Herbert Keppler, RIP

[bmattock]

http://www.photoreporter.com/article.asp?issueID=94&num=21&vol=15&articleType=ts&articleID=1930

Herbert Keppler, Photo Industry Pioneer, Dies at Age 82

Photography Industry News

Woodbury, NY, January 5, 2008— It is with a great sense of loss that Photo Industry Reporter announces that Herbert Keppler, a photo-imaging publishing pioneer, editor, and mentor, died peacefully last night following a brief illness in a Westchester, New York, hospital. His family—wife, Louise; daughter, Kathy; and son, Tom—were at his side.

Very sad day.

[Mackinaw]

It is a sad day. I always enjoyed reading Keppler's articles in Modern Photography. Once, probably back in the early 1970's, I sent him a letter criticizing something he wrote. i was astonished when he sent me back thoughtfully written response arguing his point of view.

My condolences to the family.

Jim B.

[CameraQuest]

sad news indeed.

As far as I am concerned, there has never been a better photographic writer than Bert Keppler.

The last time I saw him was at Photokina 2006. He stopped in to visit Mr. K while Tom and Tuulikki Abrahamsson and I were there.

He was a wonderful man, incredibly personable and knowledgeable.

All photographers have lost a friend today.

Stephen

[Scarpia]

I've been reading Herber keppler since the 50's and most recently in the latest issue of Popphoto. I am greatly saddened. Condolences to his family.
Kurt M.

[nikonhswebmaster]

He was indeed a sweet and personable man, a fixture in NYC photo circles, the photo world is less for his passing.

He was fun to disagree with, he never took it personally.

[Steve Meltzer]

Another one of the most decent, thoughtful people in the photographic industry lost. He represented the best in photography. A gentleman and a charmer, we are all diminished by this loss.

[pfoto]

His book "The Nikon Way" was my bible for years. A sad day indeed.

[gb hill]

I get Pop Photo and I always enjoyed his articles. I'm going to miss that hat. RIP Herbert Keppler

[VinceC]

I'm sorry to hear this. I learned so much from his writing.

[whitecat]

Another loss for the photographic world......I have read him for 30 years.

[Abbazz]

A sad day indeed and great loss for photography.

He was a Pentaxian, a real, a die-hard...

I guess I will resign my subscription to PopPhoto now, because he was the last reason for me to read it.

RIP, Mr. Keppler, I miss you already.

Abbazz

[Nikon Bob]

I never knew the man personally but did enjoy the articles he wrote. They always seemed sensible to me. I will miss his work. My condolences to his family. Sad day indeed.

Bob

[Solinar]

Sorry to hear the news. Not that many left in the photo media to remind us of the old-school ways. Herb was always an enjoyable read.

[rover]

Wow, today we did all suffer a great loss. At the same time I can only think to say thank you for all he gave us over the years.

[raid]

May he rest in peace. I truely enjoyed reading his down to earth personal opinions on certain aspects of photography.

[Ducky]

Another sad reader here. I learned a great deal from him.
Rest in peace.

[GeneW]

Wow, today we did all suffer a great loss. At the same time I can only think to say thank you for all he gave us over the years.
Rover, I can only add "I agree" to what you posted. He gave us much. He was one of my favourite photo writers.

Gene

[charjohncarter]

He turned out to be the forever man. Still working at 82! I wish I had some thing like photography to turn me on enough to work until 82. He was in every issue I ever read of Pop Photo.

[John Robertson]

A very sad loss, he and Jason Schneiders writings were the main reason I subscribed to Modern/Pop Photography. A magazine which is now a pale shadow of its former self
When Jason Schneider left I ceased to subscribe regularly, when I did occasionally buy it, Kepplers articles were the only ones worth reading!!
He was also very curteous and helpful if you contacted him by e-mail.
A great loss!!

[Brian Sweeney]

He was one of the all-time great photography enthusiasts. I've read his articles since I was 12, 38 years ago.

[rbiemer]

Truly a loss.
I'll miss reading his well informed, thoughtful, and enthusiastic articles.
We are a poorer community today.
Rob

[Abbazz]

Herb was always an enjoyable read.

Please, don't call Mr. Keppler "Herb," as it seemed the man didn't like that:
http://www.pdml.net/pipermail/pdml_pdml.net/2006-September/018299.html

http://highlyflammabletoys.com/images/toys/herbert/herbertfront.jpg

Cheers!

Abbazz

[oftheherd]

I am very sad to hear he has passed. I always enjoyed his articles and learned from them as well. My condolences to his family.

[kshapero]

I started reading his stuff in the70's, I'll miss him. Good night Bert and good bye Pop Photo, nothing left to read there now.

[KoNickon]

I am sad to hear this, for sure. And I agree with the others' comments that there's no reason to read PopPhoto anymore. Guess I'll have to pull The Pentax Way off the shelf and look through it in tribute.

I wonder if the NY Times might have an obituary.

[dlove5]

Guess I'll have to pull The Pentax Way off the shelf and look through it in tribute.

I was going to do the same, but I took it down the other day to look through it and now I can't find it. Where did I put it? :bang: I suppose it is fitting there is an empty slot on my bookself when I heard the news.

I still remember looking forward to reading his articles back when I was in high school and college.

[rpsawin]

I can only echo all the sentiments expressed so far. I do beleive the photo world will be at a loss for his passing.

Bob

[M. Valdemar]

Well, the old guard is passing. Bob Schwalberg in 1997, whom I did know, and now Keppler.

Pretty soon there won't be anyone left with first hand knowledge of the "golden era" of non-digital photography.

Nothing but the cloned hordes of know-nothings who were born yesterday and have never seen a roll of film.

[M. Valdemar]

Here's Jason Schneider's take:

http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/4968/in-memoriam-herbert-keppler-1925-2008.html

[jlw]

Once, probably back in the early 1970's, I sent him a letter criticizing something he wrote. i was astonished when he sent me back thoughtfully written response arguing his point of view.

Same experience here, and more than once. In fact, he didn't just argue his point of view, he'd sometimes modify it if your response was convincing.

He always gave me the impression of being a photo industry professional who had never lost the sheer enthusiasm of the dedicated hobbyist. Not many of that breed left now...

[leica M2 fan]

Rest in Peace. Photography suffers a huge loss. Condolences to his family. A tip of the hat to him.

[rover]

I often say and think that photography is simple; time, aperture, sensitivity. Regardless of the tools I have used, I keep this in mind and move forward. For example, this is the mantra which helped me break away and start successfully using a handheld meter. Film, digital, 35mm, Medium format, regardless of what seems to be different, it is always the same our photography.

Last night, as I thought more about Mr. Keppler's passing I realized that something photography related really did change for me. I have 4 times subscribed to Popular Photography in my adult life. In the interludes I have always purchased the magazine at a news stand, and I have always, always first turned to Mr. Keppler's article. It helped me learn, think, explore what I was doing, things that I could do, things that the photo industry wanted me to do or try. I never felt an issue of agreement or disagreement with his work, for me it was always a step forward, a rounding of my interest in my hobby.

I know that this growth will not stop for me, but at some time in the near future I will have to find a new cornerstone to lean on and to renew myself on a regular basis. Mr. Keppler is missed already.

Please allow me to say this again in his memory.

Thank you Mr. Keppler, you have touched us all and helped us grow in this common interest we have. It will always be time, aperture and sensitivity, but it will not be the same without you.

[bottley1]

I grew up on his articles. Super guy, sad loss

[SolaresLarrave]

This is really baaaad news... I didn't read his articles for as long as some people here, but I enjoyed the few I read and always was the first piece I read in the magazine.

I'm sure he'll be well remembered always!

[dmr]

Sad day indeed! :(

It is fortunate that he kept his health enough to continue his work into his 80s. He was the Energizer Bunny who just kept going!

I started reading his columns in Modern Photography back in the late 1960s, when I first started getting interested in serious photography, and yes, I always considered him to be a mentor. He had great knowledge, but I never felt he was talking down to me.

About a year or so ago (I think) for some reason I responded to one of his on-line items, and in it I also said thanks and that I have enjoyed his writings since I was in my teens. I'm glad I had the opportunity to do that!

[bsdunek]

Quote by M. Valdemar
"Well, the old guard is passing. Bob Schwalberg in 1997, whom I did know, and now Keppler.

Pretty soon there won't be anyone left with first hand knowledge of the "golden era" of non-digital photography.

Nothing but the cloned hordes of know-nothings who were born yesterday and have never seen a roll of film."

How true, how true! I to have been reading Berts columns since the 1960's, and always found them interesting and informative. He will be sourly missed. My prayers are with his family.

[etrigan63]

Herbert Keppler was an institution. The industry is lessened by the loss.

[kalokeri]

Very sad news. Herbert Keppler´s book about Asahi Pentax cameras (in german translation) was the first book on photography I read back in the seventies. As you can see his writing had a great influence on what I have done since then.

Thomas

[Kim Coxon]

I think I have had about 4 different versions of "The Pentax Way". It was one of my first books and quickly became my "bible". I suspect it is the same for many other MF Pentax users.

Kim

Very sad news. Herbert Keppler´s book about Asahi Pentax cameras (in german translation) was the first book on photography I read back in the seventies. As you can see his writing had a great influence on what I have done since then.

Thomas

[bchang]

Very sad news, I subscribed Modern Photography for many years in the eighties just for Mr. Keppler's articles. Rest in peace.

[Slipkid]

Agreed...Sad day.

The many times I read Mr Keppler's articles, I was impressed by something that is often missing in other writers...common sense.

Thanks, Mr Keppler...

[kbg32]

An end of an era that I grew up with. Sad.

[Tuolumne]

Perhaps someone will publish a retrospective of his pieces. It seems he wrote for the ages, so they will never be out of date. I for one would be the first to sign up to buy. We can still learn from him, even after he is gone.

/T

[Ming The Merciless]

He was a good person and very knowlegable. Right now he may be up there setting up a shot of the pearly gates.

[Senecabud]

I get Pop Photo and I always enjoyed his articles. I'm going to miss that hat. RIP Herbert Keppler

My sentiments, exactly. I always turned first to his article before reading the rest of the magazine.

[Athena]

Very sad news - seems like the end of any film discussion in the photo print media.

[NIKON KIU]

Mr. Keppler was the only reason I subscribe to Pop Photo....

Sad Indeed.

Does anyone know the cause of death?

Kiu

[dmr]

Does anyone know the cause of death?

"Hospitalized" and "brief illness" are all I remember being said.

He was obviously working recently before his passing.

[rover]

The Wit and Wisdom of Herbert Keppler offered at Pop Photo

http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/4974/the-wit-and-wisdom-of-herbert-keppler.html

[amateriat]

Some months back, someone clued me in to an online Pop Photo column, by HK, about the virtues of rangefinders. "Say what?", I replied...Keppler? He's still alive and writing? Dog bless him! I shouted. It had been a long time.

Back when Modern Photography was still kicking about, the first two things I read in each new issue, in order, were Keppler's "...on the SLR" column, and Julia Scully's column. I got around to the rest in good time, but these two were paramount. Keppler was, to me, a near-perfect balance of tech-and-business-savvy and earthbound wit and clear-headedness, and damned little BS in between. A sober hobbyist as well, you might say.

Reading that recent article made me marvel at Keppler's enthusiasm and stamina, which in turn had me wondering how much longer he'd be around. Reading his obit some days back was a nasty blow. He wrote with knowledge (more than many), but with wit and heart as well. His writing helped me parse sense from nonsense in the then-to-me bewildering world of photo hardware (I'm talking very-early 1970s here), and gave me a good laugh while he was at it. I raise a toast to him tonight. He will be sorely missed.


- Barrett

[Berliner]

Very sad. Rest in Peace Mr. Keppler. Thanks for all your work. You were the only reason I still kept buying PP&I, after all these years...

[shadowfox]

It took me all these days to think about something to say. I'm going to miss his articles, more than that, his passion and thoughtful way to express it.

It takes a great man to express his passion in a coherent, controlled, and clear way. I'm sure there are days that he pulled his hair out fighting with the editors, but I have a suspicion that the editors let him have his way more than once.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Keppler.

[M. Valdemar]

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7648/kepplerer3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[M. Valdemar]

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/1596/keppler2xq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[mike goldberg]

I used to read Keppler in the 1970's. He helped turn me on to photography, and there was so much to learn from him. He will be missed.

[Nando]

I love Herbert Keppler's articles. I was very sad to hear of his passing. As far as I'm concerned, there is no reason for me to keep buying Pop Photo anymore.

Here's one of his last articles: (Perhaps the last? I'm not sure.)
http://keppler.popphoto.com/blog/2007/11/inside-straight.html

I think that someone ought to grant this man his wish. :)