Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/12/27

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: National Geographic and Photo Quality
From: Oddmund Garvik <garvik@i-t.fr>
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 96 23:20:10 -0800

At 13:38 27/12/1996 -0700, Chris Fortunko wrote:
>LUGs,
>
>Donal Philby mentioned National Geographic. At one time, I enjoyed looking
>at the photos in that magazine. This week, I looked at a copy that my
>daughter received in the mail. I must say that the quality of the photos,
>both artistic and technical, appears to be very poor. I am sure that this is
>not due to the photographers using Nikons or Cannons. Something happened.
>Can someone comment on this.
>
>Best of Light,
>
>Chris

I think the National Geographic Magazine is very uneven. I have a whole
bunch of them in my "rest-room", great pleasure for myself, and for our guests. 

I found the story on Cuba by Fred Ward, that Patrick Sobalvarro mentioned
here on Christmas Eve. In the Dec 1993 issue I found the story "Himalayan
Caravans" by the French photographer Eric Valli (M6 - 35/2.0) and his
Australian wife, Diane Summers (Leica R). Some of the photos are good. They
have been living in Katmandu, Nepal since many years BTW, and I think they
still live there, like our LUG friend, Ian Stanley. (Do you know them, Ian?)

The declining magazine quality is a general problem I think. And it might
seem strange in a world full of items and subjects. It is for sure once
again a question of means and profitability. The mercantile approach does
not always go together with quality. 

Do any of you know the French/Swiss magazine "Animan" (Nature et
Civilisations)? Few ads and great pictures!

I have some issues of the Belgian bi-monthly documentary photography
magazine "Themes", which I like very much (edit. John Vink). Do any of you
know if it still is published? And do any of you know if the British
international magazine of photojournalism, "Reportage" still exists? 

Thanks for any information.

Oddmund 
 
 
- -------------
Paris, France
garvik@i-t.fr