Outdoor Photographer Magazine?

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Abinoone

Abinoone

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Anyone else disappointed with the apparent shift in direction of Outdoor Photographer magazine? I recently received the latest issue, and it’s devoted mainly to outdoor sports, rather than its traditional landscape and wildlife themes. Moreover, it’s now printed on newsprint which, in my opinion, is a real step downward for a visual medium. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, but I hate seeing quality being compromised for boosted profits. 🥸
 
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In the 80's and 90's as a beginning photographer, I loved getting the magazine each month. I studied all the articles and examined the equipment sales section endlessly - plotting my next purchase. Over time, there was little that was new to me and the value of the magazine for me declined. I stopped getting it over 20 years ago.
 
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I think they have done one issue a year on Adventure sports for a few years; but i am disappointed in the dramatic shrinkage of the magazine, content put behind a paywall, and the change in the paper
 
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I think they are trying to stay afloat but it's tough for any hard copy kind of publication and they never really got it together very well for their site. The thing is, the web is full of much better information that's not behind a paywall or that doesn't require you to wait for a month or two for publication. People want things now and the magazine paradigm isn't working anymore.
 
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Steve said:
I think they are trying to stay afloat but it's tough for any hard copy kind of publication and they never really got it together very well for their site. The thing is, the web is full of much better information that's not behind a paywall or that doesn't require you to wait for a month or two for publication. People want things now and the magazine paradigm isn't working anymore.
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Agree - there is no way for a hard copy publication to compete with on-line reviews for timely delivery.
 
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Steve said:
I think they are trying to stay afloat but it's tough for any hard copy kind of publication and they never really got it together very well for their site. The thing is, the web is full of much better information that's not behind a paywall or that doesn't require you to wait for a month or two for publication. People want things now and the magazine paradigm isn't working anymore.
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Completely agree, but I have to admit that there’s something very satisfying about holding a high quality magazine in your hand while sitting on the throne. 🤓
 
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Abinoone said:
Completely agree, but I have to admit that there’s something very satisfying about holding a high quality magazine in your hand while sitting on the throne. 🤓
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I still subscribe and was very disappointed in the newsprint pages as well. I was looking for an explanation from the editor but found nothing. They don’t hesitate to toot their horn when there is an upgrade but I guess they hope nobody notices in this situation. Hard to imagine. As far as the subject matter, it’s not unusual for them to do that. They usually mix it up.
 
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Back in the early to mid 1980's I subscribed and really enjoyed the photography and articles. Some of the articles and overall style from this magazine influenced my own photography. In the late 80's early 90's career, raising family, responsibilities of life got in the way of my photography. About 15-20 years ago I picked up a copy while on vacation and was disappointed then. I thought the quality of photography and writing had gone down and there were far more commercials than in past years.

Many hard copy magazines have had difficulty making the transition from the print age to the digital age.

Jeff
 
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Abinoone said:
Anyone else disappointed with the apparent shift in direction of Outdoor Photographer magazine? I recently received the latest issue, and it’s devoted mainly to outdoor sports, rather than its traditional landscape and wildlife themes. Moreover, it’s now printed on newsprint which, in my opinion, is a real step downward for a visual medium. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, but I hate seeing quality being compromised for boosted profits. 🥸
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Yes, but not just lately. I've been disappointed in the publication for quite a while. I'm also disappointed in many other periodicals; so much so that I haven't subscribed to any for quite a while. When I visit my local bookstore, it is apparent that printed periodicals are out of favor with many people. (The magazine section is now much smaller than it used to be, and that there is a lot of uncovered space within the magazine racks in the store.)
 
It's hard to compete with Photography Life. Free, wide range of topics, can be trusted to be accurate. Combine that with more specialty sites like Steve's and some others and there isn't much of a market left for a paper product.

The only paper I still subscribe to are Nat Geo, Cook's Illustrated, and the Smithsonian. The Times, the Post and the local newspaper are all digital nowadays.
 
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bleirer said:
It's hard to compete with Photography Life. Free, wide range of topics, can be trusted to be accurate. Combine that with more specialty sites like Steve's and some others and there isn't much of a market left for a paper product.

The only paper I still subscribe to are Nat Geo, Cook's Illustrated, and the Smithsonian. The Times, the Post and the local newspaper are all digital nowadays.
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I get Nature's Best in print, well worth the price.
 
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Abinoone said:
Anyone else disappointed with the apparent shift in direction of Outdoor Photographer magazine? I recently received the latest issue, and it’s devoted mainly to outdoor sports, rather than its traditional landscape and wildlife themes. Moreover, it’s now printed on newsprint which, in my opinion, is a real step downward for a visual medium. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, but I hate seeing quality being compromised for boosted profits. 🥸
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I agree with you, especially about the newsprint. Very disappointed. Photos lose their impact on regular non-glossy paper. It's like time traveling back to the 70s.
 
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I have a subscription for Outdoor Photographer, which was given to me as gift few years ago and the person who gifted me still renew it every three years. To tell you the truth, I hardly read an article in it. i think this magazine would serve better beginner photographers who can learn a lot from this magazine.
I live in Montreal and they send it to me by mail which is good, but at the same time there are always 2 to 3 issues per year that I don’t receive, lost or not send?
Like some of you, I did not like the way the last issue was printed. At the same time, everything is going way too expensive, and these magazines in order to survive , they must cut somewhere.
I think as the name of the magazine is Outdoor Photographers, they felt maybe they needed to cover other things than landscape and wildlife.
 
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Abinoone said:
Anyone else disappointed with the apparent shift in direction of Outdoor Photographer magazine? I recently received the latest issue, and it’s devoted mainly to outdoor sports, rather than its traditional landscape and wildlife themes. Moreover, it’s now printed on newsprint which, in my opinion, is a real step downward for a visual medium. Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man, but I hate seeing quality being compromised for boosted profits. 🥸
Click to expand...

I'm biased, but I think it's gone downhill; they have a lot of ads, and mostly articles are glowing endorsements of ads. I write for Nature Photographer Magazine, and the owner/publisher, Helen, is wonderful; I discovered it a few years ago and was accepted as a field contributor. Lots of great photos and it's thick; mostly articles, not many ads; a labor of love. Worth checking out.
 
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Back in the day I subscribed or bought at the news stand all of the photo magazines. Today I don’t subscribe to any of them. This thing called the internet has made a print magazine pretty pointless just as cave drawings were replaced by scribes.
 
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The latest issue is printed on poor quality paper. I was just billed $27 for the next year and per my books I have paid $10.98 each for the last 5 years. I will in the spirit of cooperation remain a subscriber for the coming year and then will likely let it go. Unfortunately I imagine if many others do that also it will cease publication.
 
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I enjoy paging through through magazines. Compared to the cost of camera equipment or software to support it, the cost of a magazine subscription is insignificant.
 
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I stopped subscribing to all print media in 2010 when I had an extended assignment overseas and have not started up any again.
I infrequently dip into the online version of Outdoor Magazine and their website. I find the articles informative and good value. BUT - it is very US centric and for those of us who live and work outwith the USA the travel and favourite locations sections are less useful.
They cover a broad spectrum of outdoor shooting activities -- and yes that includes some sports as well.

Another, but less popular, source is Luminous Landscapes, who seem to be gathering a resurgence following the demise of their founder and Chris, his son, taking the reins. Their magazine was only available online to me and it was a great read.
 
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