■ About the Publication

Magazine B is an ad-free monthly publication that dedicates each issue to one well-balanced brand unearthed from around the globe. The magazine introduces the brand’s hidden stories, as well as its sensibility and culture, and is an easy but also serious read for anyone with an interest in brands.

■ About the Publisher

JOH & Company is a creative company founded in April 2011 by Suyong Joh, former Director of Creative Marketing & Design at NHN. He oversaw and directed the construction of NHN Green Factory, which is the headquarters of NHN, the company that has earned domestic and international reputation as “Google of Korea.” He also created a sensation in the publishing world when he compiled the construction process in a publication, Green Factory. Currently, he leads JOH & Company, a group of creative directors that he has brought together from various fields, and he is conducting complex projects encompassing architectural design, brand consultation, interior, food & beverage service, and product design, based on his own experience. The first fruit of such endeavor is magazine B.

■ About the Issue

This month, we talk about German camera brand Leica. It’s a special brand making expensive compact cameras sought after by all photographers, amateur and professional. With the decline of film and the rise of digital, many businesses in the photography industry, including Leica, found themselves facing significant challenges. Leica, however, adopted Panasonic’s digital technology to introduce new products, and has continually worked to strengthen its presence in the digital market. The value of the Leica brand seemed to have been proved when Leica and Panasonic launched identical cameras, differentiated only by slightly different logos and designs, and more people went for the Leica. It must have taken an extraordinary effort for the camera brand that invented the 35 mm compact and introduced photography to the general public to maintain its reputation in the digital segment.
In preparing this issue, I pulled out the photographs I took and developed 22 years ago. What seemed clear to me was that while the technologies for storage and reproduction have evolved, the person who felt and created those photos has not changed. The hands, the ears, the eyes, and the mind of the creator are still the same. It seems as though some of those things which were forgotten with the emergence of digital over the last 20 years are now receiving new recognition. This might be a good time to shoot photos in black and white and develop them for physical printing. This process gives the photographer some time to take a break and recall the moments captured. Perhaps I could even gather all the photos I’ve taken and hold a small exhibition
someday.