It is with a heavy heart that I must share the sad news of the passing of a great man.

[Jack]

<DIV></DIV>It is with a heavy heart that I must share the sad news of the passing of a great man.<BR><BR>Herbert Keppler is no longer with us, though his legacy will live on for ages, both in the mission of Popular Photography &amp; Imaging and PopPhoto.com and in the hearts and souls of all the people who have had the pleasure of working with Burt through the years.<BR><BR>Please take a moment of silence to honor a great photographer and journalist. <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
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<BR><BR><BR><A href="http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/4968/in-memoriam-herbert-keppler-1925-2008.html" target=_blank>Jason Schneider has written a thoughtful piece about the legend that is Burt.&nbsp; He will be greatly missed by all.</A><BR><BR>
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<BR><BR>Please feel free to share your thoughts and sentiments, favorite advice from his columns, and personal stories about Herbert Keppler here. <BR><BR><BR>We will be adding to our memorial coverage of Herbert Keppler in the coming weeks, so please check back for more photographs, memories, and stories from and about Herbert Keppler.<BR><BR>
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<BR><BR>The photography world is sad today.<BR>
<DIV></DIV><br><br>Message Edited by Jack on <span class=date_text>01-05-2008</span> <span class=time_text>10:22 PM</span>

[JMS]

<div></div><div>Thank you, Bert. You taught me the little bits of arcana, about little-known pieces of gear, about little used techniques. You gave me a history of the art. Thank you, and Godspeed.</div><br><br>Message Edited by JMS on <span class="date_text">01-05-2008</span> <span class="time_text">06:30 PM</span>

[DrJalapeno]

<DIV><EM>'He sleeps with angels....he's always on someone's mind...'</EM>&nbsp; http://www.pbase.com/johnsgallery/image/3906036.jpg</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>A man who influenced a multitude of photographers and others will be greatly missed.</DIV>
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[Cope]

<div>I read this sad news on another forum a short while ago. Herbert Keppelr has been my photo icon since 1975 when I first read his column in Modern Photography. I exchanged a letter with him in the early 1980s, and found him to be a real, down to earth person. He will truly be missed, and never forgotten.</div>

[Navy_Moose]

<div></div>Like many, I look forward to Burt's columns.<br><br>My condolences go out to his family.<br><br>I hope PopPhoto does a compilation of his best columns in a future issue.<br><br>Fair Winds and Following Seas, Burt<br><br>Navy Moose<br><div></div><br><br>Message Edited by Navy_Moose on <span class="date_text">01-05-2008</span> <span class="time_text">08:26 PM</span>

[johnparas11]

This is a loss for all of us Photo enthusiasts... his writing informed us and influenced us in some way or the other..<br>My prayers to his family.<br><br><span>:(</span><br><div></div>

[Davidw]

<div>His column has been my favorite in Popphoto. May his leagacy live on.:(</div>

[halfpass]

<div>Mr. Keppler's column opened my eyes in the world of photography. I will miss his unique ideas that I used to look forward to when I received a new issue of PopPhoto. My condolences to his family and friends.</div>

[Bobfireman]

Wow.<br>Like Cope, I've been reading Herberts articles for over 30 years. There's a lot of knowledge that will be sorely missed.<br><div></div>

[Yarddog]

<div></div><div>I too will miss his monthly column. Truly one of the great ones. I have never been one to get autographs or worship the famous, but I felt gratified to have had one of my questions (about the old Rollei factory in Singapore) answered personally by Mr. Keppler.</div><div> </div><div>Also glad now that in the thread where we listed our favorite photographers, I chose Keppler as mine.</div><br><br>Message Edited by Yarddog on <span class="date_text">01-06-2008</span> <span class="time_text">11:30 PM</span>

[pnh173_a]

<div>I have followed Mr Keppler's articles since I started back in photography in 1974. In those days he was with Modern Photography. Maybe three or four times I didn't agree with his ideas, but I never read one of his articles without finding food for thought. Usually I was enlightened or inspired or enthralled. He was a giant who walked with other giants in photography. I just can't imagine opening a copy of PP&amp;I and not turning to his article. The first two I always look at are his and Time Exposure. Then I could see what else was of interest. I am very sad to hear he has left us.</div><div> </div><div>I add my own condolences to the family. They will be in my prayers.</div>

[RABaker]

I began my interest in photography in 1956 (at age 10). I don't recall exactly when I started subscribing to both Popular Photography and Modern Photography, but I do recall that Herbert Keppler's columns were always a favorite of mine - from the first time I read them. Like many others, I gained much insight and found food for thought from Mr. Keppler's writings. He will be missed. My sympathy and condolence goes out to his family and friends.<br><br>Richard Baker

[Landscaper]

I began reading Modern Photography in 1961, and Herbert Keppler's column, &quot;Keppler on the SLR,&quot; was the only reason I made the move to buying my own single lens reflex as soon as I did. His columns were always informative, yet written in a down-to-earth style that I always admired.<br><br>My deepest condolences to his personal and professional family.<br><div></div>

[MarkD]

<div>I can't remember not reading Mr. Keppler's column. It was always the first thing that I read when Modern and then Popular came. His column was always down to Earth and free of pretense, and always informative. I will miss him.</div>

[Topcat999]

<div>He is truly a man that will be missed. I also looked forward to his column, just like, I think, everyone. He was the most humane of photographer journalists. He will be missed.</div>

[pixeldawg]

<DIV>The thing that I've always admired about his columns is his "insider" perspective. No matter how much you know about a brand, or thought you knew, Mr. Keppler always had something interesting that, I dare say, no one else knew. His constantly sharing of&nbsp;these tid-bits was a monthly present. He will be missed by all who read his work and admired him personally.</DIV>

[ronk]

<div>My sincerest condolence to his his family.</div>

[Sharna]

<div>My condolences to his family here at POP and his family back home.</div><div> </div><div>What a great loss to the photographic community. He will be missed.</div><div> </div><div>Sharna</div>

[winger]

I'm one of those people who reads a magazine from front to back, no deviations, no jumping back and forth. With one exception - Herbert Keppler's column always was first. It was always like a conversation with a friend and he'll be sorely missed. My condolences to his family and those others who knew him personally.<br><br>Message Edited by winger on <span class="date_text">01-06-2008</span> <span class="time_text">12:04 AM</span>

[the-Vyper]

<div>Mr. Keppler's inside straight was my favortite part of the magazine. His articles were the reason I became a subscriber so I wouldn't miss one. To his family you have my prayers.</div><div>Brennan</div>

[moltogordo]

Mr. Keppler was the first author of a book on photography I ever read. As a boy in the 1950's, I borrowed his &quot;Keppler on the Single Lens Reflex&quot; from the library and hogged it for a whole year.<br><br>It was his column in Modern Photography that I always read first, and to this day I love his irascible style and pragmatic viewpoints. I only regret that I never met him in person.<br><br>May your Soul rest in peace, Mr. Keppler<br><div></div>

[Fotolopithecus]

<div>I can't express how my heart sank reading this post. Who can ever hope to replace him, I don't envy that person. pith</div>

[Binder]

<div>Readers in Brazil will miss him and his articles a lot. He was the best!</div>

[peirceman]

<div>The news hit me in the face like a brick. He will be missed.</div>

[JeffA]

<div></div>As with many others, my introduction to serious photography began with reading both <i>Modern</i> and <i>Pop</i> back in the spring of 1975.&nbsp; Burt's column was the first (and frequently the best) reason for me to open the pages, even if I wasn't particularly motivated to read a magazine that day.&nbsp; His knowledge and humor were a huge influence on me, and I know that I will miss him and his contributions.<br><br>I got to meet Mr. Keppler back in June of 2006, when I visited the Pop offices in Manhattan.&nbsp; He was a very kind, courteous and welcoming gentleman with a very modest attitude.&nbsp; He was a true gentleman, and I will miss seeing his insights in print every month.<br><br>Lovers of photography were enriched by Burt Keppler and his contributions.&nbsp; We are all made a little poorer by his passing.<br><br>Jeff<br><div></div><br><br>Message Edited by JeffA on <span class=date_text>01-06-2008</span> <span class=time_text>09:50 AM</span>

[mudman]

Rest in Peace Mr. Keppler. It is a sad day indeed for photography. I'll miss his thoughtful critiques of photography and its companies, his simply yet elegant explanations of photography and in generaly him.<br><div></div>

[AstroImager]

<DIV>I've been reading Burt's columns since I first got interested in photography around 1971.&nbsp; Even at my then-young-age, I recognized a no-nonsense, nuts &amp; bolts kind of guy who had a unique way of combining the art of photography with the equipment -- he was always about getting a picture, was never snobbish, and would use any piece of gear as long as it made the photo he wanted.&nbsp; He was, and always will be to me, the model of what a "photo enthusiast" should be.&nbsp; </DIV>
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<DIV>It's hard to imagine that after reading his thoughts every month for 36 years that there won't be any more.&nbsp; He'll be greatly missed at my house...but has left a legacy that will long outlive his mortal body.</DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks, Burt.&nbsp; </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Paul</DIV>
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[Bozzzzzzz]

<div>This is sad news. I used to read Herbert's articles every month in Pop Photo. I will miss his insights and the wisdom of his experience and talent.</div>

[Mcanseco]

Rest In Peace...........<br><div></div>

[JasonMI]

Wow. I don't know what to say. I just came in from taking pictures with my old 35MM Contax, and this hits me.<br><br>I'm at a loss for words, other than to say that I was truly inspired by him. The world is truly a little less of a place with his passing.<br><br>I hope only comfort upon his family and pray that they will know that there are a great many people who also mourn his passing, and respect his wisdom and art.<br><br>Just sign me: A true fan.<br><div></div>

[ChanTran]

<div>Sad, sad news! I began reading Herb since the mid 70's and in the beginning I followed everything he wrote. Over the years, I don't always agree with him but I always enjoy reading his column. His passing is a great loss to us all. </div>

[Shandapanda]

I have only read Mr. Keppler's column for a few years but he always came across as a pleasant, personable man. Maybe it was the expression on his face or the fact that he often showed pics of his friends and family, but whatever it was his pleasantness was always apparent.<br><div></div>

[Lemming51]

<div>:(</div><div>Godspeed Herbert. Prayers and condolences to his family and friends. I've subscribed to PopPhoto for ~18 years, largely due to his columns. He will be missed, terribly.</div>

[dylandevine]

<div>Theres nothing i can say............................................... .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ..........................</div>

[pinoncito]

<div>I am so sad. I will think of Mr. Keppler every time I look through the &quot;Fisheye&quot; lens that he loved so much and wrote about in the last column. His columns were always something to look forward to no matter how badly my live was going at the time.</div><div> </div><div>Peter Crum</div><div> </div><div>NM</div>

[bsdunek]

A sad day indeed! I have been reading 'Bert' Kepler's colums since the early 60's. Sounded like a man I would like to know better.<br>As (I think) a Jew, I hope God has taken him to His house. My prayers are with the family.

[suci]

<div>Burt Keppler was one of those people i always felt like i knew. It would have been a singular pleasure to meet such a friend to us, photographers in person. God be with you and your family. </div>

[dhrphoto]

<div> My condolences and prayers go out to his family. :mansad:, &amp; upset. Good bye H.K. Thank You.</div>

[AndyK]

I first read Mr. Keppler's columns as a teenager and really liked them because they were full of practical, down-to-earth stuff I could understand and put to use. I continued reading his columns through the years and always appreciated his honesty and forthrightness about the good, *and* bad, products within the photography industry. His wisdom will certainly be missed and I wish to express my condolences to his family.<br>Bon voyage,<br><br>Andy<br><br><div></div>

[TomLK]

<div>My sincere sympathies to Mr. Keppler's family and friends. His passing<br>marks the end of an era for PopPhoto; he was the last of the old guard at<br>PopPhoto who showed me how to enjoy photography when I was young.</div>

[charon2112]

Mr Keppler...thank you.<br><br>I hope wherever you are, it is always the 'Golden Hour'...<br><div></div>

[ArtV]

<div>I've enjoyed reading his columns since the 80's when he was with Modern Photography. He will be sorely missed.</div><div> </div><div>Rest in peace my friend.</div>

[Nearly]

<div>Sorry for your loss.</div><div> </div><div>He was a great mentor -- to others as well, I am sure. GB</div>

[Richie]

My thoughts are with his family. He kept me coming back to the magazine and his articles will be missed :(

[RobertoGomes]

<div><p><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Dear Fiends Henry Fernando, Paul Kline and tenths of Brazilian Photographers, health!</font><br><font face="Arial"> </font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">We are deeply depressed with the news of the death of</font><i> <font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Mr. Herbert Kepper</font></i><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">, ocurred last friday, January 4.</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Despite beeing one of the most important and honored figures in the worldwide photographic market and beeing the person that teachs us at most how to love and think about Photography (through his articles, we readed since we couldn't even to spell out in our distant adolescence), he was an uncommon guy, extremely polite, refined and distinct in education, honoring us with privileged and tenderhearted words, in spite of beeing an outstanding editor of the greatest photographic magazine in the world and assuredly, therefore, an extremely occupied man.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Unfortunately I did not met him personnaly (as I dreamed) during my NY stay due to the</font><i> <font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Photographer Of The Year 2006 Competition,</font></i> <font size="2" face="Century Gothic">when he was in the vacation time with his family in a California's site... But I was them at his office and left over his table a small remembering under the form of a Brazilian Music's CD.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Since them we continued to talk by the Internet, time I had the opportunity to invite him to visit Brazil for twice.</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">He couldn't.</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">In short, we would to express and register to all friends our clear and firm belief about that extraordinary person, with rare inteligency, always magnanimous and courteous in life even through a complete unknowned fiel reader far distant from Latin America, fact that corroborates and expresses his Great Human Character.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Rest to us missing him and to be proud with the privilege he distinguished to honor us with his noble words in short - but significant - moments of our lives.</font></p><p><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">God bless Herbert Kepper.</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">With deepest personal regards,</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Roberto Soares Gomes</font><br><font size="2" face="Century Gothic">Reader and Devotee.</font></p></div>

[tbarry]

It seems I have been reading Herbert Keppler's photographic writing all my life - I will be 70 this year - and I seldom came away disappointed with the experience. It was as though I had a wise uncle to guide me in my photographic development. The news of his death is shocking. I will miss him as I would miss a beloved member of my family. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Keppler and his family today. May there be SLRs in heaven.<br><div></div>

[iBarok]

Mr. Keppler will be missed. <span>:(</span><br><div></div>

[Snapshooter]

<div><font size="2"><p>When I first started reading PP&amp;I a few years ago, I quickly become a fan of Mr. Keppler's column. No matter what he was specifically writing about his words always seemed to convey his genuine enthusiasm for photography. That's what I'll miss the most.</p><p>My condolences to his family and friends.</p><p>I can see him now, holding his Pentax up to his eye, telling the angels &quot;Say cheese!&quot;</p></font></div>

[TheArtStaff]

Hi all. Though i have been the Art Director for what seams a short time, a little more then 3 years can go by in the blink of an eye. There are moments, people that stick in your mind. Affect you in ways that change who you are. Make your life seam a bit brighter. Turn those impossible days into ones that just seam to go..ok. Burt was one of those people. Passing him in the halls of Pop...there were always kind words. Always warm thoughts. If one of my two kids were sick...always, questions that made me feel that kindeness in his heart. And working close with him...you always got the sense of how genuine he was.<br><br>I know i speak for many....yet i write now for just me, that burt will be missed. God Bless.<br><br>JB<br><div></div>

[jantunes]

<div>I was reading Mr Keppler in Modern Photography days, then in Pop and had the chance to meet him at Photokina in 1989 - if memory is not at fault. His energy and openness to everybody was impressive. The world has lost a good soul, photography has lost a Friend. But his work and articles will prevail, that's a legacy we still can share. Be in peace wherever you are Mr. Photography.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Jose Antunes, Portugal </div>

[ehsande]

<div></div>Who's going to tell us about the old days now?<br><br>Recently I've been wondering what to do with most of 11 years of PopPhoto issues - I guess I'll wade through them and read Herbert's columns.<br><div></div><br><br>Message Edited by ehsande on <span class="date_text">01-08-2008</span> <span class="time_text">02:15 AM</span>

[AlexShark]

<div>Jack, thank you for getting it here.</div><div> </div><div>It is sad news. My deepest condolences to the family.</div>

[jamesbobo]

<div>Herbert Keppler's column would be the first one I'd turn to when reading Pop Photo. Sorry to read about his passing.</div>

[Photognovice1]

<div>Rest In Peace</div><div> </div><div>Respectfully,</div><div> </div><div>Tim</div>

[JOHNCHAP22]

<div>Like others, I have read Keppler since the early 70s while he was still with Modern Photograpy. I was chagrined when all of a sudden he disappeared from its pages (maybe I missed an announcement), but soon learned that he had moved to Popular Photography, as I then did in terms of subscriptions. Again, like others, his was the first column/ariticle that I turned to when a new issue arrived. When he wrote about an issue relevant to me at the time I took it as gospel since it was not filled with the normal obligatory superlatives, but with the raw facts, both good and bad. I knew that I could depend on what he was saying. And I too received personal responses from him to questions/issue that I addressed to him. Although my more recent queries were sent via email, he continued his hard copy responses.</div><div> </div><div>With his passing so passes an era in photography. I will miss his presence immensely.</div>

[EvilPentaxUser]

Well, I started actually reading his article back when I was in Junior high and had just started reading Populary Photography, about the same time Burt Keppler had just started. I started reading about photography and learned of the advantages of the SLR camera. It was when I was in 10th grade that I wanted to take a photogrphy class, also the very first photography class offered in a new high school my Junior year... needless to say, my first class had an advantage that year, there was a art show in the region and I read about all that Burt had wrote of the few years in Popphoto. I got to go to the regionals, did not win the big prize, but.... I learned a great deal of what he wrote about and what was great about the SLR camera, but most of all, he liked the Pentax camera, which is my very first SLR camera. that heavy piece of brass made the difference in taking pictures and how to improve. I was in my senior year one of a few Sports Photographers, but I was the only one that owned there own SLR camera. I will miss Burt's articles in each issue of PopPhoto. It would be nice it there could be reprints of his articles of the SLR and Lens maybe in a retrospect of how great a writer he was and such a family man taking pictures of his family and friends and telling how it was. he wll be missed, my coldolances to the great writer he was and his family.<br><div></div>

[Rab-Eye]

I have been a reader of Mr. Keppler's writings since I was a teenager. He could always be counted on for down-to-earth, usable advice and a balanced perspective. I loved reading &quot;Hurrah!&quot; when something pleased him. PopPhoto, with all due respect to a fine magazine, just will never be the same.<br><br>Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow<br><div></div>

[NikonFE_fan]

I began reading Keppler's magazine in 1977, when I was in junior high. I grew up in a small town, with no exposure to anything mechanical or engineering-related. Learning about cameras from Keppler opened up a whole world to me. I absorbed everything he wrote like a sponge.<br><br>Years later, after graduating from college, I got a job at a small computer hardware company. In those days, we made add-in graphics cards for PC and Macintosh computers - VGA cards and the like. I understood computers well, but I had no training in computer graphics or hardware.<br><br>It didn't matter. What I'd learned through Keppler's articles was more than enough. I understood every bit of computer graphics technology that came my way, as if I already knew it. I was rapidly promoted, I travelled the world marketing our products, and I specified new ones. My background in photography - particularly what I learned from Herbert Keppler - gave me an intuitive understanding that has continued through my career. No matter that the technology moved from black and white to color graphics, then to 3D graphics, digital video and digital television... the fundamentals all came from what I learned from Herbert Keppler back in the 1970's.<br><br><br>It never occurred to me that I'd read Herbert Keppler's obituary one day. He was always &quot;there,&quot; every month, like a fixture. I am stunned to hear that he is gone. He was a wonderful man, a mentor to me and certainly many others.<br><br>Although I never met him, I always felt as if I knew him well. I supposed that was his writing style; it always seemed as if he were inviting you into his living room to chat about cameras once again.<br><br>We will miss you, Mr. Keppler.<br><br>Marshall Goldberg<br><div></div>

[Frankster81]

<div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3">Oh, wow. :( I haven't been on Popular Photography's website in ages or picked up an issue. This is indeed sad. I liked his articles. He seemed very genuine and used his years in photography wisely. I learned a handful from him. I used to glance at that photo of him in Pop Photo's newstand magazine. He was wearing a hat that one might wear on a safari or something like that. And the camera he held...I couldn't make out the brand, but that lens looked so much like a 70-210mm Minolta AF lens I used to have.</font></strong></div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3"></font></strong> </div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3">Gee, this is sad. I have recently lost a couple of my neighbors and now I wish I had been a neighbor of Herb Keppler.</font></strong></div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3"></font></strong> </div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3">I liked him.</font></strong></div>

[Frankster81]

<div></div><div><br><blockquote><div><hr>Bobfireman wrote:<br>Wow.<br>Like Cope, I've been reading Herberts articles for over 30 years. There's a lot of knowledge that will be sorely missed.<br><div></div><br><hr></div></blockquote><br><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3">And a lot of knowledge we gained from him that many of us will be able to use.</font></strong></div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3"></font></strong> </div><div><strong><font face="Verdana" size="3">But I know you knew that. I wish I knew what to say. To people, anyway. To God, well, that part is easy. Sort of.</font></strong></div></div>

[TSEoutlook]

<div>Awsome man. He was my only teacher. He got right to the point. He knew that 'less is more'. Manufacturers wouldn't sell much product if we followed 'less is more'.</div><div> </div><div>Ken</div>

[oldclicker]

<div>Herbert Keppler was the essential ingredient of this magazine. I have subscribed to Pop Photo since the late 80's and his column was always the first thing I read when I opened it. The neat thing about Keppler was his down to earth approach and language. He never forgot the amateur or the photog who was looking to get a best buy for his money. I remember he recommended a Russian 90 mm fixed focus lens when US lens of the same caliber were astronomically priced. I ordered it and it did everything he said it would do, even though I had to use an adaptor ring. He liked the technology but he was more interested in taking pictures--an element I think we are losing sight of today.</div><div> </div><div>The magazine will be sorely pressed to replace him. His kind do not walk our way very often.</div>