A reader, Christian K., put this question to me yesterday, and I put it to you: What's the best magazine left for original photojournalism?
Mike
(Thanks to Christian and Bobby B.)
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Mike R: "Magazine? Is that something like a 'record album?'"
Mike replies: You mean like this?
psu: "I like the Guardian Eyewitness app on the iPad. Or is that not what you meant? :-)"
John Krill: "Harper's, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone. Just about any large city newspaper. We rarely give press photographers their due. Don't look just for photoessays but also how publications use support photography."
Vincent Bilotta: "The New York Times."
Howard Owens: "I subscribe to the New York Times on the iPad primarily for the photojournalism. If sports is your thing, Sports Illustrated is great of course.
Michael Shaw: "TOP honors (sorry...) to News Photographer magazine, published by the National Press Photographers Association. From the NPPA website, 'non-members can also order a subscription online or download the order form.'"
James Symington: "National Geographic is the only one that really comes close in my view."
robert e: "Didn't you link to Lensculture a few days ago? Impressive. Andy Adams' flakphoto.com is another excellent curator of photojournalism projects. Not as intense, but The New Yorker's "Photo Booth" is often worthwhile, featuring mini-slide-shows of photojournalism, both old and new, which I appreciate. I couldn't say whether it's part of the paper edition. I seldom bother to operate a printed magazine these days, but I expect to see good photojournalism any time I pick up the New York Times' Sunday Magazine, National Geographic, or ESPN Magazine."
JohnMFlores: "David Alan Harvey's Burn Magazine has some great work from upcoming photogs."
Tregix: "6 Mois."
Good question. Maybe PROOF?
Posted by: Wolfgang Lonien | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:28 AM
Or the big picture?
Posted by: Wolfgang Lonien | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:30 AM
Is there one?
Posted by: Dennis | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:38 AM
What I meant to say in my previous comment is that over here in Blighty I don't know of any magazine that fits the bill let alone a 'best'.
Posted by: Dennis | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:42 AM
Polka Magazine: http://www.polkamagazine.com/25/le-mur
And it has the advantage of being in French...
Posted by: Olivier Anthony | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 01:15 AM
If online magazines are allowed, then I think Burn is wonderful: http://www.burnmagazine.org/
Posted by: Roger Overall | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 03:23 AM
There are so many niche,specialty,subculture magazines that have incredible photography. Something like surfer Magazine for example. But honest to god broadbased photojournalism? Maybe I have an unrealistic epectation of what should apply by current standard but honestly, what's left? Does Nat Geo qualify? shrug...
Posted by: Steve D | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 03:48 AM
I don't wish to sound nationalist but here in the UK, possibly the British Journal of Photography?
Posted by: Phil Martin | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 05:26 AM
I would argue that no print magazine is publishing any photojournalism of note any more and that the best is going straight to the web.
http://cdp.edu.au/cdp/photojournalist
http://www.foto8.com/live/
http://www.findingtheframe.com
http://bombayfc.com
https://www.lensculture.com/?category_id=8
http://www.burnmagazine.org
http://www.fotoevidence.com
http://socialdocumentary.net
http://www.the37thframe.org
Posted by: Paul Amyes | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 05:30 AM
Oh and I forgot
http://vervephoto.wordpress.com
Posted by: Paul Amyes | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 05:33 AM
I often visit Foto8: http://www.foto8.com/live/
Not a magazine of the paper variety however.
They claim to be the home of photojournalism. This claim seems a little grand but nevertheless the quality seems good to my dull eyes and certainly different to the NY Times and NPR offerings.
Posted by: Mahn England | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 06:03 AM
Being francophone from Canada I truly enjoy Polka, which somehow has survived so far...
http://www.polkamagazine.com/25/le-mur
It's a paper magazine published every 3/4 months, and they don't even seem to have a PDF version. It is all in French, but browsing through the different stories will give you a good idea of what it is.
Posted by: Chris | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 06:48 AM
from "just up the road," LensWork.
[I'd disqualify that one from the question at hand. Definitely a fine art magazine overall, not a photojournalistic one, even though they occasionally do feature an arguably photojournalistic portfolio. Great magazine, though, you're right about that. --Mike]
Posted by: Charles | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 08:59 AM
Online Foto8 is pretty interesting. The FT magazine in the UK has some good photography.
Posted by: Andy | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 09:40 AM
Nat Geo, but that is also in "trouble" of sorts. As an old photojournalist, I am sad to say that most of the venues are fast disappearing.
It's a lost art from the standpoint that there are more so called photojournalists with iPhones than working journalists.
Mt two pesos.
[Why is it "in trouble"? --Mike]
Posted by: Hugh Smith | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 09:48 AM
The New York Times, definitely. Their Lens blog is a stunning daily dose of PJ work from around the globe.
Posted by: Jayson Merryfield | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 10:01 AM
More than just a magazine (or strict photojournalism), both Private and Daylight deserve enthusiastic thumbs up!
Posted by: Stan B. | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 10:28 AM
I'd like to nominate "Das Magazin" - the weekend supplement of the Tages Anzeiger from Zurich, Switzerland. (There is an online version, and a blog)
http://blog.dasmagazin.ch/
The print version is for me in the tradition of the printed supplements of the 70's and 80's. I always look forward to it on Saturdays. Cultured approach to photography and great collaboration between article content and images
Posted by: Fred | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 10:42 AM
For photojournalistic essays, the New York Times "Lens" website is filled with substantial, powerful work. Also The New Yorker magazine's website "Photo Booth".
And of course, the New York Times daily paper is littered with fine photojournalism.. the photos that give powerful impact to the paper's articles.
Posted by: Jamie Pillers | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 10:57 AM
Does the Chicago Sun Times have a magazine supplement? No, wait. No photographers.
(Is that still true?)
Posted by: Steve Pritchard | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:36 PM
I can not think of a better outlet for contemporary photojournalism and documentary photography than David Alan Harvey's Burn Magazine.
Posted by: Daniel Evan Rodriguez | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 12:52 PM
Does this include e-magazines?
Posted by: Herman Krieger | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 03:14 PM
Occasionally the NEW YORKER has a redeeming photo essay, but it's a strong qualification!
Posted by: Fiddlergene | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 03:17 PM
Travel photojournalism see the magazine:
AFAR
Posted by: Jack | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 04:35 PM
How about:
http://www.parismatch.com/Photos
Posted by: John Camp | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 05:16 PM
The Atlantic Monthly's "In Focus" and NYTimes Lens blog. Two great places to go...
Posted by: Tman1966 | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 06:52 PM
Magazines are ok, but the real action is in books. The digital era has produced the golden age of photojournalistic photobooks. Neat, huh?
Posted by: raizans | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 07:17 PM
NPPA News Photographermagazine.
https://nppa.org/magazine
Not always great but it keeps up on what the state of the profession is these days.
Posted by: Dan | Monday, 05 May 2014 at 09:44 PM
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/
Posted by: Nicolas Allard | Tuesday, 06 May 2014 at 05:36 AM
Howard Owens mentioned Sports Illustrated ... A Photo Editor has some pictures that illustrate that beautifully.
Posted by: Speed | Tuesday, 06 May 2014 at 11:40 AM
I strongly recommend LFI (Leica Fotografie International). Really interesting reportage with beautiful photos.
Posted by: Carlos Filho | Tuesday, 06 May 2014 at 09:24 PM
Macleans magazine in Canada has recently started to include a weekly 2-3 page photo essay on various topics, from scenic locations to riots. They do a year-end in pictures issue too.
Posted by: Robert Roaldi | Wednesday, 07 May 2014 at 06:03 AM