LensWork 138 arrived in the mail the other day. The cover says it all: the 25th anniversary issue, with 88 images from the publication's first 25 years.
I enjoy collections, and this one's special. So many reminders of great portfolios past. Don Kirby is here, and Huntington Witherill, Cosmin Bumbut (I own an original of Cosmin's, framed and hanging in my house), Clyde Butcher, Fay Godwin, Shelby Lee Adams, Bradford Washburn, John Sexton, Phil Borges, Wayne Levin, Merg Ross, Lois Greenfield, Ryuijie, Michael Kenna, Jay Dusard, Cheryl Medow, Bill Jay, and so many more. (And so many more than that couldn't be included.)
"Our little corner of photography uses the medium as a means of artmaking," Maureen and Brooks write in the introduction, "—of personal exploration and personal expression." Always with respect toward craft, too, one might add. You can purchase the print edition or the extended digital version here.
Twenty-five years of independent publishing! It's an amazing, amazing achievement. Admiring and sincere congratulations to Maureen Gallagher and Brooks Jensen, and all the artists they've featured and supported over their first quarter of a century.
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Eric Brody: "Congratulations to Brooks and Maureen. Lenswork is a wonderful publication. It's unique in its focus (pun intended) on photography, not on cameras or lenses (despite the title) as well as its ad free content. I listen to Brooks' podcasts regularly and marvel at his ability to keep going and keep being creative in his approach.
"I knew him when he lived in Portland and were part of a group of photographers who shared work regularly. My first 'workshop' was with him, Stu Levy, Stewart Harvey, Barry Peril (now sadly deceased) and others at the Oregon Coast in the early '80s. It was the start of my own journey in photography."
I had a look at the preview on their web-site. It looks very interesting, so I thought I'd see about buying a copy.
The price of $13 (approx) is reasonable.
However, $27 shipping is a joke. A bad one.
Oh well maybe it'll turn up on one of the UK second-hand books sites.
Posted by: Steve Higgins | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 11:41 AM
Twenty five years of anything is impressive.
BTW who are these people? I've never heard of any of them. I guess I read the wrong blogs—the ones I read only write about gear, or so it seems 8-) I purchased LensWork Extended #137 Computer Edition today < $10.00 https://bit.ly/2CWSdQh Maybe I can self-educate myself about Fine Art. And learn some more about digital publishing.
I ordered an iPhone 512GB XS and an iWatch 4 GPS + Cellular at about 5:00am this morning. Around a one month wait on either—the base models ship next week.
Posted by: c.d.embrey | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 12:07 PM
I was all the way through the checkout until the shipping to Canada was $19USD which is more than the magazine! Forget it!
Posted by: Eric Rose | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 01:03 PM
I join you in congratulating Brooks Jensen and Maureen on 25 years of independent photographic publication. In honesty, I was not a fan of LensWork's tastes in the early years. A little too much trite b&w prettiness for me. So I let my subscription lapse. But their perspectives seem to have matured and broadened slightly in recent years and LensWork features more types of work, and even some color (!!) today.
Tastes aside, dedication to quality and a devotion to the medium of photography have always been the hallmarks of LensWork Magazine and its various offshoots. I will gladly try to scoop-up a copy of their 25th anniversary edition and raise a glass to Brooks and Maureen!!
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 01:11 PM
I'm a subscriber, so mine arrived at the same time. Well worth getting if you like good photography.
Posted by: Peter Wright | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 01:28 PM
What great names—Cosmin Bumbut, Huntinton Witherill, Bradford Washburn! How could one NOT be successful with monikers like those. Me, I’m stuck with plain ol’ Bill ... no wonder I’m not famous (the lack of recognition can’t possibly be due to the quality of my photos ... )
Posted by: William Cook | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 01:45 PM
As an addendum to my previous comment, I visited Cosmin’s portfolio on line and am enamored with his group of Transit photos. With regards to previous TOP post regarding film grain, I’m not sure these photos could have been done in digital. The grain and grit makes them timeless and certainly in the moment. A digital file would no doubt been been more sharp—more clinically sharp and sterile, but all feeling and emotion would have been lost.
Posted by: William Cook | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 01:59 PM
Congratulations, and a shout obviously for the late Bill Jay
Posted by: Richard Tugwell | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 02:40 PM
For those who boggle at the out-of-US shipping, why not buy the digital edition, and avoid shipping costs altogether.
Posted by: Bill Tyler | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 04:06 PM
I found this on Newsshooter dot com. It ties-in nicely with today's Fine Art post.
Matthew Allard ACS says: Cameras are just a tool. A camera doesn’t shoot the pictures for you, it doesn’t compose your shot, set up the lighting, or tell a story, WE DO. https://bit.ly/2pf8XJ3
Posted by: c.d.embrey | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 05:54 PM
Lenswork is a really fine production and fills an important space on the photographic landscape. It's distinctive -- which is actually a concern (to me) because I don't know what else there is in that space. Who else is publishing carefully chosen photographic projects?
You don't have to like all of their choices to at least respect that choices are being made. This really stands in contrast to literally everything else, where anyone can publish whatever they want. Irony alert: I have my own site and publish whatever I want too...
The thing about a curated space is there's a degree of peer review. I publish things in peer reviewed journals for a living, so I really do appreciate what the review function does for quality. And I'm saying this as someone who has tried twice without success to get into Lenswork! Thankfully I've developed a thick skin through my day job, where getting rejected is a regular fact of life.
Anyway, one day -- hopefully not soon -- there will be a last issue of Lenswork. I will not count that as a good day.
Posted by: Rob de Loe | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 06:27 PM
I have looking today for the large computer version for download, but sadly it only goes to edition 137. Will get it later. I do miss the printed version with Bill Jay's End Notes.
Posted by: Steve Weeks | Friday, 14 September 2018 at 08:25 PM
I like collecting anniversary and commemorative issues.
A copy of this publication is price US$12.95 but shipping to Singapore is US$26.25.
Surely these guys know that shipping cost is a huge hurdle to making sales more successful.
And I know that other merchants have ways to make shipping costs highly competitive.
Posted by: Dan Khong | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 04:26 AM
Digital editions.
Sacrilege!
The way to best enjoy a publication that deals with photographs is via tactile experience. You require paper.
"Digital version" makes me think of all the fun, glory and perfect satisfaction no doubt found in mail-order wives.
Posted by: Rob Campbell | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 05:03 AM
Good suggestion Bill - shipping to Australia is USD$26.50! And I thought Australia Post were a bunch of bushrangers...
Posted by: Lynn | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 07:11 AM
On buying the digital edition. A magazine and a print are tactile experiences that add flavor to life. Electronic ephemera is nowhere near as satisfying to some of us.
Posted by: Daniel | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 08:09 AM
I used to get my copies from the large newsstands in Hamburg (Germany); either at the airport or at the main train stations. Yes, more expensive than in the US, but nothing like paying $ 25 for shipping.
Posted by: Christer | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 10:12 AM
The 25 Anaversery Edition is now listed on the Tablet page ... way to go! ... $5.95 ... don’t remember the last time I intentionally bought a paper edition of anything ...
Posted by: Santasimage | Saturday, 15 September 2018 at 01:14 PM
I subscribe to the digital version. The iPad pro large screen is perfect for this, the images look gorgeous and I can sit in my chair and enjoy the magazine just like the print version. And I always have all issues at hand without taking up any shelf space!
Posted by: Ronny Nilsen | Sunday, 16 September 2018 at 07:17 AM
Is there any way the magazine can link up with Amazon? I buy a few books, on and off, and their mailing charges appear fair enough...
Posted by: Rob Campbell | Sunday, 16 September 2018 at 08:03 AM