While preparing for this, our 25th Anniversary issue, we were faced with a daunting challenge. After our previous issue featured Steve McCurry as our cover story, how could we make this one as special, or more so, than that? After all, surviving the last 25 years in the magazine publishing business is a miracle in itself. (And Lord knows there were plenty of opportunities along the way to perish.) We knew our cover profile had to be exceptional, so after much consideration, we made an appeal to New York's...

It seems appropriate that this issue of PhotoMedia is focused on the subject of photojournalism, considering all the recent attention given to the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks — perhaps the single most photographed event in history. Since our last issue in June, several other major international news stories have continued to unfold, including the riots in London, the overthrow of Gaddafi's 40-year regime in Libya and a major hurricane wreaking havoc in the northeastern United States — all amid continuing economic stagnation worldwide...

As I write this, Photokina, the world’s largest biennial photo technology exposition, is being presented in Germany to almost 100,000 attendees. Notably, the manufacturers exhibiting are placing the emphasis on “prosumer” equipment, while new product introductions in the professional category are at a minimum. As the economy continues to stagnate, the industry is appealing...

As PhotoMedia enters its 23rd year of publication, we can’t help but reflect on the wide variety of events and developments there have been to cover along the way, including the rise of digital photography, global terrorist threats, political and celebrity scandals, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian earthquake, and now, unfortunately, the still-unfolding man-made disaster in the form of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

It seems timely that this issue focuses on the subject of nature and landscape, allowing us to feature a photographer who has made it his mission to expose mankind’s not-so-kind treatment of the environment and the planetary damage caused by our collective deeds.

In June 2007, I was invited to join a group of seven professional photographers on a trip to Alaska to photograph grizzly bears in the wild, which resulted in a feature story in our Fall 2007 issue...

Since we publish PhotoMedia just three times a year, a lot can happen of interest to those in our industry between issues. For instance, soon after our Fall 2009 issue was distributed in October, several legendary photographers passed away, with Irving Penn heading the list. Canon and Nikon also introduced new flagship DSLR cameras. More recently, the nation of Haiti was devastated by one of the most destructive earthquakes in modern history, prompting a mobilization of photojournalists to transmit images of the catastrophe throughout the world.

As Haiti begins its slow process of recovery, the experience has made it clear once again that photographers play an influential role in chronicling the experiences of our civilization...

Since photojournalism was the basis for my photographic experience, our biennial revisit to the subject is perhaps my favorite issue to research, as it allows me to return to my roots.

As history unfolds, there’s always something interesting to report, and the public has an insatiable appetite for stories. Since our last issue on photojournalism, we have witnessed some big photo news stories, indeed, including Barack Obama’s ascent to the presidency, the escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the passing of Michael Jackson.

The last two years have also been a time of great uncertainty in the industry. The opportunities for making a reasonable living as a photojournalist are as questionable as ever...

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...

Last September, it seemed uncertain whether it would be worthwhile to do our biennial issue on travel photography. The cost of gas had rapidly escalated to more than $4 a gallon. As the general public struggled to afford just commuting to work every day, it seemed as though foreign travel might become a luxury reserved for the rich.

Then something unprecedented happened. The price of a barrel of oil, which had topped out at about $145, plummeted to about $35 in just a few months. Unfortunately, the worldwide economy imploded along with it. But for travelers and travel photographers with some discretionary dollars, the price drop meant they would get another shot at affordable travel...

As we enter our 21st year of publishing PhotoMedia, much has changed.

The skyrocketing price of oil and shrinking value of the U.S. dollar, along with other economic factors, have caused prices to soar. This, in turn, presents everyone with the challenge of keeping pace with spiraling expenses. Few of us have experienced anything close to this, except for those old enough to have lived through the Great Depression.

Against this backdrop is a U.S. presidential election that will produce the first black man, the first woman or the oldest candidate to lead the country. We can only hope that the winner will provide some much-needed leadership and stability; we’re certainly overdue for progressive environmental initiatives...

As the world continues to sink deeper into an economic crisis, with the U.S. government bailing out banking monoliths and oil prices struggling to stabilize, the challenge to survive in business continues for everyone. At the same time, Americans are preparing for a presidential election, which is sure to have a profound impact on our collective future, whatever the outcome.

In this tempestuous atmosphere, the photography world recently reconvened for the biennial Photokina exposition in Germany to discuss the latest groundbreaking advances in photo technology. Most notably, the introduction of high-definition video capability in the high-end still-camera market is empowering photographers to express themselves creatively, conveniently and affordably in the motion-picture medium. This issue’s expanded...