Lenswork mag no longer on newstands

[BJ Bignell]

... In my experience, when a magazine goes 'subscriber only', it means it is in it's death spiral already. Not being on the news stand does save paper, I suppose, but it also means a lack of fresh eyeballs seeing it on the rack and making an impulse buy. This stops new subscribers from coming in.

Most of the time, such magazines plan (or believe or hope) that they can replace subscribers that drop off with new subscribers through referrals by current subscribers, like the kind of recommendations given out here on RFF. And that is true to an extent, but it is generally not enough. ...

I agree that it doesn't sound positive, but I must admit that I do enjoy the magazine and that this "event" has piqued my interest in getting a subscription. Clever marketers strike again!

If their house is in order they may yet be able to operate in their niche market with success for years to come; only time (and subscriptions, of course!) will tell.

 

[Pherdinand]

they are not really loaded with commercials, in the magazine, so the theory only half-way applies.
Anyway, risking to swim against the stream here i would say: Yes, the technical quality is very good, and the subjects of the presented portfolios are also nice usually BUT... the fact that only 3 people write in it, shows quite badly. Practically, it is full with musings about life and photography of three people that start repeating themselves after a few numbers already. Added to this is, those three people are probably better photographers than writers (sorry if i'm too harsh).
Yes i was a subscriber and yes i boutght the "first fifty"(i think) edition CD together with the one-year subscription. I went through the "first fifty" backwards, but after 10 or so issues, i started to only look at the images because i could not bear with the "end notes" etc over and over again.
Of course, this is only my humble oppinion.

 

[shadowfox]

they are not really loaded with commercials, in the magazine, so the theory only half-way applies.
Anyway, risking to swim against the stream here i would say: Yes, the technical quality is very good, and the subjects of the presented portfolios are also nice usually BUT... the fact that only 3 people write in it, shows quite badly. Practically, it is full with musings about life and photography of three people that start repeating themselves after a few numbers already. Added to this is, those three people are probably better photographers than writers (sorry if i'm too harsh).
Yes i was a subscriber and yes i boutght the "first fifty"(i think) edition CD together with the one-year subscription. I went through the "first fifty" backwards, but after 10 or so issues, i started to only look at the images because i could not bear with the "end notes" etc over and over again.
Of course, this is only my humble oppinion.

Heh, I think I noticed this also

They need to recruit young blood. Lot's of talent out there, just need to make an effort to secure one or two.

Incremental but steady regeneration is always key to sustaining a long term endeavor.