It's hard to believe, but this issue marks the start of our 24th year of publishing PhotoMedia. In all that time, we thought we'd seen everything, newswise. Then, shortly after our Spring issue was distributed, Japan endured one of the worst disasters in history: the earthquake, tsunami and resulting malfunction of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Our hearts go out to the Japanese as they recover from the challenges they face.

Of course, Japan is the heart of the photo industry's manufacturing sector, so the impact of that event on photographers also has been profound, on top of the effect of an already struggling economy on businesses. This issue of PhotoMedia is direct evidence of this impact — it's a bit thinner, but still loaded with great content, starting with a thoughtful Guest View by Paul Worthington about the Japanese disaster and its repercussions. We're hoping for a prompt recovery in the months ahead.

Our nature and wildlife coverage includes our cover profile of noted whale photographer Charles "Flip" Nicklin. We spread our wings with the profile of Artie Morris, one of the leading avian photographers working today. I'm also pleased to report that PhotoMedia's new website is now live. This valuable resource provides access to our current and archived content, which is frequently updated to keep you visiting regularly.

Now more than ever, it's critical that you let our advertisers know that you noticed their ads in PhotoMedia — our future depends on it. They deserve appreciation for supporting this publication and enabling us to bring you in-depth coverage of the world of photography for free.