Postcard Exchange #29 Comments and Feedback

[drpsilver]

08 Sept 2013

Finally getting some time to craft my comments on the very nice cards I have received.

A nice portrait of a dog from hbooks. I received two prints, one of which had a lot of fingerprints on the back. Looked like fixer stains to me.
The card from Edcculus is very interesting. I especially like how you Incorporated the windows and reflections. Well done.
Flowing water - one of my favorite subjects. I really like the perspective that mooseontheloose used. The dark foreground balanced the bright sky, but neither detract from the flowing water. Well done.
It was a very pleasant surprise to get a cyanotyoe form kraker. Cyanotype is so easy, so difficult at the same time. You were very successful at you first attempt. Keep up your efforts, and thank you for the words of encouragement.
A photo of a fearsome trio from anikin. Sharp, good contrast, and very nicely done. I like the juxtaposition of old and new in this photo.
Mardan sent a portrait with a interesting lighting. The dark center really enhances the woman's facial features. Well done.
The card from jimo makes me ask where does this bridge go; where does it end? The bird seems to be asking the same.

Phone needs to be answered. Will continue in next post.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[drpsilver]

08 Sept 2013

Continuing from last post ...

The photos from bluejeh and bluejeh2 very different from each other - thank goodness all of us do not see the in the same way. Both of these prints use contrast very effectively. Both also have stories to tell. Nicely photographed and printed.
Nice night photo of a dragon head by Maximusklaudius. The photo is sharp despite having to pan while photographing. Nicely done.
Old buildings - another favorite subject for me. Steelbar's photo of a door also prompts questions about the history of this place. I really like the detail you successfully captured.
The photo from Trond invites me to "step into the water". I like how you used the elevated horizon line to incorporate the foreground. I received two cards.
Ed Bray's photo of an "Auto Coach" illustrates a "slice of history" that as been forgotten by many. Must be nice to see these trains run again.
A photo of a very interesting building from akitakita. It looks like there are a lot of photographic opportunities around this building. Nice night photo. I also received two of these.
I really like the print from piu58. The old paper, yellowed emulsion really accent the image you used. Thank you for a great image.
A intriguing beach scene from mesantacruz. I ask what going on in the shadows?
The photo from Peter Schrager illustrates that images cam be found anywhere. Wonder if this chair is beginning or ending its life?
Another example of "found art", MattKing's photo of some graffiti in an abandoned pump house.
I like the narrow dept of focus used by redrockcoulee to make the pillars "pop off the page".
The humor of the photo by Stephen Frizza is great. It brings new meaning to the term "monkeying around". I also received two of these. I like the inked fingerprint "seal" on the back of the envelope. This is one of my favorite images from this round.
I received a print from pilanni of a collodion self-portrait. I do not have their address in order to return the favor of receiving a nice print.
"Morning Ride ..." from, I believe, megzdad81 is an image that invites me to walk down this tunnel of trees.

I look froward to Round 30.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[piu58]

Yesterday I got a very fine card from Rüdiger (rst) , again a pin hole shot. This time form the Baltic sea. I enjoyed it very much.

 

[piu58]

Another card: Stonehenge form ozphoto. The clouds support the magical charisma of this place. Thank you!

 

[rince]

SORRY, SORRY, SORRY ... My cards are finally in the mail

 

[mesantacruz]

08 Sept 2013
...
A intriguing beach scene from mesantacruz. I ask what going on in the shadows?
...
Darwin

If you're referring to the foreground, it is a sand castle that had been left behind. And the tide has risen and so is slowly washing it away, which leads to the title of the photo...

TAKE ME HOME/WASHED AWAY

i was hoping to share some nostalgia/sadness, but most of all melancholy, which brings other memories to mind.

 

[megzdad81]

OK, I WILL complete my comments--I WILL ... in no particular order

Judy C -- Oxleyroad -- "Steam" : Pulling it out of the mailbox in the bright sun, it just looked so, metallic, what a neat photo and subject. Reminds me of photos my dad had of engine rooms in freighters from before WWII. Then once inside out of the bright light, I saw the steam--duh--nice subtle touch on the intangible object of steam. Very nice;
Steve Brown -- BoxBrownie -- "Merry-go-round" What an interesting capture of what I think is a pretty old machine. In the US the fence around the would be double-wall and padlocked, there'd be a much larger fence around the entire contraption, and the real give-away--we'd have the mandatory seatbelts! Thanks
Rudiger -- "Baltic Sea" -- Perhaps I'm having a residual drug effect, but I see a nexus of different shapes in the middle at the top of the pilings or stones. First the dominant rounds receding to exactly at the horizon, balanced on either side (almost) by the flat, smooth horizon, and then I'd swear there are/is a V-shape of cloud(s) coming down to a point at the end of the line of pilings. My eyes like to play with the image as a whole, not its parts. And you did all that with a pinhole shot. Hmmm ...
Ozphoto -- "Stonehenge" -- well, thanks. Now I'll never have to go there. And certainly not with a camera. I do truly wish the post office didn't have machinery that drooled all over post cards. Beautiful color, something I don't feel capable of mastering. Thank you.
Darwin -- drpsilver -- "Reflection" This can be interpreted in a number of ways in my twisted mind, but mostly I'm reminded of my own dad who tried to teach photography to a ignorant son who didn't learn what he had until it was gone ... Reflections constantly ...

More tomorrow--hand is cramped half closed.

 

[ozphoto]

OK, I WILL complete my comments--I WILL ... in no particular order

Judy C -- Oxleyroad -- "Steam" : Pulling it out of the mailbox in the bright sun, it just looked so, metallic, what a neat photo and subject. Reminds me of photos my dad had of engine rooms in freighters from before WWII. Then once inside out of the bright light, I saw the steam--duh--nice subtle touch on the intangible object of steam. Very nice;
Steve Brown -- BoxBrownie -- "Merry-go-round" What an interesting capture of what I think is a pretty old machine. In the US the fence around the would be double-wall and padlocked, there'd be a much larger fence around the entire contraption, and the real give-away--we'd have the mandatory seatbelts! Thanks
Rudiger -- "Baltic Sea" -- Perhaps I'm having a residual drug effect, but I see a nexus of different shapes in the middle at the top of the pilings or stones. First the dominant rounds receding to exactly at the horizon, balanced on either side (almost) by the flat, smooth horizon, and then I'd swear there are/is a V-shape of cloud(s) coming down to a point at the end of the line of pilings. My eyes like to play with the image as a whole, not its parts. And you did all that with a pinhole shot. Hmmm ...
Ozphoto -- "Stonehenge" -- well, thanks. Now I'll never have to go there. And certainly not with a camera. I do truly wish the post office didn't have machinery that drooled all over post cards. Beautiful color, something I don't feel capable of mastering. Thank you.
Darwin -- drpsilver -- "Reflection" This can be interpreted in a number of ways in my twisted mind, but mostly I'm reminded of my own dad who tried to teach photography to a ignorant son who didn't learn what he had until it was gone ... Reflections constantly ...

More tomorrow--hand is cramped half closed.

Ahh, but you *really* do have to visit in the flesh. It is truly a magical place and the photo, whilst giving you a great idea, doesn't capture the feeling of actually standing there, marvelling at the incredible feat of engineering! If you'd like another one - let me know and hopefully the wonderful Postal Service will take pity on us. . . .

 

[piu58]

Yesterday I received a very fine card from Dennis (rince). My wife said: A naked women! I know that you love that image!
The structure of the material is very good reproduced and has a good contrast to the brighter and slightly out of focus cathedral.

 

[Oxleyroad]

@megzdad81.

Many thanks. Glad to have reminded you of your dad's pictures. I think you'd like to see these old steam pumps in action. You can get right up to them and touch them if you are so inclined. OH&S and insurance still has not locked away the public at the Lock Nine pumps.

Oh and its Andy C. My hand writing can be appalling at times. Sorry.

 

[edcculus]

Hi all! I think I still owe come comments. Glad to see my postcards made it. I've started a new job and things have been pretty busy this summer, so I'll probably have to step out of the next round.

 

[rince]

@piu58
Glad to see that the 'naked woman' made it to your mailbox, since the nights get colder and we don't want her to catch a cold on the snail mail trail...

 

[megzdad81]

Oops, Andy--I was just looking at the signature. And I have a very healthy respect for steam, having worked in a power plant.

Mardan -- "Berlin" -- beautiful. Wonderful tones and the soft lighting used so well. Not all postcards would I want to hang on the wall, but this is one.

Judy Higham -- "Hedy's Vase" -- Excellent! The highlights are just right--I always overdo mine. So badly that I am working on learning to develop by inspection. Right now I have an "F". I am anxious to find some low key subjects to see if I can handle them any better. You, however, seem to have captured exactly the highlights and maximum Dmax, and yet there is apparent texture in the cloth the vase is sitting on. Very elegant capture of a simple still.
Ed Higham -- "Tree Monster" -- I don't know about monster. I see a tree being born, but I admit the hair is pretty ugly.

 

[MattKing]

I haven’t commented for way too long. In that time, I’ve enjoyed the arrival of a dozen more cards:


kraker - “Old Chestnut Tree” - A beautiful cyanotype - almost jewel-like
JimO - “alienis” - A moody and wonderfully uncertain image
megzdad81 - “Morning Ride” - Really makes great use of sun and shadows
mooseontheloose - “Haew Sai Waterfalls” - A very nice print, from another exotic and interesting location. I always look forward to Rachelle’s postcards
drpsilver - “Reflection” - Intriguing and complex combination of many elements. It made me think of the really difficult year Darwin has been dealing with. All the best, Darwin
hbooks - “A Dog in Port Aransas” - Excellent for a first print, and you can’t go wrong with a good shot of a dog!
ndrs - “Collodion Hat” - Makes me think of magic, and only partially because of the hat
BoxBrownie - “Merry-Go-Round” - My first reaction was it looked like winter light, which started to make sense when I saw it was from Australia
ozphoto - “Stonehenge” - I especially liked receiving a colour photo of Stonehenge in an APUG exchange - the temptation toward black and white was well resisted
Oxleyroad - “Steam” - A really interesting detail of a fascinating subject
George Nova Scotia - “Reflections” - A title just one letter different from Darwin’s - and yet a really different approach. Nicely printed too
rince - “Naked Lady” - I really like the angle of view, and the contrast between the figure in front and the background. Another excellent print as well


That's twenty down, and just four to come (Stephen Frizza, Christopher Coy, trsvax, and djhopscotch)


Thanks everyone for participating.

 

[piu58]

I found Reflections from George Richards a few day ago in my letterbox. Nice illusion of light, thank you!

 

[ChristopherCoy]

My negative is still sitting in the enlarger from the time that I was doing test prints! I hope to get into the darkroom over the weekend and finally get this done. I hate feeling guilty for being so late. My apologies!

Good news though, we are in the process of buying our house, which means I'll be building a dedicated darkroom out back after we close!

 

[jvo]

started to report on round 30....

i started to report on round 30 and found i mixed in some "late" 29 rounders, with some enthuisiastic 30 rounders. from...

oxleyroad "steam" - a wonderful pix with a wonderful story... warms your heart, (literally and figuratively!)
rince "statue" - sexy!, you worked hard this round dennis - thanks for hanging in there.
george nova scotia "reflections" - guess you anticipated the fall weather when choosing this neg!

thanks to each for the enjoyable photography... inspiring.

 

[kraker]

As I prepare to comment on round #30 cards, I discover a few round #29 cards that I have not yet commented on. First things first, so here goes:

rince, well-executed print of a life-like statue. This is what B&W was invented for. Lovely.
George Nova Scotia reflections, indeed, it is sometimes hard to know which way is up. Lots of possibilities, certainly a very interesting composition.
BoxBrownie Merry-go-Round, looks like an interesting (and when I say interesting, I mean dangerous-looking) contraption. Interesting find, interesting shot.

I may have overlooked a few more prints from round #29, or I may not (yet) have received all. Anyway, the "not commented on" stack is empty for now. Moving on to round #30!

 

[piu58]

Yesterday I found three photos from Mike Wilde in my letterbox: Andrew Sisters, Chappel Estate Cottage and Talking about prints. I love the variety of old papers and I am glad to have an example oft these papers now. Kodak Polymax II I knew in advance, I had some packages around 10 years ago.

 

[Oxleyroad]

21/30

rst - Baltic Sea. Rüdiger I really enjoy your pin hole pictures. Most people I show them to don't believe the detail shown can come from a pin hole

 

[jvo]

mike...

I received 3 cards from mike wilde today...

and your note on moving forward...

i've only been in 3 or 4 rounds of the exchange and have always enjoyed, (and dreaded~), your comments mike. as you move forward i will miss your insight, challenge, hard work and enthusiasm. your thoughts made a difference for me.

thank you and good luck - i look forward to the postcard exchange bug biting you again.

jvo

 

[Oxleyroad]

22/30

Mike Wilde - Got your postcards today. I understand totally where you are coming from. I am in a bit of the same situation. Do love seeing what papers I will get from you and enjoyed the pictures from this round.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I think I still have the PM from George with the addresses. I know its terribly late, but I'll try to get around to doing some printing in the next few weeks. If I do, it will be the first time in over a year and a half almost that my trays have chemicals in them. I have negatives still hanging in the same place I put them to dry over a year ago.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Hi Christopher, glad to hear you are still with us. I think a couple people have moved since then, I'll try and get you some updated addresses. If you don't see them by the weekend remind me. I think spring has finally arrived here and I have some grass cutting to attend to, let's hope the mower starts..