LensWork magazine has changed

[Terry Breedlove]

So I ordered a subscription to LensWork magazine and have received my third magazine. I ordered it without seeing one for a few years. I am shocked at how it has changed since I last read one. I think it should be called Photoshop work now not LensWork. I think it misses the influence of past years and someone important to the magazine. Now I never get into these discussions but I am truly shocked at the changes. Each to his own and all that but personally I am very disappointed and little saddened.

 

[Eric Rose]

I was a subscriber for years but I too got tired of the mainly over worked images I saw in Lenswork. PhotoShop done well can help an artist produce outstanding work, however done poorly it renders things grotesquely imho.

That being said, Brooks has to change with the times to stay relevant to the majority of his subscribers and those he hopes to attract. We at APUG for the most part are but a small microcosm of the general photographic community. If Brooks solely based his editorial policies on what we want he would be out of business in six months.

As the songs says, "the times they are a changing", only thing is we aren't. Nothing wrong with that. Just don't expect those that have to put food on the table to not change with the times.

 

[removedacct1]

So is Lenswork no longer a "film and darkroom only" publication? I had no idea.

 

[plummerl]

Perhaps you should read his mission statement. It does not appear to have changed for at least 10 years. I've been a subscriber since 1997 and will continue to be one.

 

[Pioneer]

Sadly it just continues to be a very good photography magazine showing good work by various artists.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The reproductions are excellent, and articles well written. I was a subscriber since day once but dropped it last year as the Canadian dollar is pretty weak compared to the US dollar. I did notice that some of the images appeared to be over worked in PS... but still an excellent mag.

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Well this issue is full of images of birds with digitally added star light skies. Beautiful pieces of digital art but not really so much as photograghry. Th black and white landscapes are laughable. So over worked and so over done to death now days. So easy to do do this things now days on the computer. Everybody is in on the act even my 7 year old granddaughter is making art with my iPhone according to todays standards. The days of true craftsmanship and artistry is falling away.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Not surprised, film photography left the magazines decades ago to be replaced by articles on how great the latest camera was but never reporting the problems nor the the flaws. They just wanted the revenue from the manufacturers' ads.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Subscribe to to photo klassic...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

So I ordered a subscription to LensWork magazine and have received my third magazine. I ordered it without seeing one for a few years. I am shocked at how it has changed since I last read one. I think it should be called Photoshop work now not LensWork. I think it misses the influence of past years and someone important to the magazine. Now I never get into these discussions but I am truly shocked at the changes. Each to his own and all that but personally I am very disappointed and little saddened.

Brooks is an excellent photographer and printer; He knows what he is doingand we would be well-advised to follow his lead before we are hopelessly outdated!

 

[Pioneer]

He does seem to be mixing things up a bit. In the issue I am reading the number one photographer (I don't have the issue directly in front of me or I would name him) in the magazine is using alternative photography and printing to produce some very interesting photographs. They are just a bit dark for my own personal taste but they certainly don't look photoshopped.

Another way to get more film and darkroom material is to submit some work for his consideration. Even if you don't get printed immediately I understand that Brooks does a terrific portfolio review. I think if we are serious about getting analogue work out in front in some of these magazines we may way to consider doing the hard work and submitting some of our own work occasionally.

 

[esearing]

I miss being able to pick up a copy of Lenswork at my local book store. I used to keep a couple of copies in my cube at work (which has now been masacred into a "collaborative environment") for lunchtime reading or inspiration. I did subscribe online but I get tired of the computer 12 hours a day so found that I did not keep up. I never go back and look at the PDFs in the same way I do the printed magazines. Brooks does a great job of helping photographers market and share their work.

I noticed that even the B&W magazine from the UK is going more digital too. Its hard to imagine Eddie Ephraums working digitally after I have seen his fabulous lith and toned images in his book Darkroom Techniques. And at $15 per issue, getting tough to justify.
Tim Layton has started a new Analog magazine - Darkroom Underground. The DU first edition was packed with tips, good photography, and great information from some respected photographers. Currently only electronic format with print editions expected next year.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Well this issue is full of images of birds with digitally added star light skies. Beautiful pieces of digital art but not really so much as photograghry. Th black and white landscapes are laughable. So over worked and so over done to death now days. So easy to do do this things now days on the computer. Everybody is in on the act even my 7 year old granddaughter is making art with my iPhone according to todays standards. The days of true craftsmanship and artistry is falling away.

beauty and art is in the eye of the beer holder

 

[winger]

I think if we are serious about getting analogue work out in front in some of these magazines we may way to consider doing the hard work and submitting some of our own work occasionally.

+1.
The deadline just passed, but LensWork had their second call for their series of six images. In case they do it again next year, start working now to have a group of six (no more, no less) images that work together.
LensWork and B&W are the 2 magazines I still subscribe to. Both have a mix of analog and digital in each issue normally. B&W has added more contests, too, including an alternative photography one. I just need a manager (or chief nudger) to make sure I get images ready and enter them.

 

[MattKing]

Not surprised, film photography left the magazines decades ago to be replaced by articles on how great the latest camera was but never reporting the problems nor the the flaws. They just wanted the revenue from the manufacturers' ads.

Lenswork has never been that sort of magazine.
It has always been about photography and photographs.

 

[Arklatexian]

Brooks is an excellent photographer and printer; He knows what he is doingand we would be well-advised to follow his lead before we are hopelessly outdated!

I guess I have been hopelessly outdated for years and the day that I start to give a damn, I will get out of photography. I have never been a fan of change for change's sake. What other people prefer to buy is their business and I don't really care what they buy, or read, or drive, etc!......Regards!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Well this issue is full of images of birds with digitally added star light skies. Beautiful pieces of digital art but not really so much as photograghry. Th black and white landscapes are laughable. So over worked and so over done to death now days. So easy to do do this things now days on the computer. Everybody is in on the act even my 7 year old granddaughter is making art with my iPhone according to todays standards. The days of true craftsmanship and artistry is falling away.

don't confuse craftsmanship and art;they are different.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I fall under the "if you don't like what he prints, send him something you do" crowd. I've been meaning to do it for years, but I don't like writing about myself, so I haven't done it. I did finally send some images in for the Seeing in Sixes book. All film of course. Lens Work is probably the only place where you can send film images these days.

I used to follow David Vestal's writing almost religiously until he pilloried Brooks in one of his columns. That is all it took. Be careful what you complain about....

As far as digital in the magazine goes, yeah, he changed. Everybody had to. Look around you. I remember not liking a lot of the images that magazines published back before digital, so why would everything be perfect today? Just is what it is.

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Well I don't subscribe to a magazine to look at my work. I have that sitting right here.

 

[Terry Breedlove]

don't confuse craftsmanship and art;they are different.

Not confusing anything I did say "Craftsmanship AND artistry".

 

[Sirius Glass]

Well I don't subscribe to a magazine to look at my work. I have that sitting right here.

Wise thoughts. That is what I do.