The Silvershotz annual ‘Folios’ issue just recently hit the newsstands.  Aside from being one of my favorite magazines to look at the world of art photography, the ‘Folios’ issue is one I look forward to each year as it contains work by emerging artists and those who are not strictly photographers but have an artistic talent for photography.  The 2009 issue contained a lot of great work, some of which really inspired me.  The 2010 issue seems a little disappointing by comparison.  More than a few of the pictures I see in this year’s issue seem to have a snapshot feel and some are so out there that I’m left wondering if the quality of submissions this year was just at a low.  That’s not to say that the whole issue is bad because there is some excellent work to be found in the pages (some of which I may discuss soon).  Perhaps I’m becoming more discriminating?  That’s a matter of internal debate at this point.

Since we’re on the subject, there exist a few photography magazines which I read on a regular basis.  I read Silvershotz, Photographic Technique, Color, and another I can’t quite recall (it’s a technique-oriented magazine).   Silvershotz and Color focus on art photography (although Silvershotz does include some informational articles and sometimes a product review).  Photographic Technique focuses on some of intermediate and advanced techniques used to process photographs, both digitally and in the darkroom.  It also includes a product review, which is focused the processing side of photography.  The last magazine is strictly about shooting technique, and it has given me more than a few pointers on what to look for when setting up my shots.  Most other popular photography magazines seem to deal more with gear, which is not where I believe one focus their energy when engaged in photography.  And seriously, do we really need to read articles about the latest bags from Lowepro or the new CF cards from Sandisk?  Every once in a while they will mix a camera review in there as well.  That’s not to say those magazines don’t have their place – if I’m looking to add a new piece of gear, I will sometimes consult one to get their thoughts, but that’s about it.

Thankfully most of my discussions with other photographers about gear have mostly been based in the need for input, feedback, or information.  I have had a couple of gear discussions in the past where the other photographer has bragged about all the higher-end stuff he or she uses (as they looked with disdain upon my little entry-level DSLR).  Those discussions tend to grate on my nerves and, if I can’t steer the discussion to something more substantive, leave me looking for the nearest exit.

On the gear front, I did pick up my backdrop rack the other day.  I’m pretty excited about it.  While I meander my way through a small health issue and a pending dental procedure, I can try to do some larger scale still life shots in my living room.  I do have a small “Studio in a Box” contraption that I got on the cheap (I used it to to take the photos of my cameras for my final project) but its small dimensions don’t make for much flexibility in object selection.  I could barely get my Pentax 645 in the frame without showing the sides of the lightbox.

Now you have the meandering thoughts swirling in my head for today.  I must take my leave as in about 8 hours I need to cancel an appointment in order to find a more cost-effective way to get something done I need done.  So, to all of you, my faithful and not-so-faithful readers, I bid you goodnight.