MSA O/N November 2023 - "Letterbox/Letterboxes"

[Mick Fagan]

I thought we could have a look at letterboxes as it appears they may be living on borrowed time, especially if you think of how little we personally use them these days. Apart from government letters, or business bills, I receive almost no personal mail these days. It may be that in the not too distant future, many letterboxes may disappear from our landscape.

Letterboxes in any shape or form, including post boxes, which are those where we post letters that the postal system picks letters up.

One last thing, I'm unsure as to when exactly we should consider the competition has ended. On the last day in November in the Americas, we, on this side of the world, are already in December.
Don't worry, we over here will wait for you.


Nikon F3 Sigma 24mm lens
Neopan 400 D76 1:1

"Do Not Bend"

{Moderator Matt's addition:
Another intriguing theme.
Here is the link to the Guidelines: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...5-07-2019-07-and-2021-12.126124/#post-1667700
A reminder - shot on film please. Please be sure to note whether submissions are "NEW" - taken in November 2023 -or "OLD" - taken before this month.
I'll do my magic with Sticky threads and I'll update the list of themes thread - found here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/msa-themes-to-date-november-2023.156455/ - as well.}

 

[MattKing]

Thread title tweaked and I've done my magic with Sticky threads and the list of themes to date.
And I'm quite confident that submissions including mail slots will be accepted .

 

[4season]

[Old]
1995 Osaka Japan
Nikon F4, 35-70 f/2.8AF Nikkor zoom lens
Kodak Ektachrome EPN100 (?)
Adjustments made in Adobe Lightroom: +0.44 Exposure, crop and curve adjustment.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Matt, if by talking about mail slots, are you meaning the front door mail flaps that are seen around the world?

If so, not a problem; they are just another version of a letterbox, albeit a rather large letterbox.

 

[Mick Fagan]

4season, love the deep red.

I've just had a thought (dangerous I know) I was wondering how many countries have red public letterboxes?

All public letterboxes in Australia are red.

Presumably, those in Japan are also red.

 

[Daniela]

Awesome theme! They are yellow here in France. Can't wait to see what they look like everywhere else!
Btw, I hope our little postcard exchange will help prevent letterboxes' doom

 

[peter k.]

Ah ha what a creative new assignment ... don't have any OLD photos of mail slots or boxes, didn't think anybody else would either, but as usual we where wrong.

Soooo the challenge in on to POST a shot.

 

[Don_ih]

the challenge in on to POST a shot.

Hahaha

I think I have a number of photos of mailboxes but I hate looking for photos so much, I'll go get something new.

 

[MattKing]

Matt, if by talking about mail slots, are you meaning the front door mail flaps that are seen around the world?

If so, not a problem; they are just another version of a letterbox, albeit a rather large letterbox.

Interesting - it appears that I actually mis-read the theme.
Perhaps because it is not unusual thing around here to see a separate box or structure for receiving delivered mail. So I thought you meant those - rather than the boxes used to drop off mail to be mailed.
But if either type is fine - great.

 

[4season]

Had I shot this just a little bit later, it could've qualified as New!

Oct 2023, Minolta Hi Matic-F, Lomo 400 CN. Typical deep blue USA mail boxes.

 

[Roger Thoms]

This is the first photo I ever posted in the Gallery so definitely in the old category. Nikon N8008s, Nikkor AF 35-135mm, f3.5-4.5, scan of an Ilford postcard print.

 

[Mick Fagan]

4season, I take it from your almost new, picture, that public mailboxes in the USA are "Blue".

So Red in Australia and Japan, Yellow in France, and Blue in the USA. Could be an interesting colour list by the end of the month.

Edited to add Japan.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Matt, and all others, if a letter goes through the slot, slit or whatever kind of hole is provided; it is by definition a letterbox.

In short, whatever the kind of container, if a letter goes there, it is acceptable.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Roger Thoms, is that barbed wire wrapped around the letterbox?

 

[Roger Thoms]

Yes, that’s barbed wire, this was take about 30km east of Flagstaff, Az. Sadly the property was abandoned and the mailbox is no longer there.

Roger

 

[Mick Fagan]

Thanks Roger, I wonder if the barbed wire was placed there to stop birds sitting on top of the letterbox and Posting some fresh Guano.

Terrible pun, but I couldn't help myself.

 

[peter k.]

Haaha ... ah ha ... nah!

The barbed wire was not fer da birds, for the few who would come, they would just sit on top of the wire, POSTING many a thank you, to the mail man and owner, for having such a nice place to sit and rest off the ground, ... as there are no trees really around in that area.

No the barbed wire was placed dar, to keep the roaming wild life of the area, from AIR MAILING the post into the ground

Oh my .... its time to find a mail box to picture myself in.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Thanks Roger, I wonder if the barbed wire was placed there to stop birds sitting on top of the letterbox and Posting some fresh Guano.

Terrible pun, but I couldn't help myself.

That is a truly terrible pun and I approve.

Here’s another “old catagory” image, taken in my neighborhood here in San Francisco. Pretty sure this was my Nikon F6 and a Nikkor AF 28-70mm f2.8.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Oh my .... its time to find a mail box to picture myself in.

Perhaps writing on a Post-it Note, may help you to remember.........

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

4season, I take it from your almost new, picture, that public mailboxes in the USA are "Blue".

So Red in Australia and Japan, Yellow in France, and Blue in the USA. Could be an interesting colour list by the end of the month.

Edited to add Japan.

Red in Canada, like most Common Wealth countries...

Here's mine. Old.
8x10 HP5. Xtol 1+1. Abandoned apartment in Japan.

 

[awty]

This is the first photo I ever posted in the Gallery so definitely in the old category. Nikon N8008s, Nikkor AF 35-135mm, f3.5-4.5, scan of an Ilford postcard print. View attachment 352320

Very nice picture Roger, I like the bland harsh open landscape adds to the barb wire and a feeling of isolation.

 

[awty]

Red in Canada, like most Common Wealth countries...

Here's mine. Old.
8x10 HP5. Xtol 1+1. Abandoned apartment in Japan. View attachment 352468

Wonderful textures Andrew.

 

[Ian David]

Here is an old one
Corsica 2004
Hasselblad + 80mm; Fuji Neopan 400; DD-X I think
neg scan here (crop, contrast)

For Nov MSA - The Casabiancas' Letterbox

• Ian David
• Nov 6, 2023
• 2

 

[markjwyatt]

Older one. Contax iia, Voigtlander SC Skopar 21mm f4; Ilford HP5+.


Mail Boxes, WMich by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

 

[Ian David]

And another old one...
London 2003 (Dental Surgery with letterbox!)
Hasselblad + 80mm; Delta 3200
neg scan here (crop, contrast, edge burn)

For Nov MSA - Dental Surgery

• Ian David
• Nov 6, 2023

Sure I'd trust this guy with my dental care...