Yes, you! As our readers, we're interested in you, your interests, and what you're driving. Your letters and e-mail messages matter to us and help mold the magazine into something that's interesting and fun for you and us. We already have the Off-Road Mail department for your letters, but we'd like to make a change, because, right now, the limited space we have for Off-Road Mail has been pretty much devoted to tech questions and answers. Don't worry, though. We're keeping the Off-Road Mail department for your questions and comments regarding us, the magazine, or off-roading in general. We're going to be adding Off-Road Tech as a department that deals with your technical questions on parts, performance, and vehicles.
There's another change we'd like to make. Over the years, a readers' rides (or rigs) department has appeared and disappeared from this magazine. We're going to reinstate this department and call it Off-Road Rides, but we can't do it unless we hear from you. We need photos and a short description of your vehicle, and we'd like to know where you live and do most of your off-roading in this vehicle. The photos would ideally be high-resolution digital. In real life, though, we realize that might be pushing it a bit, so we'll accept prints (in focus, please), slides, or digital images. Point-and-shoot digital cameras work, but please try to use one with a 4-megapixel sensor or more. We require our staff to shoot single lens reflex (SLR) cameras with 6 megapixels or more, so you'll be able to see the difference between the magazine feature photography and most of the photos in the Off-Road Rides department.
Now, we know that pixel count doesn't necessarily translate to better photos. For example, the old 4-megapixel Canon 1D SLR provides better images than today's 6-plus-megapixel point-and-shoot cameras. Sensor design has a lot to do with picture quality. A photographer's skill still has the most to do with a good image. So, when you shoot the photo of your 4x4, hopefully it will be well-lit by the sun, a flash, or the flames that are consuming it at the time the photo was taken. Shadows are not good for 4x4 photos. Some of you may turn out to be such skilled photographers, we might talk to you about covering an event or two in your area. You never know.
Send your correspondence to:
Off-Road
Attn: Mail (Rides, Tech, and so on)
774 S. Placentia Ave.
Placentia, CA 92870
kevin.blumer@primedia.com
Even now, the limited space we have precludes us from answering all your mail. Please rest assured, though, that we read every piece of mail and every e-mail. Once your Off-Road Rides mail starts flowing in, it may take a while for your vehicle to appear, too, so be patient.
We need you! Send us your letters, e-mails and photos. We're waiting.