Editor's Notes

Photography and travel have always been inextricably linked. As soon as a camera could be hauled about, by mule, porter, or on the back of the photographer, pictures from every locale were made. They might be exotic images from far-off lands, bucolic scenes away from the city’s strife, or just postcards that adorned a cathedral’s gift shop, but if it had trees, pyramids, or boats...

When pictures went digital it meant that images were information that could be treated as malleable things that could be edited like a text document. Along with custom processing programs with their attendant benefits came the ability to send and share images via the web, which for some meant that events and family pics could be easily shared and for others created a whole new approach to...

In this issue we explore the myriad options for organizing, processing, and creating new visions from your digital image files. As with many things photographic, digital processing often stirs debate about the “purity” of the image, about what is real and what is “fake” when you begin to alter the image information. Indeed, some film photographers dismiss the entire...

As we come to the end of what could kindly be described as a challenging year, we look forward to lots of new photo developments coming in 2010. What began 170 years ago as a fairly provincial art practiced by a small group of scientists, dabblers, and entrepreneurs has turned into the most democratic of all forms of visual communication, with images made five minutes ago immediately available...

As the mixed bag of camera reviews in this month’s issue shows, there are many ways you can travel the photographic road these days. These range from the arcane to the elaborate, from pocket-sized digicams with extensive controls to full-fledged pro systems with interchangeable film/digital backs. The system you choose will necessarily match what you like or need to capture, be it casual...

Once upon a time we’d bring our roll of film into a lab and wait expectantly for the prints. Upon opening the envelope we’d be surprised or perhaps disappointed, but for the most part we’d accept what was given us, despite the fact that the sky was not as blue as we saw, or a face didn’t have quite the right tone. That was then. These days we have the right (some would...

Many of the reports in this issue were generated by our team of reporters covering PMA, the recent US photo trade show. While some new cameras have come out in the last few months, many of which we now have under test, there were, quite frankly, a lack of same at what is usually the premier site for such announcements. I can’t help but feel that some new cameras are waiting in the wings...