A/NZ PX Round #17 - Comments and Feedback

[hoffy]

Hey Folks,
You know the drill by now, but I go through the spiel as always!

Welcome to the 17th round of the A/NZ Print exchange. This will be the thread to make your comments on progress, critiques and general chit chat.

The list of participants:

1. Michael W
2. Ozxplorer
3. Carriage
4. Kevin Caulfield
5. hoffy

As per the signup thread, you have until the 1st of December to get your prints to me. My address details should have been sent to you in a separate PM.

As there are 5 participants, you have to print 4 images. Just remember, your prints are to be no more than 8 inches on the shortest side and 10 inches on the longest side. And as per the new clarification of the rules, we will no longer accept prints that have been made via digital means. This excludes: inkjet prints, mini lab prints, laser prints, etc - basically, if a computer sent it to the device that printed it, its out. Sorry, but the tribe has spoken.. If you need clarification, either send me a message OR post to this thread.

I have also attached the Information template that has been used for previous rounds.

Cheers and have fun!

 

[hoffy]

Hey Folks!

How are we all going? First update - I now have 2 delivered packages:

1. Michael W
2. Ozxplorer - Received
3. Carriage - Received
4. Kevin Caulfield
5. hoffy

I hope to get into the darkroom this weekend.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Blimey. I'm planning to get into the darkroom in the next day or two. We still have a month, or nearly right?

 

[Ozxplorer]

I hope to get into the darkroom this weekend.

Hello all, Grin... being a little ahead of the photo exchange program I’ve been very busy in my darkroom too... sorting through my “things” and cleaning everything. Dust being the enemy I try for a spotless state. My “eureka moment” was deducing that the unsealed cement floor is probably the prime source of dust being stirred up as I move around the room! My darkroom appears to have become more of a storeroom these days rather than the workspace it is intended to be... I’ve acquired so much “essential” gear, most of which will probably never be used, yet still needs my time for care & maintenance. The craft side is covered now just need to attend to the creative starting with getting the pictures to print! I look forward to receiving Round 17 prints in due course... Take care,

 

[Michael W]

It'll be a few weeks for me I think. Limited darkroom access at the moment.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Okay, just a quick update. I went into the darkroom yesterday and printed a batch but wasn't completely happy with them. So I went back into the darkroom today (it's awesome having a dedicated darkroom) and ended up printing something similar but different. Prints are drying as we speak. I plan to put them in the mail at some stage next week, maybe even Monday. Tuesday is of course a holiday for the race that stops a nation.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

By the way, Michael W, don't stress about the printing. As far as I'm concerned, if you're a little bit late it doesn't concern me at all.

 

[Michael W]

Hi Kevin, thanks, although the way I see it, I'm not late unless I go beyond the end of Nov. It's the rest of you who are too damn early.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Hi Kevin, thanks, although the way I see it, I'm not late unless I go beyond the end of Nov. It's the rest of you who are too damn early.

Hi Michael, I agree. You're definitely not late unless you go beyond November, but I was saying it's fine by me if you end up doing that.

 

[Carriage]

Yeah, things just lined up the way they did in terms of timing for me

 

[Michael W]

I think there's a pretty good chance that my prints will be in the post this week.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

I'll try to get to the post office tomorrow.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Quick update. I put my prints in the mail today. Ashley, just a quick apology. The lady gave me three stamps which I licked and placed on the package while she printed the return postage. But she had intended the stamps to be for the return postage. So we had to unstick them. They will need a dab of glue, sorry. Looking forward to seeing the other prints.

 

[hoffy]

Can you believe it:

1. Michael W - Received
2. Ozxplorer - Received
3. Carriage - Received
4. Kevin Caulfield - Received
5. hoffy - Printed

I am thinking I might be able to get them in the post early next week. Thanks everyone for sticking to the time lines.

 

[hoffy]

Update folks...... I know I said I would get them in the post over the weekend, but I have a confession - I didn't. I have been umming and ahhing about doing a touch of spotting on mine, something that I haven't done before. Truth be know, I screwed up the first one (it was the reject), so now I am reconsidering. Regardless of what happens, I will sort them out over the weekend, so we still stick to the deadline.

Sorry for dragging the chain folks.

 

[Michael W]

My tips for spotting - have a clean, good quality water colour brush, fine tip, like a 00. Be subtle with the spotting, small touches with the tip of the brush, which is not loaded with dye but has just a small amount. The tone you add should be a touch lighter than the surrounding tones. The worst mistake that most people make with spotting is to add a spot that is too dark, turning the white spot into a black one. Have test strips that you can test on so you are confident you are putting the correct tone onto the good prints. On the bright side you only have to do four.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Good luck with the spotting, hoffy. I've never really done spotting, not properly anyway.

 

[Tony Egan]

Re spotting tips. I have one of those small plastic palettes with about 8 bowls and mix different dilutions from pure black to pale white and then let them dry first. Applying a barely wet brush to the dry ink to pick up colour and then jabbing it repeatedly with a very vertical motion with just the point of the brush is best method. Too much water creates a puddle on the print with the ink receding to the outside creating a halo followed closely by a burst of rather offensive swearing! (or occasional references to the Scottish play) Less is more with spotting. Good luck.

 

[hoffy]

So, I gave it a try. No where near perfect. But I gave it a try. I only spotted one white mark on the print. I reduced it, but there is still a spot. Lets play, "spot the spot" when you get your prints!

Prints will be in the post to all of you early this week.

 

[Michael W]

I'll break out the magnifying glass.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Re spotting tips. I have one of those small plastic palettes with about 8 bowls and mix different dilutions from pure black to pale white and then let them dry first. Applying a barely wet brush to the dry ink to pick up colour and then jabbing it repeatedly with a very vertical motion with just the point of the brush is best method. Too much water creates a puddle on the print with the ink receding to the outside creating a halo followed closely by a burst of rather offensive swearing! (or occasional references to the Scottish play) Less is more with spotting. Good luck.

I love the reference to the Scottish play. It took me a few seconds to get the reference

 

[hoffy]

And...... we're in the post!

Thanks Folks

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

And.... the prints have arrived in suburban Melbourne! Great set of prints too. I'll make some comments, sooner rather than later this time. By the way, I made some comments just recently on the previous round if you haven't seen them.

 

[hoffy]

Good to see that they made it to you safe and sound!

 

[Ozxplorer]

Good to see that they made it to you safe and sound!

Ashley, my package arrived today too! Thanks for your contribution to the group...