B&W: Black & White Magazine

Customer Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Comment: As a practicing photographer and not a collector, I've been very disappointed with B&W on the few occasions it's crossed my desk (I've never had a subscription, so I'm basing this on just the few issues I've seen).

Quality wise, the last issue I received was poorly printed - it contained streaks through the images and rampant misregistration, among other things. The paper is unimpressive as is the printing itself - the line-screen looks quite course. In a full-colour magazine, it would be fine, but for one in which everything is in monochrome, I would expect that they would print stochastically or at a higher resolution etc.

In terms of content, every time I've seen this magazine it has been filled with work which is typically very well-executed technically but un-innovative and un-inspirational, at least to me. Most of it is of the hobbyist/dedicated amateur variety, with few capital-A Artists or professionals. Stereotypical nature and bodyscape-style photos seem to dominate, with few examples of conceptual, thematic or `high art' work, and I've never seen any fashion or photo-journalism either.

We could use more non-technical photography magazines, but B&W caters to an audience obsessed with traditionalism and the imitation of old masters such as Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams.

PS: reading body copy set in Futura with tight leading is a real pain.

Customer Rating:
Summary: B&W Best photo Magazine
Comment: This is by far the best photo magazine I have seen in my 40 years of being a photographer.(and I subscribe to half a dozen).
The reproduction is superb, and it offers a variety of genres without getting into the freaky stuff like Aperture sometimes does. I have saved every issue I have received as if a book.

Customer Rating:
Summary: nice
Comment: This past summer I picked up two issues of this magazine and they sat on my shelf for a few months before I finally got around to reading them. I was impressed. The quality of this magazine is higher than any other photographic magazine I've seen. The image quality, the paper, all top notch. This is a fine arts magazine and doesn't (at least from what I saw) spend time with articles about the technical side of the art. Rather, it focuses on individual artists and shows samples of their work. There are more great photographs in here than in any other photo magazine I've read. I intend on subscribing.

Customer Rating:
Summary: IN PRAISE OF B&W Photography and the Printing Art.
Comment: I was on vacation in Miami last December and picked-up a copy of this magazine-B&W.It is the best photographic magazine I have ever seen or read.It is the best tribute to black and white photography as an art form. The prinitng quality is equally as superb and highly compliments the new technology in printing.It gives new meaning to the words photo finish. Unfortunately the magazine is only avaliable in the United States so I have had to subscribe using my son's address in Miami. It has inspired me to further improve my work as an artist,photographer, who considers black and white photography as the only true art form and dismisses digital "photography" as not being photography. Norris Hall,Belmopan, Belize, Central America.

Customer Rating:
Summary: My favorite photo magazine
Comment: Every issue of this magazine provides a great collection of black and white imagery. I like this magazine in particular for two reasons, the focus is on excellent images, not advertising, reviews, or articles, and what they do choose to print they print very well. The quality of the paper and printing is truly excellent. The subject matter covers most of the traditional photo styles, landscapes, nudes, impromptu slice-of-life pieces, still-life, abstract, etc. Generally every issue contains an interview with a pro and his/her work. There is also a large section of "space for hire" for photographers to submit samples of their work for sale or representation (note: very pricey to submit work, and here's where the image quality fluctuates wildly). I have found this magazine to be an idea-generator and photographic inspiration. I know I'll want to hang on to issues to enjoy for many years.