Which Magazine to subscribe to?

[johndow]

Over the past couple of years i have just bought whichever magazine was most interesting when i browsed in the shop. However, i think i would now like to subscribe to one.

I bought PhotoPLUS Canon edition this month and was quite impressed. Also, if i subscribe at £9.99 per quarter DD i get a free lowepro camera bag worth £60 (or there abouts).

I am seriously considering this, but was wondering what magazines others subscribe to and if there is any difference really between them. They all seem to periodically go over the same topics anyway, such as portraits, wedding, landscapes, Macro etc.

[kBm]

Originally Posted by johndow

They all seem to periodically go over the same topics anyway, such as portraits, wedding, landscapes, Macro etc.

All the photo magazines are the same, as the problem is they fight for the same slice of the market.

I've been subscribing to Digital Camera Magazine since 2004. The articles have decresed, the adverts at the back have increased.....

As you say, year after year the same seasonal topics are covered, which is disapointing, but to be fair there are some differences in the way they are covered.

I've got to the point of thinking about canceling my subscription and starting a fresh. (Plus a free gift would be lovely! )

The other problem is you can get all the latest news off the web, get great advice off the web, see amazing pictures off the web, and choose wether or not look at adverts off the web.

[kBm]

Found this Magazine review centre - is American based, but as the majority of magazines are produced globally, its still maybe helpful.

Edit; scrap that, its got a UK address!

[stevegreen]

I rarely buy the 'on the shelf' magazines these days, many of them seem to cover the same thing at the same time so you should make your decision on editorial style and what reads best for you.

I subscribe to AG Magazine which is less about equipment and more about photography. It's a quarterly and isn't particularly cheap at £12.50 per issue but it's a damn good read and printed on very high quality paper........makes them worth keeping and looking after as opposed to normal magazines which are highly disposable.

[allymac123]

Thats ridiculous Steve. I've been starting to put a book together on lulu.com and came accros a book by Chris Dickie which I was using a bit to get ideas for a lay out for mine. And then you post this link to a magazine he works on. Weird or what!

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by allymac123

Thats ridiculous Steve. I've been starting to put a book together on lulu.com and came accros a book by Chris Dickie which I was using a bit to get ideas for a lay out for mine. And then you post this link to a magazine he works on. Weird or what!

small world.

I do like the way the magazine is laid out so i'm not suprised you are taking inspiration from it/him.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

I agree that all the mags cover the same things year on year. I rarely buy any camera ones these days. On the photo front I now find I buy V and Vogue and Vanity Fair and I cut out the images I like in order to work out how they are lit and composed.

I quite like AG as well and the other one I really look forward to is PhotoIcon, it's a bimonthly.

[johndow]

Originally Posted by stevegreen

I subscribe to AG Magazine which is less about equipment and more about photography. It's a quarterly and isn't particularly cheap at £12.50 per issue but it's a damn good read and printed on very high quality paper........makes them worth keeping and looking after as opposed to normal magazines which are highly disposable.

Steve
I had a quick look at the web link, are there any high street shops which stock this publication that you are aware of, or is it subscriber only.

The problem for me is that i am a beginner to both digital photography and digital processing. I like the articles which cover both aspects of a shoot, but generally to do this they do not go into a great deal of detail. Does AG Magazine cover both?

Also, i hate magazines which feature more adds than articles. Unfortunately this is what makes them affordable, so i seem to have no choice.

[stevegreen]

Originally Posted by johndow

Steve
I had a quick look at the web link, are there any high street shops which stock this publication that you are aware of, or is it subscriber only.

The problem for me is that i am a beginner to both digital photography and digital processing. I like the articles which cover both aspects of a shoot, but generally to do this they do not go into a great deal of detail. Does AG Magazine cover both?

Also, i hate magazines which feature more adds than articles. Unfortunately this is what makes them affordable, so i seem to have no choice.

I am not aware of it being available over the counter though I may be wrong, maybe fire off a quick email to them and see.

The magazine itself does cover all aspects of processing, including film processing but this is getting less so. There was an article last issue on HDR techniques which did go into quite some depth including screenshots of the process used.

It doesn't have a great deal on general composition or in camera technique, leaving that to be gleaned from the kind of articles they feature on different photographers and their work.

It's more a magazine about the Art of photography, sometimes the photographs in there appeal, other times they don't, it just depends on your interpretation of them. Having said that, there is always a good insight into the photographer to explain what they are trying to achieve.

There is an e-book issue here which can be downloaded for £7.50.......maybe have a nose at that before comitting to a full price issue.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

You can usually pick AG up in Borders...in fact Borders is without doubt the best shop for ANY magazine

[drb5]

Well i've just subscribed to Practical Photography for £60.70.

That's for 13 issues and a free Lowepro Mini Trekker....which is nice.

[py6km]

I subscribe to Practical Photography as well, although I'm not sure why - it's ok, but as others have said, the same stuff comes up all the time. It's nice to have a mag though; there's something more fun about having something tactile rather than surfing the web. I'd agree that articles diminish, and ads increase. i find Amateur Photography the worst for this - half the mag is ads (although it is weekly I think, and generally cheaper so I can kind of understand).

[lightpainter]

I subscribe to ‘Digital Photo’ and have learnt most of my Photoshop skills from the tutorial DVD that comes with it.

[shaolin101]

I dont subscribe as i find they either get read in 5 minutes or the next one is here before i have read the last - i read Practical Photography as i get it free but i will just buy an odd issue now and then of other mags if it looks interesting.

Used to get Digital Photo a lot but every other month its 'black and white from RAW' and the costs really mount.

Amongst my other freebies i look at Arena for the adverts to see how they look and other fashion ones. And Zoo and Nuts for the *ahem* articles...and of course to see how well the models are lit and to discover the reasoning behind a particular pose. Just what is the photographer trying to convey/trying to tell me. Its a skill trying to get inside their mind!

[tomson]

I get Professional Photographer (the missus bought me a subscription for Christmas) and I get the odd issue of PDN which is usually excellent.