Popular Photography, briefly known as Popular Photography & Imaging, and also called Pop Photo, was a monthly American consumer website and magazine. Beginning publication in 1937, the magazine and website ceased publication in early 2017. The website relaunched in December 2021, before finally shutting down operations for a second time in November 2023.
 | |
 First issue, May 1937 | |
| General Manager | Adam Morath |
|---|---|
| Categories | Photography |
| Frequency | Fully digital |
| Total circulation | 359,818[1] (December 2012) |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Final issue | 2017 |
| Company | Recurrent Ventures[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York City |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
| ISSN | 1542-0337 |
Popular Photography also published a yearly Photography Annual, which was published from the 1950s to the early 2000s.[3][4][5][6]
One of its most well-known editors was American photographer and writer Norman Rothschild, whom Edward Steichen once called "the man who makes rainbows."[7]
History
editPopular Photography was established in May 1937 by Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. Bernard George Davis, a photography enthusiast, was the original editor.[8][9][10]
Ziff sold off most of its magazines in 1984. Its consumer group, which included Popular Photography, was acquired by CBS for $362.5 million. The transaction brought Pop Photo and its rival American Photographer under one roof.[11] The magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary with its January 1987 issue.[12] The CBS Magazines unit was later sold off to its management group in 1987.[13] Diamandis Communications Inc., as the new company was called, was then sold to Hachette S.A. just six months later in 1988 for $712 million. Diamandis remained as the United States arm of its French parent company.[14][15]
In 1989, Diamandis Communications purchased Modern Photography, a smaller rival of Popular Photography, and merged the magazines increasing circulation to between 500,000 and 689,000.[16][17][18][19]
Popular Photography changed hands once again when Bonnier Corporation purchased five magazines from Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2009.[20]
In 2016, the magazine became a bi-monthly publication. In early March 2017, it folded completely due to declining advertising revenue from the consumer camera industry.[20] The March/April 2017 issue was its last and circulation had fallen to 320,000.[21] The website was also shut down. In May 2017, Bonnier was offering to fulfill Pop Photo subscriptions by sending other magazines.[22]
Following the publication's shutdown, the website was relaunched in December 2021.[23] However, the revival proved to be short-lived and was shut down again in November 2023.[24]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media. December 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Brands". Recurrent. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ↑ Hayes, Dann. "Vietnam War photos by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ Rickman, William (March 2, 2015). "Doomed to Pittsburgh: W. Eugene Smith in the City of Steel". Belt Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ Stephenson, Sam (April 11, 2014). "The Big Book by Sam Stephenson". The Paris Review. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ "STUDY THE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS AND BROADEN YOUR VISION". Chicago Tribune. November 1, 1985. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ Durniak, John (December 20, 1992). "From Mind's Eye To Abstract Print". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
- ↑ Hinshaw, Wayne (June 13, 2017). "Wayne Hinshaw: Popular Photography Magazine is gone after 80 years". Salisbury Post. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- ↑ "BERNARD G. DAVIS, PUBLISHER, DEAD". The New York Times. August 29, 1972. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Mistry, Phil (March 7, 2017). "Popular Photography is Dead After 80 Years as a Top Photo Magazine". PetaPixel. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Castro, Janice (December 3, 1984). "Press: Selling Off a Magazine Empire: Ziff-Davis". TIME. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "`DAY IN THE LIFE OF …` TURNS TO U.S." Chicago Tribune. May 2, 1986. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ Fabrikant, Geraldine (July 14, 1987). "CBS INC. TO SELL MAGAZINE UNIT TO ITS EXECUTIVES". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Geraldine Fabrikant (April 14, 1988). "Hachette to Buy Magazine Publisher". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ↑ Lazarus, George (May 15, 1990). "DIAMANDIS CHECKS OUT ON MAGAZINE". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ Rosenbaum, S.I. (July 1989). "Modern Photography Acquired". Modern Photography. 53 (7): 4.
- ↑ Grundberg, Andy (May 28, 1989). "PASTIMES: Camera". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune; Grundberg, Andy (July 7, 1989). "Modern Photography Magazine Falls Victim to Change".
. Vol. 143, no. 188. p. 70. Retrieved July 21, 2019. ProQuest 282589227 (US Newsstream database). - ↑ "LUNCH BUCKET LINE MAY GET LITE MATE". Chicago Tribune. May 25, 1989. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Gampat, Chris (March 6, 2017). "Bonnier Folds Popular Photography and American Photo Magazines". The Phoblographer. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ↑ Mistry, Phil (March 7, 2017). "Popular Photography is Dead After 80 Years as a Top Photo Magazine". PetaPixel. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Horgan, Richard (March 8, 2017). "Bonnier Shutters Popular Photography Magazine". Adweek. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
- ↑ Hebert, Cathy (December 15, 2021). "Recurrent Ventures Relaunches Popular Photography". Recurrent. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ Schneider, Jaron (November 27, 2023). "PopPhoto is Dead, Again". PetaPixel. Retrieved June 12, 2026.