Discussion
Went to Tesco earlier to buy a photo mag. Never bought one before, but a friend suggested it might help in understanding how to get better pics and give me some ideas etc etc.
There were 7 different mags on the shelf.
Which one is the best to get?
I want a mag that explains how to get the best out of digital photo's, has competitions, explains why you use different equipment etc and occasionally gives away something of use.
There were 7 different mags on the shelf.
Which one is the best to get?
I want a mag that explains how to get the best out of digital photo's, has competitions, explains why you use different equipment etc and occasionally gives away something of use.
Digital Photo may be the one you're thinking of Simpo. I quite like it, but it is heavily weighted towards manipulation skills and not photography.
As someone who is just learning DSLR photography skills I've found Digital Photography User very good. It has sections covering composition suggestions and technical skills. It also has a small section about using software to improve images and correct mistakes.
>> Edited by Chim_Girl on Tuesday 23 November 17:19
As someone who is just learning DSLR photography skills I've found Digital Photography User very good. It has sections covering composition suggestions and technical skills. It also has a small section about using software to improve images and correct mistakes.
>> Edited by Chim_Girl on Tuesday 23 November 17:19
Chim_Girl said:
As someone who is just learning DSLR photography skills I've found Digital Photography User very good. It has sections covering composition suggestions and technical skills. It also has a small section about using software to improve images and correct mistakes.
Sounds fairly good.
One (can't remember the name) was giving something away to do with using black and white pics and photoshop (?????). Anyone know if it is any use?
Chim_Girl said:
Digital Photo may be the one you're thinking of Simpo. I quite like it, but it is heavily weighted towards manipulation skills and not photography.
As someone who is just learning DSLR photography skills I've found Digital Photography User very good. It has sections covering composition suggestions and technical skills. It also has a small section about using software to improve images and correct mistakes.
>> Edited by Chim_Girl on Tuesday 23 November 17:19
I think most of the mags devote too many pages to photoshop now, I have almost every issue of digital photo mag and while it's a good read their dvd with the photoshop projects are great.....if you need to do that!
I want to learn how to use my 300d though
I'll keep my eyes open for digital photography user though
Ex-biker said:
One (can't remember the name) was giving something away to do with using black and white pics and photoshop (?????). Anyone know if it is any use?
That's Digital Photo magazine; I have a subscription! As I said earlier, I think it's very good, but you'll need to be interested in Photoshop techniques for it to be a worthwhile purchase. In the recent months the DVD tutorials have covered some useful skills such as spot colour, masks and layers etc. In addition every DVD has an image library of useful/fun things. I have a collection of clouds/sky etc that can be used to "enhance"
my own efforts. I haven't had time to have a proper look at the DVD with B&W issue yet, but the magazine does have a section showing how you can change the colours on a car, in this case an Aston.
I can't see any reason why this issue wouldn't be as good as the rest, well worth £4.99 
I am always a bit fickle with photo magazines. I suppose I buy about three or four a year. Usually when Amateur Pornographer has a film stuck on the front. Although I did buy a subscription a few years back to get a mini-tripod and then to get a billingham bag at a knock down price.
I have to say the Photoshop "projects" always look good for about a nanosecond and then I just think they're a waste of space.
For photoshop, apart from just mucking around with it, I found an e-book on Amazon. That's great when you can find time to sit down and read a page or two. What about a Dummies book - far more useful than a couple of months of magazines?
I have to say the Photoshop "projects" always look good for about a nanosecond and then I just think they're a waste of space.
For photoshop, apart from just mucking around with it, I found an e-book on Amazon. That's great when you can find time to sit down and read a page or two. What about a Dummies book - far more useful than a couple of months of magazines?
I buy Photography Monthly, and used to always buy Practical Photography but sadly its now changed to 'Practical Photography - Digital and Film' and all the emphasis seems to be on rescuing a bad image in Photoshop, rather than actually taking a good photograph in the first place. Hence, i've stopped buying that title.
I'd recommend a subscription to Digital Photo Art magazine - you're extremely unlikely to find it at a newsagent though. www.arempublishing.co.uk/ They do very good articles on Photoshop, have very little advertising, run an annual competition, have an online forum but don't do gimmicky giveaways.
If you're looking to buy something off the shelf then any of the magazines would be good. Have a look at the letters pages to get the best idea of the level of reader the magazine is aimed at, then judge for yourself if it suits your needs.
If you're looking to buy something off the shelf then any of the magazines would be good. Have a look at the letters pages to get the best idea of the level of reader the magazine is aimed at, then judge for yourself if it suits your needs.
DING DING DING DING
Mad Dave said:
I buy Photography Monthly, and used to always buy Practical Photography but sadly its now changed to 'Practical Photography - Digital and Film' and all the emphasis seems to be on rescuing a bad image in Photoshop, rather than actually taking a good photograph in the first place. Hence, i've stopped buying that title.
Mad Dave said:
I buy Photography Monthly, and used to always buy Practical Photography but sadly its now changed to 'Practical Photography - Digital and Film' and all the emphasis seems to be on rescuing a bad image in Photoshop, rather than actually taking a good photograph in the first place. Hence, i've stopped buying that title.
Interesting you say that, I was going to recommend it as a good beginners mag, but then I haven't seen a copy for a while so I don't know what it's like now.
As far as I'm concerned the only one worth reading is Amateur Photographer - but it's a bit different to the other mags as it doen't really tell you technique, it's more of a feature magazine with articles about photographers and their work. Buy a copy and see what you think - although I only started liking it after about 10 issues (givena subscription as a present)
PS If anyone has a copy of the Spetember 23rd 2003 issue of AP, have a look on pages 33-35...
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