is your problem and how would you suggest improving the system?

steve simmons

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[BobF]

Now, for the naysayers --- What is your problem and how would you suggest improving the system?steve simmons

I don't understand why you would ask this again on this forum as you have consistantly ignored or discounted all the responses you have gotten. As a naysayer I will say DITTO to most of what has already been said repeatedly by many others. As I say listen !

In the end it's your magazine and you've done better than most could up to this point. I am sorry I mentioned the issue and I'll just go back to putting kids presents under the tree and eating cookies & milk.

Merry Christmas
Bob

 

[steve simmons]

It is really very simple. Read the instructions that have been at the bottom of the magazine's Table of Contents page for the last several issues.

You need a User ID and a Password.

The User ID for View Camera is VCSUB

the password is a six digit number sequence that appears just above your name on the label. It is not your five digit street address, or a five digit sequence appearing anywhere else on your label. It is a six digit sequence that is printed just above your name. Again, the instructions have been on the bottom of the magazine's Table of Contents page for the last 3-4 issues. In the Jan/Feb issue there will be a more complete exp,lanation on the masthead page as well.

Now, the USER ID VCSUB remains the same issue to issue - you must enther this in CAPS not lower case letters. The six digit password changes each issue. This is done so that only current subscribers have access. If you miss the info on your label just ask as we have provided this info to hundreds of people over tha last few months.

Again, I ddo not understnad all the criticism we've received. We have increased the content of our magazine for subscribers and kept it the same for non subscribers at a time when other magazines have cut back.

Happy Holidays

steve

 

[Jim Chinn]

I don't see a problem with a subscriber only section. Magazines need the commitment of subscriptions and the funding source, so much so that you get the issues at a substantial discount over the newstand price. As a further reward you get extra material on the web site. That is one of the reasons why I started to subscribe to VC. The info I could get and then print out is the equivalent to reducing my cost even further.

One of the reasons I became a Lens Work subscriber was not only the discount over newsstand rates, but the discount for Interviews on CD and folios.

I would also like to give a couple of other suggestions Steve. Keep up the alternative process articles. It was the article on Wet Plate Colodion that sparked my interest to begin exploring that process and liquid emulsions.
Although I probably will not pursue Gum Bichromate, the article you ran was a fascinating look into a process I thought was suspect of ever producing good consistent results. These articles really make me appreciate the knowledge, skill and dedication of those who persue these processes.

These types of articles help increase awareness of the breadth artistic potential for LF and traditional photographic methods. That is good for all of us, it means more materials used, therefore more available.

Also, more portfolios by foreign photographers. You ran a portfolio a few years back by a German (Austrian?) photographer who shot ruins of castles and cathedrals, painting them with artificial light sources at night.

 

[Ole]

The problem for us foregniers is that the magazine is difficult to get hold of with only one outlet in Europe. It doesn't help that we can subscribe through Robert White, at least not for the "extra material". With the double transportation time and my offshore work, I doubt I would get that password when still valid...

The magazine may be both interesting and worth the price, but not being able to subscribe directly is a great hidrance - at least to me.

 

[roy]

. It doesn't help that we can subscribe through Robert White,

I spoke to Robert Whites once about the magazine and the impression I gained was that they regarded the handling and distribution of VC as a bit of a chore.

 

[Eric Rose]

Steve why don't you give us the password for an older issue so we can see what we are missing. If it look good enough maybe you might be able to increase your subscriber ship. Maybe you have done this in the past, but I have not seen it and I'm sure many others haven't. Or if it won't work that way give us the password and user name for this issue, as I've already bought it and would like to see how the two compliment each other.

Eric

 

[steve simmons]

Steve why don't you give us the password for an older issue so we can see what we are missing. If it look good enough maybe you might be able to increase your subscriber ship. Maybe you have done this in the past, but I have not seen it and I'm sure many others haven't. Or if it won't work that way give us the password and user name for this issue, as I've already bought it and would like to see how the two compliment each other. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

First, because all of the supplemental material from past issues becomes immediatley accessible. We would be giving away material that others have paid for by being a subscriber. If you were a subscriber and found out others were able to get the info free how would you feel?

Secondly, because I've learned that there are people who will want free info over and over and never support the source. Look at PV for example. They gave away past issues on the web, fave away free subscriptions and issues, and gave away free advertising. When you do this it becomes almost impossible to convert this giveaway to a paid and viable situation.

Other magazines do give out cheap subscriptions and then load the content up with advertising and advertorial. We've chosen another model. We put the subscribers first and provide much more in the way of good reproductions and serious content. If you look at the content of our magazine against those with similar sub prices you wil find we use better paper, show more portfolios with technical explanations, and we due conferences to further the cause of good photography and we lobby to keep large format part of the big show in NYC when there were thoughts of dropping it.

If you buy 3.5 issues of the stand you've paid for a subscription and access to the web. We are starting a program where people can buy web access even if they are not a subscriber.For 25/year or 45/two years you can have access to info in one package that would take much longer in terms of time and effort, to find on the web by going from site to site to site.

I am proud of what we do and feel that our subscription prices are modest when compared to the content.

steve simmons
www.viewcamera.com
www.cameraarts.com

 

[doughowk]

Many expect all web content to be free, as in the spirit of the original internet when it was a research tool supported by public institutions. Today, businesses & commercial institutions provide a large percentage of the content; and most continue to struggle to find a viable way of making that content profitable. VC's methods for restricting access may seem cumbersome; but, if it will keep both the print & web versions available, I can live with the inconvenience.

 

[roy]

I am proud of what we do and feel that our subscription prices are modest when compared to the content.

Why are subscriptions not available in the UK ?
The last time I bought VC I paid something like £7.50 for a single copy.

 

[steve simmons]

First of all our magazines are available in the UK from Robert White

sales@robertwhite.co.uk

we found this manner of distribution to be much more efficient than individually mailing them.

Secondly, our web content is free to subscribers. We have not raised subscription prices to cover the extra expense of putting the material on the web. People who decide not to subscribe but to buy copies of the stand are getting the same size magazine, with the same volume of content, on the same quality of paper as before. They have not been shortchanged at all.

To try and message any hurt feelings we are making web access available to non-subscribers for an annual subscription fee.

steve simmons

 

[philldresser]

First of all our magazines are available in the UK from Robert White.......
Secondly, our web content is free to subscribers. ......
To try and message any hurt feelings we are making web access available to non-subscribers for an annual subscription fee.

steve simmons

Steve
As previously mentioned I purchase VC and I am very happy with the magazine, however your comments above lead me to ask a few basic questions.

1. As I buy every issue from RW, am I considered a subscriber?

2. Does the web content offer any extra information not available in the mag

3. Am I eligible to see the web content?

Regards

Phill

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[steve simmons]

Yes, if you get the magazine from Robert White you are a subscriber. We furnish them with the necessary info every issue.

Please read the info at the bottom of the magazine's Table of Contents page (both magazines). I know the info was on the Dec03/Jan 04 issue of CA and the Nov/Dec 03 issue of VC.

There is a further explanation in the Publisher's Statement in the Dec 03/Jan 04 issue of CameraArts and the same will appear in the Jan/Feb 04 VC.

Once more

You need a Usr ID and a password. For VC the USER ID is always VCSUB (in caps). Then there is a six digit number after VCSUB on the label. We use birthdates so the first number is always a 0 or a 1. Remember, six digits, not five and not smewhere else on the label. This number changes every issue.

For CA the User ID is CASUB - in caps. The password is a six digita number, also a birthdate, after the CASUB on the label. Not five letters, not five numbers. This also changes every issue.

The content on the web is supplemental to the magazine. For example, there is more of Barry Haynes article on Photoshop CS on the web. There is more about the new program Paint Shop Pro on the web - a how -to type example. There is a portfolio of Susan Abrams on the web as well (the hand made paper article). From the Nov/Dec 03 VC there is more of Kerry Thalmann's article on 6x12. We will add more to the web secvtion from the Jan/Feb 04 issue.

The format for the supplemental material is PDF. If you do not have Acrobat on your computer you can download it from our site. You can then download the extra material, print it out, and stick it in each issue so it will be available as ;long as you have the issue.

Happy New year

steve simmons