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Posted by: Malinowski (65.42.85.77) on March 30, 2003 at 17:26:37
Location: Chicago
VU magazine, both, inspired by WebModels Forum and first announced on WebModels Forum 5 or 6 years ago is making progress. Here is both a timetable, editorial consideration(s) and a brief explanation of why this project is taking so long to create.
I am hopeful of having a basic Web site (http://vumag.com) up and running by mid-May (2003). The Web site will be used to promote the magazine, its features and to garner subscriptions.
Simultaneously, I expect to solicit advertising.
Mid-June, 2003: a call for submissions. I am hopeful that by mid-June, I am prepared (and have developed a method) for photographic submissions for consideration for publication. Some editorial work will be by direct invitation to a photographer (for example, a top, established, photographer may be invited to contribute work to an issue of VU).
VU, however, was chiefly inspired by my many visits to WebModels Forum and to my seeing the desire of many to be published in an actual printed magazine.
Contributors to VU will not be compensated except for copies of the magazine which will be given in sufficient number to allow for sets of tearsheets to be retained.
August 2003: I am hopeful that the magazine will go to press, early in August. It should, then, be available by subscription and at select newsstands by mid-September.
January 2004: issue number 2 of VU (quarterly) should be available.
VU format: 6.5 inches by 9.4 inches, VU is to begin its life as a 64 page (self-cover) photo magazine, printed in Sweden, in full color (4/4) on a premium 80 matte text paper.
Editorial approach: VU is intended to inspire photographers to greater creativity in their craft of photographing women (fashion, beauty, glamour) and to give Web Forum photographers a venue in which to be “discovered” and to have their works published.
Admittedly, choosing works for publication is highly subjective!
I see posts, on this forum, daily...many of which are excellent photographically and in which the model is beautifully represented. Yet, I don’t always find the photos to be very compelling (as I said, highly subjective).
I believe that technical perfection is not sufficient in creating a masterful photograph, rather, it is the feeling and emotion that a photo can evoke in the viewer which constitutes a photo of consequence.
What is Sexy!?
The leading men’s magazines seem to feature photography of women on par with high-end product photography and/or a master-class in digital retouching...neither of which I find very sexy (I’m sure that many of you are in disagreement with me).
And there are major fashion magazines printing pictures which don’t measure up to the minimal standards (in my opinion) of work which I’ve seen featured in WebModels Forum.
So, for those of you who may be interested in submitting works to VU, let the challenge be to create and pursue some fresh ideas in photographing women. There are (at least) two-and-a-half months till a call for submissions.
VU: the financial considerations: during the course of the past year, I’ve managed to raise enough money to put out four, limited, issues (one-year’s worth). At least two of the investors frequent this forum. The economics of magazine publishing are such that the distributor takes the lion’s share of the cover price (60% plus 10% RDA -- Retail Display Allowance) regardless of the size/weight of the publication. The distributor also wants the publisher to pay shipping charges. Subscriptions are subject to high postage/handling costs. So, advertising revenue becomes imperative to a successful publication.
Finally, why is VU taking all these years?
It is the exigencies of everyday life. As I must earn income to pay my daily bills, I do small jobs -- whatever, I can get but mostly layout or design work. Consequently, I am left with little time to work on VU. Health/strength-wise, I am not up to pursuing the kinds of photography that had paid so very well.
And, to give VU, the best chance for success, I am not taking even a dime in salary/fees from the money which has been raised for VU. So, I continue to go after other little jobs which tend to use lots of my time and rarely pay more than my day’s expenses.
I just finished a magazine which I created for a client. Unfortunately (for me) he was unable to pay me the full amount that he had promised me on the completion of the magazine (I still have his unsigned check which was to be signed when I finished).
But, you can see the results of my efforts at: modelpix.com/x (five weeks of work: concept, design, layout, some photography, some writing).
C’est la vie!
Stan
Stan Malinowski
modelpix.com
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