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 It
is with a mixture of melancholy, gratitude, and optimism that I’m writing
to inform you that Photographic’s 33-year run has come to an end. Yes,
this will be our last issue.
Petersen’s Photographic made its debut as a monthly magazine for photo
enthusiasts in May, 1972 under the highly respected leadership of Editor Paul
R. Farber. While there were already two well-established photo fan publications
at the time, Photographic was greeted with enthusiastic support from readers
who appreciated the fledgling magazine’s instructional approach and its
commitment to helping them take better pictures.
As photo equipment and techniques evolved steadily over the next three decades,
so too did Photographic under the thoughtful guidance of many dedicated editors
and art directors. The one constant was that readers always responded favorably
to the magazine’s how-to approach.
Last May we unveiled a new, fast-paced instructional format targeting the passion
of the photo enthusiast. And all of you were, well, very enthusiastic and remain
so to this day. In fact, as I was writing this final editorial, I received a
report indicating that Photographic is one of our company’s top performing
magazines on the newsstand in ’05.
In our very competitive marketplace, however, there are other targets against
which we are measured. In short, this was a mindful but difficult business decision
(as was the recent passing of the legendary Contax brand).
The source of optimism is that we are consolidating our resources toward the
refinement—both in print and online—of our sister publication Shutterbug,
where I will remain as Associate Publisher and Web Editor.
To paraphrase J. Paul Getty, enthusiast publications—like proverbs—receive
a measure of their value from the esteem of those whom they have educated and
inspired. And on that basis, I think it’s fair to say that Photographic
did rather well.
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