Lenswork - Ouch!

[JBrunner]

Hardly, it was a response to what I inferred from your post. BTW, less than 5 minutes to make a reply, I didn't think it would be that fast.

The comment refers directly to images published in magazines, reproduced from original prints. You aren't going to find some inane argument about what constitutes a photograph nowadays from me. If you want to rip out the pages, frame'em up and call them photographs, knock yourself out.

 

[jovo]

So going by this statement a photo gravure isn't a photograph ...

A photogravure is NOT a photograph. It's an etching made from a photographic negative onto either a copper or photo-polymer plate, treated with acid or water respectively, then inked with a roller, wiped with a tarletan and run through an intaglio press. The ink is not sprayed, and is the kind of printer's ink that will last as long or longer than the paper it's printed on. I believe it was first accomplished in the mid 1850's.

 

[ZoneIII]

Lenswork

I didn't have a subscription to the printed version but I do have a subscription to LensWork Extended. I am going to let my subscription lapse because I can't take Brook's Jensen's long commentaries any longer. He seems like a nice guy but he just keeps talking endlessly as though he simplyy loves to hear himself talk and it has become very irritating to me. I could just turn of the audio but then I would wonder if I missed something important imbedded in them and I don't see much point in subscribing if I don't listen to the audio portions. I wish Brooks would learn to edit his commentary more tightly and let other people do interviews and commentary sometimes. I wrote Brooks about this. Ironically, he sent me an incredibly long response that tried to convince me that he wasn't too wordy!

 

[jeroldharter]

I didn't have a subscription to the printed version but I do have a subscription to LensWork Extended. I am going to let my subscription lapse because I can't take Brook's Jensen's long commentaries any longer. He seems like a nice guy but he just keeps talking endlessly as though he simplyy loves to hear himself talk and it has become very irritating to me. I could just turn of the audio but then I would wonder if I missed something important imbedded in them and I don't see much point in subscribing if I don't listen to the audio portions. I wish Brooks would learn to edit his commentary more tightly and let other people do interviews and commentary sometimes. I wrote Brooks about this. Ironically, he sent me an incredibly long response that tried to convince me that he wasn't too wordy!

Although I understand the sentiment, I think we should encourage people who want to hear themselves talk (about photography). Just listen to us here! I just subscribed to Lenswork Extended for the first time, including all of the back issues. I think it is really well done. I have not seen an electronic or print magazine that contributes as much to black and white photography as this does. Also, the CD is the "extended" version and you can ignore the audio. I would rather he excluded digital but I can still learn from the composition aspect of it. This month he had a lengthy interview with a photographer in Santa Fe and a tour of his home darkroom. Where else would we get that?

Most photography magazines can be digested in 3 minutes of browsing and then discarded but Lenswork is really a load compared to that. I enjoy looking at all of the portfolios on my 19 inch monitor. They make me want to improve my photography and inspire me to see things in new ways.

In terms of alternatives, Photo Techniques is declining, Outdoor Photographer is gone (from analog), Camera & Darkroom is extinct, Black and White is ok but expensive here in the US.

 

[lenswork]

I wrote Brooks about this. Ironically, he sent me an incredibly long response that tried to convince me that he wasn't too wordy!

Robert,
Did you give any consideration to my invitation in our email exchange that you might want to write some of your thoughts for an article in LensWork? As I said in my email, we receive hundreds of portfolio submissions every year but typically only a couple article submissions per year.

Some of the heavy-handed "Brooks Jensen Show" you refer to is that we receive so little in the way of text -- let alone publishable text -- that it means either I do the Editor's Comments and interviews or we convert LensWork to an "images only" publication without text. By the way, you never did respond to my question about your preferences about this. Which would you rather see -- LensWork without any text, or LensWork with at least my writing -- and Bill Jay's EndNotes?

Quite simply, we'd love to have lots of good writing to include in LensWork, but we can only select for publication from the submissions we receive. Consider this a gentle reminder that publishers -- all publishers -- are always looking for good content to add to their publications. After all, it's not our job to prevent good material from finding a wider audience!
Brooks

 

[JBrunner]

Thank you Brooks. It is always a great pleasure that you take the time to respond to comments regarding your publication.

 

[thebanana]

Thank you Brooks. It is always a great pleasure that you take the time to respond to comments regarding your publication.

No doubt! Sometimes I wonder why any business would come to APUG to get beat up

 

[walter23]

FOCUS because of paper and print quality upgrade, though I still won't buy it, or any.

Focus is alright but the editor and I have rather extreme political incompatibilities (played out in the various threads he starts in LFinfo's lounge), to the extent that I'm not willing to buy the magazine and lend him even a modicum of financial support.

 

[copake_ham]

No doubt! Sometimes I wonder why any business would come to APUG to get beat up

Which says so much to all of us as to why K has never visited here.

 

[MSchuler]

Speaking of Lenswork Extended

When I got my last issue of Lenswork, if I recall correctly, it came with a copy of Lenswork Extended. I've never considered buying this because the last thing I want to do is spend more time in from of a computer. I was surprised to see that it included a "darkroom tour" with Huntington Witherill that starts out with footage of a darkroom. Unfortunately, the tour content ends up consisting of a look at outdated computer equipment. so much for truth in advertising.

I also skipped the podcast included with the CD - I've listened to audio downloaded from the Lenswork website and found it to be short and not at all inspiring. The Candid Frame podcasts are infinitely better; Lenswork should be able to do at least as good a job.

 

[JBrunner]

Which says so much to all of us as to why K has never visited here.

Interesting, George. Earlier in this thread you were the one doing the beating.

 

[Scott Peters]

I think the extended version is a fantastic bargain with all of the 'extras' - more images, videos, interviews, podcasts, work not found in the magazin, etc. I also really enjoy listening to what the photographer was thinking about when photographing with the audio portion. I would also agree with the earlier post, the more we can encourage those to 'carry the torch' about photography the better. While I do a lot of work on the computer it is nice to see images on a large monitor.

 

[WarEaglemtn]

"Support your local retailer!"

Sounds nice but the nearest magazine place is a two hour drive. Longer if the weather is not too good. On the plus side, it is that far to the nearest McDonalds!

Subscribe to the magazine. It is worth it for the images and writing both.

 

[Scott-S]

I forgot to address the "trick" comment.

Some of you may not be aware how the magazine distribution business works. I have no secrets, so I'll tell you.

Brooks

I like the magazine so keep up the good work, I think a lot of artists don't realize how hard it is to run a business. As a business you never want to dilute your brand. So people will like it some won't. Those that appreciate the magazine will come.

 

[deathbutter]

A great magazine, but I wonder how removing it from bookstores will INCREASE exposure (so to speak.)

 

[Dave Miller]

Welcome to the forum deathbutter.
As I understand Brook’s intent, it is to reduce waste and production cost thereby allowing the price to be kept at the lowest level. Exposure will come from forum such as this.

 

[JBrunner]

A great magazine, but I wonder how removing it from bookstores will INCREASE exposure (so to speak.)

Hey Deathbutter, welcome to APUG.

When I talked to him at Shooting the West he told me he felt the market would be better served by attending festivals and shows etc. to promote Lenswork. He sort of indicated that the retail sales thing was pretty much a low or no gain endeavor at this point, especially compared to the waste. I can see that it would be better from a markeitng standpoint to simply give away as a promotional the number of copies that would be otherwise destroyed.

 

[bjorke]

I have heard that Lenswork is limited by the high quality of its printing (the best, imo). The printer can only make so many copies per run - I'd guess, I dunno, 10,000.

If 70% is waste and you are near the print limit, your growth potential through retail is essentially zero unless you get a new printer or help them finance expansion (if even possible). Or you do whatever you can to eliminate that waste, in which case you have the potential of selling two or three times as many copies (that is, all of the max possibly-made copies).

Even fewer copies at a higher margin can = more revenue. It's not that hard to suss out.

Plus, by eliminating the newstand "send and wait and then destroy the waste" cycle, the business gains more short-term liquidity (albeit against unknown new sorts of marketing expenses).

 

[jd callow]

I think growth potential is limited for other reasons as well. I think this may be a very forward looking stratagy, and it may be too forward. Time will tell.

 

[Alex Hawley]

I'm enjoying the Extended version. I addition to the bonus galleries, the interviews add insight and personality that can't be had with the print version.

 

[eddym]

I'm enjoying the Extended version. I addition to the bonus galleries, the interviews add insight and personality that can't be had with the print version.

I'm just the opposite. I took the Extended+Print option for a year, but found that I hardly ever got around to opening the Extended DVD. I have several DVD's still in their wrappers (future ebay collector's item?). Though it is well done and the "extras" are indeed added value, still it is not a viable alternative to the magazine, at least to me. For one thing, I can read the magazine while I eat, while I sit on my terrace, glancing up at the clouds over the Caribbean, or while I sit on the um, personal hygiene appliance. To read the DVD, I have to sit at my computer, insert the DVD, navigate through it, and prolong the neckache I get from trying to read the computer screen with my trifocal/"progressive" lenses. I spend too much time on the computer already, and I would rather spend that time reading APUG forums.

And besides... hasn't anyone noticed that the Extended DVD's are... you know, that "D" word? I mean, we're not on the ANALOG photography user's group website for nuthin'! I prefer both my photography and my magazines to be analog, thanks.

Oh, and a last minute edit:
And besides, the magazines are beautifully printed! Sorta like a silver gelatin print!

 

[donbga]

and my magazines to be analog, thanks.

Oh, and a last minute edit:
And besides, the magazines are beautifully printed! Sorta like a silver gelatin print!

Without digital technology Lenwork couldn't be printed at a price that people would accept for a magazine nor would the quality be available for the price.

 

[JBrunner]

Without digital technology Lenwork couldn't be printed at a price that people would accept for a magazine nor would the quality be available for the price.

Well thank God for that.

 

[eddym]

Without digital technology Lenwork couldn't be printed at a price that people would accept for a magazine nor would the quality be available for the price.

Similarly, without digital technology, we would not be having this conversation.
I have no problem with digital technology helping to create an analog product. I just don't want to have to stick it into a computer to read it.

 

[michael9793]

I'm just the opposite. I took the Extended+Print option for a year, but found that I hardly ever got around to opening the Extended DVD. I have several DVD's still in their wrappers (future ebay collector's item?). Though it is well done and the "extras" are indeed added value, still it is not a viable alternative to the magazine, at least to me. For one thing, I can read the magazine while I eat, while I sit on my terrace, glancing up at the clouds over the Caribbean, or while I sit on the um, personal hygiene appliance. To read the DVD, I have to sit at my computer, insert the DVD, navigate through it, and prolong the neckache I get from trying to read the computer screen with my trifocal/"progressive" lenses. I spend too much time on the computer already, and I would rather spend that time reading APUG forums.

And besides... hasn't anyone noticed that the Extended DVD's are... you know, that "D" word? I mean, we're not on the ANALOG photography user's group website for nuthin'! I prefer both my photography and my magazines to be analog, thanks.

Oh, and a last minute edit:
And besides, the magazines are beautifully printed! Sorta like a silver gelatin print!

Oh my god,

Should I use a horse and buggy too!!!!!!!
This DVD is full of great things. Mostly interviews that I find hard to hear in a book. I can't wait till the next one comes out. I have seem Barnbaums darkroom, Kim Westons darkroom and studio, and the one on one interviews are great. Oh also having the Photographers show prints and talk to you about them. that is only possible if you do a workshop.
IT IS NOT JUST PHOTOS. IF it were I won't get it either.

Mike Andersen