For me, one of the many joys of publishing PhotoMedia is navigating the path of discovery that leads us to the talented photographers we feature. Many of them are household names; others fly under the radar, yet define their careers by producing great work and making a living. In either case, it is a pleasure to become acquainted with them personally and to learn about their expertise and passion.

Somehow, we manage to gravitate toward worthy subjects who deserve the attention, and we are pleased to give it to them. This is one of those issues in which all roads seemed to lead to the photographers we selected for our coverage – the ones whose work seemed the most relevant and whose imagery we felt would inspire our readers.

Since the great outdoors is a prominent attraction of the western United States, it is not surprising that our biennial nature and wildlife issue is one of our most popular – and this is perhaps our best one ever.

Santa Fe’s Tim Fitzharris is one of the most prolific nature photographers working today. His imagery ranges from wildlife to landscapes. Few photographers have succeeded in documenting the terrestrial animal kingdom as broadly and impressively as he has.

As a rule, our profiles feature photographers based in the western United States, but occasionally we make an exception. Such is the case with Mark Moffett, aka “Doctor Bugs.” His highly magnified images stand alone in the specialty of insect photography, and his work seems a perfect counterpoint to Fitzharris’ more traditional animal world. You’ll never look at Moffett’s small and fragile creatures quite the same after viewing his work. Our feature on Moffett coincides with the release of his new book, plus a prestigious exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Rounding out the issue is Ed Coleman’s technical feature on the recent crop of impressive and sophisticated mini-SLR and point-and-shoot cameras, which are suitable for pro and prosumer use at times when carrying a workhorse-type SLR is not feasible.

Also, I’m very proud to report that PhotoMedia recently garnered a record five 2009 Maggie Award nominations – two more than in any of the previous nine competitions. Though we didn’t win an award this year, it was an honor to be recognized.

Now more than ever, please let our advertisers know that you noticed their ads in PhotoMedia – our future depends on it. They deserve the utmost appreciation for supporting this publication and enabling us to bring you in-depth coverage of the world of photography for free. We welcome your opinions and encourage you to share PhotoMedia with others who love photography.

For me, one of the many joys of publishing PhotoMedia is navigating the path of discovery that leads us to the talented photographers we feature. Many of them are household names; others fly under the radar, yet define their careers by producing great work and making a living. In either case, it is a pleasure to become acquainted with them personally and to learn about their expertise and passion.

Somehow, we manage to gravitate toward worthy subjects who deserve the attention, and we are pleased to give it to them. This is one of those issues in which all roads seemed to lead to the photographers we selected for our coverage – the ones whose work seemed the most relevant and whose imagery we felt would inspire our readers.

Since the great outdoors is a prominent attraction of the western United States, it is not surprising that our biennial nature and wildlife issue is one of our most popular – and this is perhaps our best one ever.

Santa Fe’s Tim Fitzharris is one of the most prolific nature photographers working today. His imagery ranges from wildlife to landscapes. Few photographers have succeeded in documenting the terrestrial animal kingdom as broadly and impressively as he has.

As a rule, our profiles feature photographers based in the western United States, but occasionally we make an exception. Such is the case with Mark Moffett, aka “Doctor Bugs.” His highly magnified images stand alone in the specialty of insect photography, and his work seems a perfect counterpoint to Fitzharris’ more traditional animal world. You’ll never look at Moffett’s small and fragile creatures quite the same after viewing his work. Our feature on Moffett coincides with the release of his new book, plus a prestigious exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C..

Rounding out the issue is Ed Coleman’s technical feature on the recent crop of impressive and sophisticated mini-SLR and point-and-shoot cameras, which are suitable for pro and prosumer use at times when carrying a workhorse-type SLR is not feasible.

Also, I’m very proud to report that PhotoMedia recently garnered a record five 2009 Maggie Award nominations – two more than in any of the previous nine competitions. Though we didn’t win an award this year, it was an honor to be recognized.

Now more than ever, please let our advertisers know that you noticed their ads in PhotoMedia – our future depends on it. They deserve the utmost appreciation for supporting this publication and enabling us to bring you in-depth coverage of the world of photography for free. We welcome your opinions and encourage you to share PhotoMedia with others who love photography.

Sincerely,

Gary Halpern, Publisher