Curious about digital Medium Format / Elements Magazines

[Hassasin]

Poking around the net have found these two digital only magazines:

Medium Format Magazine

&

Elements Photography Magazine

Have already received a sample of Elements and it looks like a high grade pub, both in editorial quality as well as imagery.

The Medium Format Magazine is clearly geared towards digital MF, but looks like quality overall is of benefit to any photographer, especially in times of fast fusion of analog & digital processing.

Neither magazine is cheap (relatively speaking), but with access to all previous issues, keep-forever download etc, it is not all that expensive either.

In all this I have also found the blog of key person behind those two projects, Olaf Sztaba and his blog, even if currently kind of idle on new content, is also quite impressive. His photography is unique and certainly comes through as potently as anything (apparently) he does.

Any personal experiences / opinions on this?

 

[jvo]

I did view each of the websites, including Olaf's. All seem to point to interesting and quality publications. Without seeing a sample of either of the magazines, it's hard to evaluate.

 

[Hassasin]

I now have a sample of each after direct request, used contact form on each site and Olaf actually responded quickly and I must say, just how he responded impressed me even more.

Magazines are over 200 mb each and quality is extremely high. Can easily tell a lot of work and commitment goes into creating it, from concept to content to final form.

Both subscriptions give access to all issues from start of either pub, and downloads are subscriber’s to keep.

The issue of MFM sent to me had interview with Michael Kenna at the start and it is long, interesting, and contains many of his photographs.

All in all, these are made with dedication and love. As I was extremely impressed with Olaf’s photographic work before seeing the mags I am now at awe even more. In all that I am rather difficult to please, if that is worth anything.

Now I am almost certain I’ll pull the trigger for each, so some $210 for the year ahead and decide later. Cancellation possible at any time. There are discount codes available, just need to find them. With ones I have found, 10-20%, total yearly for both comes to that ~ 210. It’s still a lot, but it does give few years of issues actually and given length of these, some 100-150 pages each, it’s a long read and lot's of impressive photographs to enjoy. There are no ads in either mag. MFM site also has articles, some on pure technical stuff, but all worth a read, especially if digital MF is one's goal. Start there and see for yourself. Articles are a good way to get a feel for the mags.

My post may seem like a paid ad. Let me just say this: few days ago I have joined medium format forum (GetDPI.com) as I was doing search on digital MF backs, only to find out the Medium Format Magazine was actually behind it. Checked that one out yesterday, was immediately impressed with the way the site came through, did some more searching, got to the Elements Magazine and Olaf's own blog (sadly without new content, but I do hope he will eventually find time to add more to it), and meanwhile discovered Olaf's own photography.

I'm no longer young, with very peculiar understanding of aesthetics, stubborn in elevating anyone's art above mean average, but what literally stoped me in my tracks was Olaf's blog and his photography. The same quality shows through these two magazines. First time I am this impressed. Actually I have not been impressed with any prior digital pubs, as none had shown this level of attention to detail, through and through (and many just plainly screwed by advertising). Of course this is just my opinion, others may disagree.

 

[Hassasin]

In case anyone follows this, I have subscribed to both magazines.

While entry price for an annual subscription is what I have already stated (with discount codes), given access to all thus far issued pieces it comes to a total of 68 for MFM + 35 for Elements, file size ranges from about 90 to 220 Mb. With that it is a bargain actually, given quality of images and editorial work, plus some very interesting interviews with photographers, well known and perhaps not as much, but all with great work with great insight into their mid set, work flows etc.

All in all for the current entry price, some long time to go through it all just once, and then additional 24 issues to complete subscribed year.

Since mags do not have any advertising, save back cover page, it is like getting a book / album / workshop all in one, with ever changing imagery and very well scripted.

And it is not only digital imaging, mind you.

 

[Kino]

Thanks for your report, Hassasin.

I will be exploring these digital publications.

 

[Hassasin]

I just realised that my original post may be suggesting that these magazines cater only to digital photography. That "digital only" referred to how it is published, not what's inside. There is film, wet plate etc.

 

[Kino]

I just realised that my original post may be suggesting that these magazines cater only to digital photography. That "digital only" referred to how it is published, not what's inside. There is film, wet plate etc.

No, I understood that.

I prefer an "in-hand", physical magazine, but that's almost impossible these days with printing costs and shipping.

 

[Hassasin]

No, I understood that.

I prefer an "in-hand", physical magazine, but that's almost impossible these days with printing costs and shipping.

Given the quality of the content, I think the cost of hard printing these magazines would not attract anyone. The entry price with all the issues being part of the deal is IMO very good. How will it translate into my eventual renewal a year from now? It's hard to predict at this point.

I also prefer hard copies, but when a hard copy contains ads all over it in order to be financially viable, then it's not all that good any more.

To put it in a different perspective, comparing these two to SliverGrainClassics, I don't think there is a comparison in quality and general content. SilverGrain for sure impresses with high quality paper, but content wise is spotty at best.

I suggest to ask for a sample and see for yourself.

Also, it appears that subscription cancellation can be done, but not outdone. Once paid it is active and will expire at end of subscription. It is at sign up on auto renewal, but any time cancellation will just remove auto renewal from your account. I have not asked, but looked at how cancellation is set up and it shows the date when it would expire, a year from sign up.