Does anyone read American Photo?

[toverman]

I need another magazine subscription like I need another foot ... it would probably just get in the way/get stepped on.

But I received an offer to subscribe to American Photo for less than $7 a year. Does anyone read it? Is it worthwhile? How different is it from other photography mags?

I subscribe to Rangefinder and Professional Photographer and find them useful for business tips and equipment reviews.

[janikphoto]

I've bought it in airports before, but never saw a need for a subscription. However, for $7, it might be more tempting...

[groovyone]

I was wondering the same thing.

For photo mags I get Pop Photo (gear mag) and Shutterbug (occasionally get something out of it).

I'd like one that is more like my Muscle Mustangs/Sport Rider mags vs Motor Trend/Cycle World. (That analogy might make sense to someone reading this. hahah)

I have 7 subscriptions right now, but would get an 8th if worth while.

[busytexan]

I received the same offer and was wondering the same thing. I hope you get more posts so that I can decide also. I am very much like you....really don't need another subscription unless it is a REALLY good one. Thanks for asking!

[bondarnes]

I used to subscribe, but it was never my goto magazine. After reading Professional Photographer, Rangefinder, and Studio Photography, (they just changed their name again) I would look through American Photographer when I found time. It's not a bad magazine, but I didn't find a lot of meat for a traditional studio owner. Some of the articles were about photographers that were not really making their living at photography. Hey, but for seven bucks I might give them a shot. I think that is for six issues unless they have gone monthly.

[Peacock]

I subscribe to it, it is still Six issues a year and as stated above it is more about the art of photography though at times there is some good information.

Pop Photo, Shuttebug and American Photo are the three photo subscriptions I have the other related is Nat Geo Traveler, Kids were doing a school fund raiser when these were offered to me, and I just have not let the subscriptons lapse.

I read them put them aside, and then later I will be, Oh I read that somewhere...search search search found it!

My wife is none to happy with me, I keep them the whole year or longer before I get rid of them. LOL

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by Peacock

My wife is none to happy with me, I keep them the whole year or longer before I get rid of them. LOL

You are doing better than me then. I have every issue of Muscle Mustangs and 5.0 magazines starting back in 2002. I still go back to some of them now and then to get ideas.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Peacock

My wife is none to happy with me, I keep them the whole year or longer before I get rid of them. LOL

What?

You're supposed to get rid of photography magazines after only a year or two?

Don't let my wife know this. I told her they were like IRS records and we had to keep them for at least five years.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I was a big fan of American Photo when it first started and have subcribed again, as Don said it isn't real techincal but it does show some great portfolios of shooters current and from the past.

They were the magazine that had Nitasha Kinski and the snake on their cover.

[jeffkohn]

I subscribe. It's fairly broad, covering documentary, fashion, commercial and fine-art photography (the latter being the more modern/edgy stuff that I find a bit boring). Overall I like it for what it costs, though I wouldn't pay full newsstand price for it. I find it far more interesting than Rangefinder and the other WPPI/PPA-related magazines.

They do some gear reviews and usually have one how-to type article per issue, but mostly it's about photography and photographers rather than gear and technique.

[toverman]

Thanks, everyone. I'll probably take the plunge ... $6.97 isn't bad for a year's worth of almost any magazine.

Besides Rangefinder and Professional Photographer, I have a gift subscription to Digital Photo (formerly PC Photo), which is more geared to advanced amateurs. All three eventually review most of the same gear, although Digital Photo tends to stick to low- and mid-level camera bodies and consumer-grade lenses. Sounds like American Photo will focus more on the artistic, which would be a welcome change.

[djroga]

Somehow I ended up with a free subscription to American Photo...when it runs out I may renew. Nice to have a magazine around to glance at when the computer goes down.

[TXFZ1]

I don't subscribe but like it as it's not a gearhead review and shows the many different aspects of photography.

David

[shannondrawe]

The problem is not the subscription price, but the things you find yourself buying without a clue of how you decided to make the purchase. Other than "Picture" magazine, my magazines are focused on the magazines in which I want my work to appear. Research.