Asking for some suggestions on improvements

gr82bart · May 30, 2006

So I'd like to hear from the particpants and non-particpants on how to improve the blind print exchange. Some ideas I have received:

Regionalize the exchange when pairing up the particpants to reduce the postage burden. This can be done easily as the pairing up excercise just turns into a number of 'daisy chains'. I do this already actually - the daisy chain, not the regionalization. For example, I had two chains in the last round - one for those attending the APUG Conference and one for those that didn't.
Themes. Have a specific theme or topic for the print to be exchanged. We can accomplish the theme via a poll, perhaps.
Stagger the exchanges - between the group and blind exchange. This is also easy to do and I understand due to the postage burden. Nige has already started Round 7 of the Postcard Exchange. All the other exchanges appear to be finishing off at the end of May.
Leave it alone.

Any other thoughts. Your input is very much appreciated.

Also, I'd like to get an idea why there are few particpants from Asia. Please tell me via PM or post a message here. I'd like to understand why and do something to see more particpants from Asia. If it means regionalizing to reduce the postage cost, please tell me. It is very easy to do in the next round.

Thanks everyone, Art.

BWGirl · May 30, 2006

I really like the unpredictablility of this print exchange. I also have no problem with mailing a print anywhere...well, anywhere within the range of UPS, FedEx, Postal Service.

Themes are tough... could be good, could be hard. Most of us shoot what we shoot (we are stuck in a rut) haha

Staggering the exchanges has pluses and minuses as well... if the exchanges are at the same time (group & blind), you can print everything up at once. It's tougher when the postcard exchange falls during the same time, cause that's a pretty large printing commitment, and an entirely different format.

I'd like to see more participation from Asia, too and also from new members! This is a great exchange, and easy to do if you are just getting into doing an exchange.

So lots of help, aren't I Art? haha

dschneller · May 30, 2006

If there may be a postal burden for some participants they could possibly indicate that before the pairings are made. Otherwise I have no issues with sending a print anywhere.

I would stay away from themes as I like being surprised by the different variety of styles and subjects.

Dave

reellis67 · May 30, 2006

The only problem that I have with sending prints outside the country is that I have to go to the post office to do it, due to customs forms. This means that I can only send on a Saturday between 8am and noon, and if I need to do something else then, my print has to sit for another week, or two, or three. Typicaly, this is not a big problem, so I don't really worry about it, but sometimes it makes me miss the deadlines. As to costs, the postcard exchange costs me a lot more than the print exchange does, and since some people are sending %80+ of their cards overseas, I'm not going to complain about it too much.

As far as staggering the exchanges, I could go either way on it. It does take me some time to make a print for the exchange, so having time to do the work without having to print postcards, alt process prints, etc. would help, but I still could go either way.

- Randy

David A. Goldfarb · May 30, 2006

I like sending and receiving prints to and from faraway places, so I'm less inclined toward regionalization.

Themes--well maybe that can be yet another kind of print exchange. I'm okay with the randomness of the Blind Exchange.

BWKate · May 30, 2006

I'm with David on the sending and receiving prints from faraway places. It's part of the appeal. No themes please. I think alot of people have their own "themes" going on already. Just my 2cents.

Yes, it's a bit of a financial burden to send out all the postcards but......it's so much fun. I think I'll let go of bugging people that don't send their postcards.(It will be hard but I will try!) If you can't send, then don't sign up!!!!!!! I'm like you Art, I expect people to honour their committments, but on the other hand I do understand when things happen and you can't participate.

Staggering the exchanges seems like a good idea.

roteague · May 30, 2006

I agree with David, I like receiving prints from friends in faraway places - someday, I hope to get a real, genuine Ole print, since I may never visit that part of the world.

Themes -- don't work for me, since I will be sending color prints, and themes that work in B&W may not work at all in color. Additionally, I am best at shooting those things I have a passion for; old buildings and cars, don't do anything for me.

BWKate · May 30, 2006

Note to everyone,

Do not send photos of buildings or cars to Robert if you get him in an exchange!!!!!

You'll have to tell us what you do like to receive photos of.

gr82bart · May 30, 2006

BWKate said:
Do not send photos of buildings or cars to Robert if you get him in an exchange!!!!!

LOL!

I think Robert likes recieveing them (my guess), but not shooting them! Though I saw a terrific pic of buildings and boats at the APUG Conference that was taken by Robert....

Art.

jlsmackenzie · May 30, 2006

I am new to Apug and all these exchanges, but would like to start participating. My thoughts are :

Regionalize, for me I wouldn't mind sending my photos anywhere. I usually find it is not to expensive, as long as people don't mind waiting. (I usually send thing via the slowest method available, therfore cheapest) The guy at my post office is alway very helpful. Plus, I think that it would be cool to receive an image from somewhere else.

Themes, I am not a big fan of this. Mostly because I love to shoot what I love to shoot. But it could as be interesting, maybe get me to shoot something other than what I love to shoot and add some diversity and creativity to my work.

Stagger the exchanges, since I have not been apart of any of these exchanges I can not speak much on this. I am always in and out of the darkroom on a regular basis. So it is never a problem for me to go in for an hour or so to print up something for the exchange.

Those are just a few of my thoughts as a newbie!

gr82bart · May 30, 2006

BWGirl said:
So lots of help, aren't I Art? haha

Jeanette, you're such a hoot!

dschneller said:
If there may be a postal burden for some participants they could possibly indicate that before the pairings are made.

Hi Dave, I think that's an excellent idea. I hope that people would not be 'afraid' to PM me their constraints. It's completely understandable.

BWKate said:
I'm with David on the sending and receiving prints from faraway places. It's part of the appeal.

Kate, Robert and David (others),

Thanks for the thoughts and feedback. I too agree with this statement.

The reason I brought this 'regionalization' business up is that Dave Miller asked a related question about a UK Only Blind Print Exchange and quickly got particapants that never particpated before. So I think he's on to something.

I see that many of you don't like the theme idea. Whew! I don't either, but thought I'd ask anyway.

jlsmackenzie said:
Those are just a few of my thoughts as a newbie!

Newbie thoughts are most welcome. Sometimes it takes a new perspective on things to set'em straight again. I hope you'll particpate in the next round.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, comments and feedback. It's most appreciated. Please keep them coming.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get more particpants from Asia. I know you guys are out there. Please tell me - PM me or e-mail me if you want to be more private about it. You can send me an e-mail in your language - just make sure you say APUG in English somewhere. I can get it translated.

There's at least 4 or 5 members in Japan. A few folks in Singapore and Malaysia have introduced themselves. I know we have more. Is it cost? Time? Clarity or understanding? Whatever it is, I'd like to know so that I can address it appropriately. Thanks in advance.

Also, there are quite a few Eastern Europeans who are members as well. South Asians and Africans. Please tell me why you are not participating. In private if you want to. I'd really like to address how we can overcome whatever barriers are preventing you from participating. Thanks.

Regards, Art.

David A. Goldfarb · May 30, 2006

There's no reason there can't be regional print exchanges like Dave Miller's as well as big international print exchanges like this one. The more the merrier!

gr82bart · May 30, 2006

David A. Goldfarb said:
There's no reason there can't be regional print exchanges like Dave Miller's as well as big international print exchanges like this one. The more the merrier!

I totally agree. Like I said, I think he's on to something good. Exchanges are a way to develop the APUG community. Hopefully folks will 'graduate' to the larger one, one day! Heck, these are so fun, I'd personally like to do them all.

Regards, Art.

jeroldharter · May 30, 2006

I have not participated yet but I plan to do so next time.

Why not let people exchange with as many others as desired versus exchanging with just one person? Some parts of the year I might want to exchange with 10 people and other times none for example.

I don't like themes. I like the notion that people could send me what they like to print regardless of what I like. I think the freer it is the better.

David A. Goldfarb · May 30, 2006

If you want to exchange with many people, join the Group Exchange, rather than the Blind Exchange. In the Group Exchange the organizer forms groups of about 4-6 people, and you print up enough for the whole group. I suppose you could join two groups if you wanted to print ten prints. The Alt-Process Exchange works this way too, with groups of 3-4.

jeroldharter · May 30, 2006

David A. Goldfarb said:
If you want to exchange with many people, join the Group Exchange, rather than the Blind Exchange. In the Group Exchange the organizer forms groups of about 4-6 people, and you print up enough for the whole group. I suppose you could join two groups if you wanted to print ten prints. The Alt-Process Exchange works this way too, with groups of 3-4.

OK. Thanks. I never new what group exchange was. Guess I could have figured it out. I think I would like doing both.

Gay Larson · May 30, 2006

I enjoy all the print exchanges, I love sending to people I have never met. I hope they enjoy it too. I long to hear from them that they at least received the print. I anxiously await the exchange prints meant for me and am so excited when one comes. I have experienced my first disappointment in not receiving prints yet for two exchanges but still have hope they'll come. I think that everyone who enters the exchanges expects to pay postage. If the print is not matted, it's not too expensive and most that I have gotten have not been mounted or matted and that's just fine with me. I really don't like the idea of themes, after all wasn't there a monthly theme shoot that went away for lack of interest? I always flounder around for a creative idea and if I can't think of one, I don't want to play. I appreciate so much those of you who have coordinated these exchanges. A great big Thank You.

Nige · May 31, 2006

jeroldharter said:
Why not let people exchange with as many others as desired versus exchanging with just one person? Some parts of the year I might want to exchange with 10 people and other times none for example.

There is another exchange that can take place... you can post pics into the Exchange Gallery (although that only works for subscribers I guess) and make up additional one-on-one exchanges if you want. The Group/Blind exchange work for all us too lazy to go thru the gallery method!

photobum · May 31, 2006

Art, a bit beyond what you asked for but... A few years back I attended a Leica seminar on Cape Cod. A three day contest had as it's subject "RED". Next morning I found myself with two dozen others shooting a red fishing boat. Not one of the photo's in the contest were anything like anyone else's.

One of my favorite photos last year was taken at the Asbury Park get together. I would like a local exchange from an APUG meet. It's just amazing how we see a subject differently.

BWKate · May 31, 2006

I have also done a couple of private exchanges with people from apug that I commented on their photo and we got to talking and we decided to exchange photos!

I have done an exchange with this really nice chap from Iceland and was that ever cool! I highly recommend it.

joeyk49 · Jun 1, 2006

I like the current format. It ain't broke...so don't fix it!

I might go for other exchanges, like a regional or a thematic exchange. I'd find it very interesting to see how others, espeically Jerseyans(even new ones like MenacingTourist) would interpret the same scene or subject. But I think the Blind Print Exchange is just fine the way it is; especially with Art running it!

Cheers.

Asking for some suggestions on improvements

gr82bart

BWGirl

dschneller

reellis67

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

BWKate

roteague

BWKate

gr82bart

jlsmackenzie

gr82bart

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

gr82bart

jeroldharter

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

jeroldharter

Gay Larson

Nige

photobum

BWKate

joeyk49

Asking for some suggestions on improvements

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

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