Preface

A representative of the photo industry recently voiced the assumption that, considering the demands placed on the reader, CAMERA AUSTRIA will find it difficult to ensure publishing viability in the long term. Now, when it comes to readers of the first issue of CAMERA AUSTRIA, the numbers surpassed even our own optimistic expectations. For the future, we hope that our readership will be able to prove that the “stupidity” (that the industry believes must be encouraged) of the audience is not as great as is apparently being assumed.

Key focus areas of the current number two issue of CAMERA AUSTRIA include contributions by the photographers Richard Kratochwill, Daidoh Moriyama, and Alfred Seiland, as well as a report on the exhibition “Photographie als Kunst 1879–1979 – Kunst als Photographie 1949–1979” (Photography as Art 1879–1979—Art as Photography 1949–1979), which is surely the largest exhibition of photographs in Austria. The reader forum will be continued through the representation of the Ministry of Commerce photo group, while the issue concludes with a report on the 5th International Photography Symposium in Vienna and reflections on “Andy Warhol in Linz”.

The issue is likewise printed, aside from the colour pages, mostly using the duotone method: this approach already brought CAMERA AUSTRIA No. 1 strong praise, for it is what of course allows a closer approximation of the character of photographic originals. Again, we would like to extend our warm thanks to those involved in this magazine issue for their text contributions and the provided photographs. We ask that you make use of the accompanying order card and recommend CAMERA AUSTRIA to your friends.

Manfred Willmann