Postcard Exchange Round 62 Comments and Feedback

[mshchem]

asleep on a hammock under a tree on a midsummer afternoon is the best tonic for body and soul! regardless - the moon will set and the sun will rise

I went to the darkroom and finished setting up my enlarger (switched around the light source) went well.

 

[Jim Christie]

Catching up on a few cards received this summer:

• Red Pepper #4 with Yellow Filter from Rob Skeoch. Beautifully rendered still life on Ilford FB paper. I also watched the video link you sent, and it was so interesting to see the process while holding an actual print with the final result — a rather unique experience in the digital age. I need to come back and watch the previous video on how the shot was taken.
  
  
• Rockwood tree trunk by J Wilson. I think what really catches my eye is the texture in the trunk and roots that almost seem to flow like water. A tenacious tree for sure.
  
  
• Shadow at the Ice Cream Stand by mfohl. A well-timed shot of a wavy shadow cast on (I presume) a walkway or parking area. What’s great about this is that the ‘peaks’ of the shadow line up with these raised white (concrete?) islands, which makes for some interesting contrasts — light to dark, smooth to jagged.

Also I appreciate the nice comments earlier in the thread on my postcard. Thanks all.

-Jim

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Two cards arrived this week.
"The Point" from Kyle, very moody, nice negative space to balance the composition. Nice shot.
"Window" from Ansel, very nice graphic composition It's the type of photo that I like to take, with everything squared up.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Now that most people have received my photos of the pepper, I'll add the youtube links here.
My channel is "Still Shooting In Black And White"!

This video was taken as I shot the peppers, using different filters. You might find it interesting...

This video was the printing of the pepper shot, if you print, maybe it's interesting to you....

 

[mshchem]

Two cards arrived this week.
"The Point" from Kyle, very moody, nice negative space to balance the composition. Nice shot.
"Window" from Ansel, very nice graphic composition It's the type of photo that I like to take, with everything squared up.

Hey Rob got your Red Pepper #4 with Orange Filter. Beautiful print THANKS

 

[Michael Howard]

Mine are all out now, they should start trickling in shortly!
The quality of pics so far this round has been outstanding, well done team!
Some notes so far:
@j wilson - I love the muted tones on this tree.
@Jim Christie - I love these geometric pictures.
@Don_ih - When I first got it, I had to hold it different ways to determine up from down. Love it.
@mfohl - I've been through Mt. Sterling, great shadow play.
@Rob Skeoch - Lovely and, as someone above said, sensuous still life. One of my favorites this round.
@AnselMortensen - Another geometric picture, nailed the tones. I love "distressed" as a subject, it tells a story.
@KyleMika - Another fave from this round. It is so hard to hit the blacks just right and still keep the blazing highlights. Well done.
@jvo - Got it in the mail yesterday, hit me like a brick. These days, there are too many "dangerous blocks".
@Thorsten - You outdid yourself this time, came through in perfect condition. This one's going on the wall.
That's all I've got so far. Can't wait for the rest! I think next round I'm going back to 4x6 on that fantastic Ilford Portfolio paper.

 

[drpsilver]

30 July 2024

I just finished spotting and labeling my cards. They will bin tomorrow's mail. I hope you like the image I selected. Below are my comments on the cards I have received to-date in no particular order.

"Mt Washington Cog Rail" by Ben_P is a cool perspective of the track up the mountain. Just be careful, and listen for trains.
"Red Pepper #4 with Yellow Filter" by Rob Skeoch is a homage to Edward Weston. Well done.
"The Point" by KyleMika is a good example of "night photography". I am intrigued by a printer that can print 20 cards in 10 minutes.
"Window"by AnselMortenson asks the viewer to look for the story behind this window.
The cards from j wilson works when viewed in several directions. This image would benefit from more contrast.
"Gallery Seating" from Jim Christie is a interesting perspective on what looks like uncomfortable seating. This is another card that works when viewed in several orientations.
"Great Falls" from Thorsten is another of his enormous mounted prints. I really like th water movement and the brown toning. Very well done.
"Pigeons" by Don_ih asks "What are these pigeons looking to eat?"
"Electric Eyes" by mfohl is very humorous. I really like how this is framed with the wall and vines.

Thank you to all for sharing you work in this exchange. I look forward to receiving more cards.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Ajven]

Hi all,
first of all I would like to apologize - this round I haven't managed well and I will be late with my postcards. A little bit hectic summer...

There is a list of postcards I have received so far:

17.6.2024 - @Don_ih : "Public" - this is a nice set of garbage containers I like the composition finished with "Public" title with large letters
26.6.2024 - @mfohl : "Electric Eyes" - really funny postcard! Made my day! The print is excellent in technical point of view
4.7.2024 - @j wilson : "Rockwood Tree trunk" - incredible roots but frankly there is too low contrast for my old eyes
11.7.2024- @Dunga : "The street without the name" - very impressive panoramic photo taken in "portrait" mode. Photo was taken digitally so the image quality is excellent.
19.7.2024 - @AnselMortensen : "Window" - I like this kind of pictures. Horizontal lines, rectangles made by window frames, squares in window frame corners, regular wire-net structure over window and....boom! Irregular shapes of broken glass. This picture deserver be printed to larger paper and framed!
19.7.2024 - @Rob Skeoch : "Red Pepper #4" - very nice still life postcard with a pepper. And the multimedia bonus - youtube video how the picture was taken and printed. Very inspiring! Thank you.

Thanks all for postcards!
Ajven

 

[mshchem]

@jvo I received your print "most dangerous block" today. Very dramatic. The print does recall a certain vague threat. Very well done. Thanks!

I'm getting there, I made up developer and blix today. I diluted a bit of glacial acetic acid to 28%. That clears out the sinuses!

Darkroom is a wonderful place to escape

 

[Don_ih]

I received Mt Washington Cog Rail from @Ben_P - very nicely printed and quite a spectacular view. Doesn't look like the kind of place you can get to that easily.

 

[mfohl]

I also received jvo's "most dangerous block". The negative treatment certainly makes it look dark and dangerous. You say it wasn't a problem, you probably weren't there at night!

Nice card, thanks James.

 

[mfohl]

I received a nice card from Michael Howard. Trail Gloom - Zion National Park. A shot taken under very unfriendly lighting conditions. But the tall structure does convey the essence of Zion. Nice shot. At first I thought it was Half Dome. Or at least half of Half Dome.

Thanks Michael!

 

[mshchem]

I received Michael Howard's Spring Bloom. Very nice card, buds popping out on trees. Thanks!!

 

[mshchem]

I mailed my prints today. 15 going to foreign addresses, 11 in the US.

 

[mfohl]

I just received drpsilver's "Tailgate Ornament", a photo of a most cooperative gull on a car or truck. The cloud was cooperative too. I can't believe you got that close with a 50mm lens. It must have been looking for a handout! Very nicely printed. Only minor scuffing from our friends at the postal service. Thanks Darwin!

 

[mshchem]

I just received drpsilver's "Tailgate Ornament", a photo of a most cooperative gull on a car or truck. The cloud was cooperative too. I can't believe you got that close with a 50mm lens. It must have been looking for a handout! Very nicely printed. Only minor scuffing from our friends at the postal service. Thanks Darwin!

Oh yeah, I received the wonderful gull photo yesterday. I thought the same thing. 50mm lens. Well done dpsilver!

 

[Don_ih]

Received an interesting card from @jvo - a negative "Most Dangerous Block" -- although it doesn't look that dangerous. But perhaps it's more dangerous at night, like Mark said up above. Cool choice, James. The image is more stark as a negative, I think, and perhaps more "edgy".

 

[Todd Barlow]

With apologies for being late, 24 in the mail today for my tranche and 3 more as thank-yous!

 

[Don_ih]

they should start trickling in shortly

One trickled in to me yesterday - The Patriarchs. It's a real nice photo of three stately peaks. I like the way you captured light even in the shadowy parts of the rocks. That you used a Konica slr makes me want to revisit mine (I only tested it out once - but I think I thought there was a focus issue (maybe I was wrong)). Thanks!

 

[Daniela]

Received @jvo 's "Most dangerous block". Very fitting negative image of a scene you'd see, but with a side you didn't know...thanks, James!

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#61 cards received as of Aug 9, 2024:

June 13 - Don_ih - Tire in a ditch - Well done, I feel the same way about a couch /chesterfield or chair left on the boulevard!
June 26 - Thorsten - Great Falls - I admire the photograph and shear amount of work to finish it the way you do, thanks!
June 26 - mfohl - Morning Tree - Well seen, captured and printed, the fence completes it.
June 28 - John Wilson - Rockwood Tree Trunk - I was there too! Was a great day cut too short. Rocks and Trees never get old!
July 2 - Daniela - Untitled - Great shot!, to me it conveys motion of the birds and the tower / smoke stock. I also like the corner of the roof of another building in the lower left it makes the photo more three dimensional.
July 11 - Jim Christie - Gallery Seating - Well seen and well done, I love it!
Aug 10 - Michael Howard - Trail Gloom-Zion National Park - Feelings of oppressive (light and heat) and impressive (rock structure), I like the white blob in the lower left, opposite to the fence & parking lines and the dark rock tower. Nice!
Aug 10 - JVO - most dangerous block - Way cool! The capture and the treatment!
Aug 10 - DRPSILVER - Tailgate Ornament - Gives the impression of a portrait of strength and power. Also the bird looking down saying to itself, "do they still make film for that?"

 

[Don_ih]

Two cool prints came today. The stately seagull from @drpsilver - a very proud looking bird. Yes, it certainly was cooperative, but I think it wanted it's portrait taken.

Second, from @mshchem, a long print (fully took up a #10 envelope) of a mural - in colour! Very nice print, Mike - the edge where you can see the blue sky around the corner is a bit surreal, since it's so sharply divided from the wall. Also, did they run out of paint or was the guy who did the left-hand side too short to reach the top?

 

[mshchem]

Two cool prints came today. The stately seagull from @drpsilver - a very proud looking bird. Yes, it certainly was cooperative, but I think it wanted it's portrait taken.

Second, from @mshchem, a long print (fully took up a #10 envelope) of a mural - in colour! Very nice print, Mike - the edge where you can see the blue sky around the corner is a bit surreal, since it's so sharply divided from the wall. Also, did they run out of paint or was the guy who did the left-hand side too short to reach the top?

I didn't crop as I didn't want to "edit" the original artist's work. This is no longer there. Not sure what the story is but I love this sort of art. Printing color negatives isn't bad once I figured out the filter pack

 

[Don_ih]

Printing color negatives isn't bad once I figured out the filter pack

Looks like you got it right to me. I enjoy colour enlarging every few years - and dread it up to the point when I decide to do it. But I don't shoot much colour film, anyway.

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#61 cards received as of Aug 12, 2024: Missed these four from my original post:
July 23 - Rob Skeoch - Red Pepper #4 with Orange Filter - Very nicely done Rob!
July 23 - KyleMika - The Point - Well seen and executed, gritty and urban.
July 23 - Ansel Mortensen - Window - I like the photograph, window & siding neat and tidy, with an acknowledgement that it may not remain so (hurricane fencing over the window) and failed protection resulting in jagged broken glass.
July 31 - Ben_P - Mt. Washington Cog Rail - Beautiful photograph, great tones and detail.

June 13 - Don_ih - Tire in a ditch - Well done, I feel the same way about a couch /chesterfield or chair left on the boulevard!
June 26 - Thorsten - Great Falls - I admire the photograph and shear amount of work to finish it the way you do, thanks!
June 26 - mfohl - Morning Tree - Well seen, captured and printed, the fence completes it.
June 28 - John Wilson - Rockwood Tree Trunk - I was there too! Was a great day cut too short. Rocks and Trees never get old!
July 2 - Daniela - Untitled - Great shot!, to me it conveys motion of the birds and the tower / smoke stock. I also like the corner of the roof of another building in the lower left it makes the photo more three dimensional.
July 11 - Jim Christie - Gallery Seating - Well seen and well done, I love it!
Aug 10 - Michael Howard - Trail Gloom-Zion National Park - Feelings of oppressive (light and heat) and impressive (rock structure), I like the white blob in the lower left, opposite to the fence & parking lines and the dark rock tower. Nice!
Aug 10 - JVO - most dangerous block - Way cool! The capture and the treatment!
Aug 10 - DRPSILVER - Tailgate Ornament - Gives the impression of a portrait of strength and power. Also the bird looking down saying to itself, "do they still make film for that?"