Practical Photography

Almost every photograph has a story behind it. What equipment was used how the photographer succeeded and failed, what they would have done better, what were the limits of the situations. I like that all aspects from macro to landscapes are covered here, as well as a lot on candid and non candid photography.

This magazine has improved both my color and BW photos.

As well all ranges of photographers contribute from the beginer to the most advanced expert. There is a lot on digital dark room which I like. As well there is alot on composition including lens and exposure trick for specific kinds of shots.

Great photos too. The photo contest always amaze me. As well as there photo challenges were poeple go out and shoot and then analyze the photos. Amatures and experts shooting some great stuff.

The magazine is a little anglo centeric and at times can be a little bit elementry in some of its guide. BUT they always have good recommendations on new equipment and great ideas. Plus sometimes we for get the basics and we need to be reminded how to do things that we alread learned.

Well worth the money, beautiful color and BW reproductions


Use to be the best, now it's at the bottom.   March 21, 2003
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Throughout the 90's, this was THE best photography magazine on the planet. I probably have every issue from the 90's and for many years had a subscription. I practically learned photography through this mag. However, since the calendar turned to the 2000's, this magazine has slipped considerably, almost off the face of the photographic scene. I dropped my subscription, and now I am lucky if I buy one issue a year if something I see in it catches my eye at the newstand.

It use to be bigger and packed to the gills with photography info, reviews, and tons of photos. I use to take weeks combing over each issue, now I fly through it in about an hour and there is not much there for later reference. It's a shame how over and above all other photo books this use to be, and how low it has finally become.

They tried to change the format and look of the mag around 2001 and it looked horrible. They quickly changed it again in a few months, but it was too late. Another horrible thing is that most of their contests now exclude all foreign residents. They use to allow worldwide entry to their photo contests, now just about all of them are limited to UK residents only.

What a shame. I use to love this magazine. Check out these other 2 UK mags (which have always been better than any US photo mag) Amateur Photography or Photography Monthly. The latter is actually published by a former Practical Photography technical editor, and he seems to better capture Practical Photography's old ways. It's a much better read.


Excellent Rescource   January 11, 2003
Tracy K. (Massachusetts)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I found Practical Photography when I was in England and found it to be the best pubication available for the advanced non-professional photograher. They have an wonderful feature in every publication, a critique of submitted photographs. Costly here in the states to get your hands on an issue, but more often than not it is an excellent read.