Comments on: The National Geographic Ritual http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/ apparently much happier in person Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:32:35 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83783 dnorman Wed, 13 Jun 2007 01:32:28 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83783 I was just browsing through this month's issue again, and kept thinking "I'd sure like a 'More Properties'" feature, like Flickr has for the photos published there. I'd really like to see focal length, aperture, exposure, etc... settings for the shots. Another reason why an online version of the mag would be more powerful - I could have an EXIF inspector on every photo... I was just browsing through this month’s issue again, and kept thinking “I’d sure like a ‘More Properties’” feature, like Flickr has for the photos published there. I’d really like to see focal length, aperture, exposure, etc… settings for the shots. Another reason why an online version of the mag would be more powerful – I could have an EXIF inspector on every photo…

]]> By: Kevin Creamer http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83729 Kevin Creamer Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:53:00 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83729 A few years back I taught a Photoshop for beginners class. I started the class by citing the "From the Editor" column in the June 2000 issue of National Geographic. 47 photographers, more than half of the regular NG photographic staff, had gathered for an annual photographic seminar. The stats: "The 47 men an women show here have collectively logged some 700 years taking pictures for this magazine alone. They've photographed roughly 715 articles, and a at a current average of 29,000 frames shot per story, that works out to about 20.7 million images." If you count, there are somewhere around 15 images to most NG stories (at least this was true when I was teaching the Photoshop class). I told everyone in the class that the trick to finding such stunning images is as much about the number of photographs you take as it is about the artist's eye. If *I* took 29,000 photographs, I bet I could find 15 really good ones. Like you, I keep my NG issues (dating back to 1990). I get two slip cases each year to hold them neatly. But I do go back and read them from time to time. It was fun scanning through some issues this morning trying to find the June 2000 article. I even came across a panda picture while my five-year-old daughter was with me, looking at the pictures. Both my girls are HUGE panda fans, so this was a good moment. A few years back I taught a Photoshop for beginners class. I started the class by citing the “From the Editor” column in the June 2000 issue of National Geographic. 47 photographers, more than half of the regular NG photographic staff, had gathered for an annual photographic seminar.

The stats:

“The 47 men an women show here have collectively logged some 700 years taking pictures for this magazine alone. They’ve photographed roughly 715 articles, and a at a current average of 29,000 frames shot per story, that works out to about 20.7 million images.”

If you count, there are somewhere around 15 images to most NG stories (at least this was true when I was teaching the Photoshop class). I told everyone in the class that the trick to finding such stunning images is as much about the number of photographs you take as it is about the artist’s eye. If *I* took 29,000 photographs, I bet I could find 15 really good ones.

Like you, I keep my NG issues (dating back to 1990). I get two slip cases each year to hold them neatly. But I do go back and read them from time to time. It was fun scanning through some issues this morning trying to find the June 2000 article. I even came across a panda picture while my five-year-old daughter was with me, looking at the pictures. Both my girls are HUGE panda fans, so this was a good moment.

]]> By: Keri Morgret http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83595 Keri Morgret Thu, 31 May 2007 15:39:36 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83595 In California, my copy arrives in a plastic bag instead of a brown wrapper. I've found a great use for my (recent) old copies of the magazine. Once or twice a year, when I go on a dive boat out to the California Channel Islands, I gather up all of my recent issues and leave them on the boat. There are 30 people coming in every few days that need something to read between dives, so they get put to good use, especially since there's usually something ocean-related in most issues. In California, my copy arrives in a plastic bag instead of a brown wrapper.

I’ve found a great use for my (recent) old copies of the magazine. Once or twice a year, when I go on a dive boat out to the California Channel Islands, I gather up all of my recent issues and leave them on the boat. There are 30 people coming in every few days that need something to read between dives, so they get put to good use, especially since there’s usually something ocean-related in most issues.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83589 dnorman Thu, 31 May 2007 01:27:46 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83589 I think they deliver from east to west. Toronto had them last week, most likely. I think they deliver from east to west. Toronto had them last week, most likely.

]]> By: gillian http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83585 gillian Thu, 31 May 2007 00:21:21 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83585 How did you get your copy a day before me? That doesn't seem fair. I'm just glad I got my copy after reading your blog entry, 'cause you got me thinking about the magazine. I do agree with finding the paper packaging eco-wrong. I wonder if there's a friendlier way to send the magazines undamaged? I wish I'd be happy with online magazines, but I'm not comfortable reading them as easily as I am with paper. Maybe we just need electronic readers like that new Sony thing to be able to display any type of print media we want. How did you get your copy a day before me? That doesn’t seem fair.

I’m just glad I got my copy after reading your blog entry, ’cause you got me thinking about the magazine.

I do agree with finding the paper packaging eco-wrong. I wonder if there’s a friendlier way to send the magazines undamaged? I wish I’d be happy with online magazines, but I’m not comfortable reading them as easily as I am with paper. Maybe we just need electronic readers like that new Sony thing to be able to display any type of print media we want.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83578 dnorman Wed, 30 May 2007 14:53:22 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83578 The subscription began after I moved out of my folk's house long, long ago. I've been intermittently subscribing to the mag over the years, but keep coming back because of the ritual. There's just something so visceral and satisfying about pouring over a printed magazine that's "mine." Yeah. I know... The subscription began after I moved out of my folk’s house long, long ago. I’ve been intermittently subscribing to the mag over the years, but keep coming back because of the ritual. There’s just something so visceral and satisfying about pouring over a printed magazine that’s “mine.” Yeah. I know…

]]> By: Sami http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83577 Sami Wed, 30 May 2007 13:40:55 +0000 http://www.darcynorman.net/2007/05/29/the-national-geographic-ritual/#comment-83577 amusing. brown paper bags. i wonder if you have a few boxes dedicated to the mag. i knew a guy who actually had them dating from from something like 1960. he actually gave all of them away shortly before passing away. i was kind of tempted, but i decided against hording useless things like that. the library is a better place for archival material. amusing. brown paper bags. i wonder if you have a few boxes dedicated to the mag. i knew a guy who actually had them dating from from something like 1960. he actually gave all of them away shortly before passing away. i was kind of tempted, but i decided against hording useless things like that. the library is a better place for archival material.

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