Magazine Comparison

Black and White Photography Magazine

Black and White Photography magazine is a monthly magazine that specialises in black and white photography specifically, which is a very closed subject. The price of the magazine was £3.99, which I think is reasonable for the content and average for other similar magazines.

The magazine had many articles inside on contemporary and up and coming photographers as well as more popular and well known photographers. I think there was a good balance of this and every photographer needs to know about the greats but also needs to know about what is new.

Inside the magazine, there was also lots of other useful information such as exhibitions available in the UK. Because all the exhibitions mentioned were in the UK, the reader had more chance of actually attending these exhibitions. I have come across many magazines that show exhibitions worldwide and the only ones available in the UK are in London. This makes it very difficult for readers who live elsewhere in the UK to get access to the galleries. They give information on dates and addresses of the galleries as well as what the exhibition is about. All the exhibitions discussed are only on photography, which fits in with the purpose of the magazine.

The magazine also has readers pictures. The magazine gives the readers an assignment each month with a cash prize for the winner and their work will be printed in next months issue. I think this is a really great idea and gives the amateur photographer a chance to have their work recognised.

The magazine also has 'how-to' demonstrations, mainly using computer software such as Photoshop. This gives the readers the chance to gain knowledge in altering their images like professionals.

Also, the magazine has many reviews on new equipment and towards the back their are many adverts related to the purpose of the magazine. Although for some people this is useful, I feel that it cheapens the purpose and makes the magazine one big advert.

125 Magazine

125 magazine is a fashion, photography, style and art magazine. The cover is very minimalist in comparison with Black and White magazine as it only lists the artists contributed inside and has an image that features in the magazine.

The layout of the magazine is very different to B+W mag as there is a recurring theme of an colour panel image on one page and all the text on the opposite page. A good example of this is with the interview with Jenny Saville, where there is a large image of 'Stare, 2005' on the right and opposite on the left page all the text is almost squeezed on, as it is very small text. This, to me, seems like they are most interested in the reader only looking at the image and dismissing the text.

The rest of the magazine is mainly full page image panels with small writing at the bottom of the page, giving detail of who made the garments in the photograph. The images are shown in a series and at the beginning of each series, there is a page detailing who was involved in making the pictures such as: the photographer, make-up artist, model etc. Even though the images presented  predominantly have a purpose of advertising, they are not like normal adverts as they have more of a concept and are works of art in themselves. I really like the pieces presented in the magazine but in order to know more about the artists, you would have to research them after reading the magazine.

Because the magazine isn't only for photographers, they had to keep the content fairly open so that it would appeal to those who were buying it for the fashion or style element. This is very different in comparison to B+W mag, because the purpose is very refined for a particular audience.

Both of these magazines are useful to me, but in different ways. I personally would use Black+White Photography magazine for the 'how-to' articles and possibly the assignments in  my personal work. Also, I found the exhibition section very useful as I actually attended one of the exhibitions through this magazine.

With 125 magazine, I haved used it and will continue to use it for inspiration when I'm stuck for ideas for images.