>>I for one would read the magazine no matter what was on the cover.
Reg, There are many who wouldn't read the magazine despite what is on the cover. I agree there are bigger problems, but sticking to the subject of the magazine, I think the standard of articles and the whole package while good to look at, does not seem to foster the idea of a gliding "community" or deliver much of interest to the gliding public or the potential gliding public. As a freelance writer and photographer, I know what gets published in other "sporting" magazines, and not many look anything like our magazine. Our magazine of course is not designed to "sell off the newstand" and this of course means it has a different look. This is the problem. While I am not one to harshly critisize our magazine and those who work hard on it, I am saying that it could have a much larger role than its current role, and could help to attract new people to the sport. If you want to see what attracts people to magazines and then to the activities, cultures, customs, they document then pick up a top selling publications in either a sport, pastime or cultural field and look at what is covered. Most of them have a real community feel to them. People are what matters. Events are covered in a way that tells what it is like to be there, not a chronological- "Monday was.... Tuesday we...Wenesday they- manner. (yawn) Inovations are also covered but they are not out of touch or unachievable to 90% of the audience. I say put the magazine on the rack, pay people to really cover gliding in Australia and watch the standard of articles improve. The cover photo will become important to newstand sales. What is on the cover now is much much less important than what is between them. David Olsen -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of rfmoore Sent: Tuesday, 23 November 2004 3:24 PM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Level 3 and CFI's; anthony smith Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Magazine front cover photos Is Photography a core activity? I find I have to fight to get funding to have Level 3 instructors from the two Northern Territory clubs attend level 3 upgrades each two years. In fact when I did obtain some funding, two years ago, they had not attended an upgrade in five years. To attend this upgrade they, the other level 3's attending, and SAGA had to partly fund their attendance. Funding was not available for them to attend the upgrade this year. No wonder they feel as though they are paying their GFA fees for no return if money is used for non core activities. I have also had to fight for funding for ops status checks to these two clubs. Most of we instructors, club members and club officials volunteer our time for the movement so why can't the photographers donate their photographs? I would much prefer the prize money going to enhance the operational side of the organisation than to a non core activity. I for one would read the magazine no matter what was on the cover. I would also prefer that the $250 annual prize for the best cover photo be abandoned with the money being used more productively. Do these photographs sell more magazines and hence make money for GFA? Reg Moore RTO ops SA/NT > Any of you photo buffs, I'd appreciate your comments and suggestions > on > the article below appearing in the January issue > > Cheers > > David > > SOARING AUSTRALIA FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHS > At the GFA AGM/ACM held over the weekend of the 11/12th September, the > new GFA Marketing and Development committee identified improving the > quality and consistency of the front cover photographs of the Soaring > Australia magazine as a worthwhile exercise. In addition it was > recognised that the actual cost and time associated with setting up for > and getting that one great shot was quite significant. Accordingly the > GFA will now pay $150 for any photographs published on the front cover. > There is also an award presented at the AGM/ACM each year for the best > SA cover photograph, and to provide incentive for members a cash prize > of $250 for the best photograph will also be presented. > > Please consult your club's airworthiness or operations personnel > regarding camera mounts and any other issues associated with setting up > for the session. All issues must be carefully considered and > pre-organised beforehand. > > The quality of the photographs is vital. Slides or negatives will be > preferred over a 5x4 print for example which will not reproduce > satisfactorily. The front cover requires a resolution of at least > 3000x2000, so if you are using a digital camera that means at least a 5 > Mega pixel camera, although with some processing good results can be > achieved with lower resolutions. Digital photographs should be provided, > in order of preference, in RAW, TIFF or JPEG format with minimal > compression. > > Note that the front cover is a portrait so digital photos taken in > landscape will need to be cropped which significantly reduces their > resolution and quality. Ideally, frame the photo as a portrait to avoid > this. > > Details including the date, location, names of photographer and > pilots, > aircraft and a description of the equipment used to take the photo must > be provided. > > Digital images on CD and slides or negatives can be posted to me at > the > address below. Reduced size digital images can be emailed to me at the > address below for preview or comment. > > All photographs provided may be published on the GFA website photo > gallery or in future GFA calendars with acknowledgment of course. > > So, get those cameras out and let's see if we can't smarten up the > front > cover of our magazine! > David Conway > GFA Executive Vice President > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > PO Box 1513 Mt Barker SA 5251 > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
