Postcard Exchange #29 Comments and Feedback

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mooseontheloose

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3 more in the mail today!

A lovely portrait "#29, Berlin" by Mardan

And two cards that could almost be mirror images of each other...the trees fading off the the left in "Morning Ride" by (megzdad81? - no name, but from Tennessee), and the pier fading off to the right in "alienis" by JimO.
 

jvo

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2 more

from
judy haigham, hedy's vase
ed higham, tree monster

very interesting, and enjoyable - my granddaughter especially appreciated the tree monster - at age 4 she didn't want to go for a walk in the woods that day!

jvo
 

Mike Wilde

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Many cards had been added to the pile. Now finally commented on. I am just back from a week away wilderness canoeing, and also have a fair number of email to answer and file at work.

My envelopes for cards are all addressed and stamped, and hopefully I will get prints made in the coming week.
I am the only one home this week with the balance of the family dispatched at camps, but I have also been busy getting caught up on backlogged laundry and yard work and drying tents and tarps prior to storing them away.

Anikin – Airport Security – Korean Style. A neat capture of another culture and its’ traditional fashions. Only one guy seems to be eyeing you, so your street shooting style must be pretty good. Niggling critique- the ER in the upper corner – I would have cropped that out of the frame – it really pulls your eye away from what the real focus of this image is. I know with street you cannot always control the background elements.

Bluejeh- Hedy’s Vase- a very well executed still life, with a full gamut of tones. I enjoy the way it hangs so well, while breaking a number of supposed still life ‘rules’.

Bluejeh2- Tree Monster – yes, a nice interpretation of the root void, ready to swallow you up. Good focus, range of tones, and an appropriate low key rendering of the image. Quibble with the borders – I suspect you have access to a roller easel and roller processor for your print making, because the borders are cut unevenly, with a part of the next image on the edge of this one. More care in cutting would have increased its’ overall impact.

Ed Bray- Historical Locomotive units in service. I love shots like this, with the historical backstory include. Sharp, as you would hope a 5x7 negative would render the scene. Great timing and placement of the engine relative to the telegraph post and crossing pointsman’s or gatesman’s shed. Good shadow detail. I might have pushed the development a bit to counter the slightly low contrast lighting at play here, but the way you have rendered the print works well also.

Jim O Alienis- or The Bridge at sun rise/set – Nice layout of the elements in the frame. Neat to see the burn out of the elements at the right, but I wonder what it might have looked like with the use of an unsharp mask to cut the overall scene negative sandwich brightness ratio. The bird on the post provides a nice foreground element to aid in establishing the scale of the scene. I might have tried the shot from a bit lower vantage point, to see if I could put more of the bird so it would not blend with the background structure.

Kraker – Hillside- A wonderful cyanotype, with beautiful paper texture that mates well with the subject matter. Nice subject matter to begin with , a pastoral hillside cope of trees. Good coating – foam brush or some sort of other brush I surmise. If this is your first jab at cyanotype, you are off to a fine start; let the enlarged negative making begin!

Mardan – Part of a portrait series. A classic figure study portrait, with a good rendition of tones in the print achieved I surmise from the careful placement of light source, camera viewpoint and sitter. It would be nice to have seen the whole series. Good skin tone detail – I surmise this was shot on something larger than 35mm.

Megzda81(I think from other clues on this thrread) Morning Ride – a very nice low key image, with subtle shafts of light slicing delicately depicted through the tree canopy that arches over the roadway. Nice placement of the far curb emanating from the corner of the frame, and leading our eye further in.

Mesantacruz- The Pacific at Dusk- A nice low key print achieved with careful long exposure to lend texture to the water flow, and a degree of luck that the figures in the background have not moved too much. Good placement of horizon, and leading line of shorefront across the diagonal lower third of the print.

Moose on the loose – Haew Si Waterfall –So great print and no IR this time, Rachelle! An inspired use of ND and polarizer to pull this off at mid day with the shutter speed slow down to give texture to the water flow. Excellent shadow/blackness placement and grade selection on the paper to achieve the final print.

Peter Schrager – Hollywood Back Lot. Neat subject matter- stored late 50’s or earlier chair and ephemera. I think the image would have more punch if it was printed on a higher grade of paper though, if the negative could work that way. Things are a little muddy in the print for my liking as they stand presently. When I am beholden to the subject matter, I print the image, and then put it on the floor and view it from upside down. The first glance lets me see if the image tones hold together to give a pleasing form and tonality before my brain goes to work to decode what the actual subject in the image is.

Piu58 – Thistle in Snow. A wonderful warm toned image of a simple nature still life on a cream paper base. Careful examination of the back reveals it to be some sort of Agfa postcard stock horded from long ago. So pleased it has seen the light of day.

Redrockcoulee – Weathered Pillars – Nice detail in the grain of the old boards. I like the shimmering out of focus water in the background, and the overall placement of elements within the image. I am not so enamored with the grey tones that the snow in the foreground has been render. I would like to see what some filter adjustment, or split tone printing work might do to put more snap in the foreground snow. I am not trying to be too down on you, and hope to see more images from you in future exchanges.

Steelbar- The Boat Building Shed- I like the framing of the image element. Vertical stay vertical which is key in this sort of shot. Skillful placing of the person door slightly to the upper left, and letting the rail in the floor lead from the corner of the print into that element. Good exposure to get wood grain detail, and nice enhancement of the shadows in the print with a gently applied soak in selenium.

Steven Frizza – Mr. Jiggs- A great reprint, with a fine caption. Love the old polaroid rendered in the image. It must have been the photographers light ratio confirmation tool, and just used for the monkey to be so enthralled by it. Good selection of paper contrast to give strong blacks and near clear whites. Neat envelope sealed with an inked finger print.

Trond -Shore – Not quite symmetrical, but the image works well by breaking that rule. Nice leading lines of light, and defined by the channel though the reeds. Neat some sort of animal print in the foreground, or maybe I am reading too much into that area, having launched from similar viewpoints for the last week of canoeing. Bold wide borders work well to mate with the image. Well executed.

So maybe to heavy on the critique, but I think we can all become better photographers from the careful feed back of others.
A more measured approach rather than just a quick 'got the print', and that is all the feedback you offer.

Now on to get my own printing under way.
 

ozphoto

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At last I'm back in BKK and there are some great cards in my postbox! I'll comment later this week and will be posting mine as well. Apologies all for the delay - work can often get in the way of much more important things. :wink:
 

ozphoto

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Just a quick update, for the cards I've received:

Matt King - Pumphouse Graffiti
Trond - Shore
Red Rock Cuulee - Weathered Pillars
Uwe Pilz - Little Cat
Mardan - Portrait 3:15
Rachelle - Khao Yai Waterfall
Steven Frizza - Mr Jiggs
Jimo - Alienis
megzdad81 - Morning Ride
mesantacruz - Beach at Sunset

It was great to have some "happy" mail amongst the bills; looking forward to many more!
 

Ed Bray

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Just a quick update, for the cards I've received:

Matt King - Pumphouse Graffiti
Trond - Shore
Red Rock Cuulee - Weathered Pillars
Uwe Pilz - Little Cat
Mardan - Portrait 3:15
Rachelle - Khao Yai Waterfall
Steven Frizza - Mr Jiggs
Jimo - Alienis
megzdad81 - Morning Ride
mesantacruz - Beach at Sunset

It was great to have some "happy" mail amongst the bills; looking forward to many more!

A bit worrying you have not received mine as the last of mine were sent over 6 weeks ago. :sad:
 

drpsilver

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02 Aug 2013

After long last I have my cards printed and toned. All i need to do is label and post them to the group. Hopefully this will happen by Monday.

This spring and summer has been a "season of goodbyes". The loss of my Mom, Uncle, and Dad (the real shock) as well as Donna's (my wife) Mom is such a short time has been very hard. The fortunate thing is that all died quickly and peacefully with loving people at their side.

Photography has been in many ways a "healing art" keeping me focused on the larger picture. Dad did photography when he was growing-up in Detroit, and encouraged me take lots of pictures. I really miss him a lot.

Hope you like the image I selected.

Regards,
Darwin
 

Oxleyroad

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14/30

Five more this week.

mardan - Portrait. Beautiful metallic look to the model.
jimo - alienis. It looks like the pier is disappearing into the fog, or the fog is consuming the pier.
mooseontheloose - Haew Sai Waterfalls. Would not have thought that this was taken in the midday sun. Looks so calm and cool.
bluejeh - Hedy's Vase. I just can't help staring into the detail of the glass.
bluejeh2 - Tree Monster. My 7 yo son and 5 yo daughter both spotted the monster at their first glances at the post card. It took me a little longer. The joys of being young and innocent.

Thanks everyone. My cards are yet to go out. Only half printed to date.
 
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I received a few more lovely cards this week

Matt King - "Pump House Graffiti" nicely printed card I like the tone you have achieved in the developer / selenium combo with this paper.

Anikin - "Korean Style" - cool guys but like you said I wouldn't want to mess with them! really nice printing.

Mooseontheloose - "Haew Suwat Waterfalls" the location of your image is amazing and makes me want to go there. Your card highlights one of the things I love about this exchange, its a window on a part of the world I may have otherwise never seen. thankyou.

"Morning Ride" - Im not sure who the photographer of this image is? but the print has a lovely mood. I wish we had streets like this in Australia!

Jacco de Kraker - YAY a cyanotype! you have me interested is the paper pre cut postcard material made by fabriano? thank you for going to the lengths of making an alternate print.

Steelbar - "The Boat Building Shed" - nice image is that railway track in the wooden floor? and is this a small door in a larger door?
 

drpsilver

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07 Aug 2013

To All:

My cards went to the post office on Sunday last. You should land in your mail box soon (depending on speedy the postal service is). :smile:

Regards,
Darwin
 

Mike Wilde

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Another delay - my sister is ill, so now I am the one caring for my mom after her cataract surgery over the weekend. Not that I don't love and mind caring for my mom, but yet another set back for getting into the darkroom.

Middle age, with all of the demands on my time.....
I think I might actually let the next postcard round happen without me.
Which would suck in a way, because I have been at it continuously since R14 way back when Randy coordinated it. He has dropped out of sight with family committments too.
 

drpsilver

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10 Aug 2013

To All:

I just made a big BOBO. I tryied to post my comments to the cards I have recieved, and the "system" ate it!:sad: I did not back-up before I sent the reply. I know that APUG does and "Auto-Save", but I have no idea on how to get to those files. I have leared a big lesson - save big posts before sending them to APUG.

At any rate I have received a lot of really great photos, too bad my commets are lost and I am too frustrated to recreate them now. I have received cards from ...
akitakita
anikin
bluejeh
bluejeh2
Ed Bray
Educculus
hbooks
JimO
zkraker
labcoat
Mardan
MattKing
Maximuskladius
Megzdad81
mesantacruz
mooseontheloose
Peter Schrager
piu58
redrockcoulee
Steelbar
Stephen Frizza
Trond

Thank you all!

Regards,
Darwin
 

jvo

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i won't be the last...

Another delay - my sister is ill, so now I am the one caring for my mom after her cataract surgery over the weekend. Not that I don't love and mind caring for my mom, but yet another set back for getting into the darkroom.

Middle age, with all of the demands on my time.....
I think I might actually let the next postcard round happen without me.
Which would suck in a way, because I have been at it continuously since R14 way back when Randy coordinated it. He has dropped out of sight with family committments too.

to tell you to take care of family business, don't worry about the delay!

i appreciate your participation - inspired by the creative images you send, and gain insight by your thoughtful (sometimes incisive) comments. it would be a shame to have you skip a round but perfectly understandable.

be well

jvo
 

piu58

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Dear photographers,

I was offline during 2 week of vacation. In the meantime I got quite a lot of cards! Thank you all:

Morning ride - no name given
old chestnur tree - kraker ( a very special card, thank you a lot!)
Waterfalls in the Khao Yai Par - mooseontheloose
alienis - jimo
vines - Edcculus
dog in port Aranja - no name given
robot - rozzle
reflection - darwin
table & chairs - labcoat
hard hat - ndrs
 

Mardan

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I have received cards from ...
Andrew from Montreal - i really love that one!!!
Ed Higham - the tree monster :smile: scary!
Judy Higham - hedy´s vase
mooseonthelose - the beautiful waterfall
jimo i like it!
Aiken the wonderful morning ride!
ndrs ein schöner schwarzer Hut auf grünem Rasen - das hat was!!!

Thank you all! I'm always happy when I find a postcard between all the bills!!!:whistling:
 
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Mardan

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Yesterday I received an outstanding portrait form Mareen Zirkenbach. My wife enjoyed it too.
~
Liebe Mareen, ein außergewöhnlich gutes Portrait. Mir gefällt sanfte Natürlichkeit, welche die Frau ausstrahlt, so was ist leider ziemlich außer Mode. Die High-Key-Umsetzung passt gut, ein wirklich schönes Bild.


Danke dir Uwe :smile: Es freut mich sehr, dass dir und deiner Frau gefällt :smile: Ich gebe die Kommentare gleich mal an das Model (eine gute Freundin) weiter!
 

kraker

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It's been a while since I commented here.
Have received some more excellent cards:
bluejeh2, Tree monster, a simple yet intriguing subject. Well executed, nicely printed.
bluejeh, Hedy's vase. Stunning. Daring, also, so much black, but it really works out well, very well, to draw the eye to the subject.
JimO, alienis, something different after the deep blacks from the bluejehs. Lovely, dreamy, otherworldly almost. Dreamy. I'll stick to dreamy.
mooseontheloose, what a stunning photo of a waterfall. I'm drawn into the picture, can almost see myself there. Calming, soothing, an excellent photo. Even without HIE, you know how to produce a great photo.
hbooks, nice shot of a dog. I see he/she found a nice place in the shadow. The image makes me think that is the best place to be, a cool place, cooling down, not in the sun that is present in the rest of the picture.
A print that has been attributed to megzdad81 by others; morning ride. Nice moody print, love the morning light falling, creeping, through the canopy.
drpsilver, I can't find the words to describe this, other than: beautiful scene, lovely print, excellent tribute.
ndrs, I wasn't reading the description properly, for a moment you had me thinking: "collodion, colour?"... only to realise that I was a bit quick in putting 2 and 2 together (with the result not being 4). Lovely print, and very interesting blog to browse.

What can I say? Not a single print I don't like, lovely work from all of you! Thanks!

Also a big thanks to those who have commented on my cyanotype. You are all welcome!
 

kraker

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Jacco de Kraker - YAY a cyanotype! you have me interested is the paper pre cut postcard material made by fabriano? thank you for going to the lengths of making an alternate print.

Stephen, yes, it is pre-cut postcard material from Fabriano. Watercolour cold press, 25% cotton, 300 g/m2. Comes in a block of 20. Stumbled upon these at the local art supply store, they were even discounted at the time, so I bought two blocks. I should check whether the discount is still valid and buy some more.

As for "going to the lengths"... I really enjoyed doing this, and looking back, I think it was the best option anyway; we had some weeks with very sunny, hot weather, and it was easier to sit outside exposing these cyanotypes than it would have been sitting locked in a darkroom directly under the roof. Would have been way too hot to do any proper printing. I might do cyanotypes again next summer. :cool:


Kraker – Hillside- A wonderful cyanotype, with beautiful paper texture that mates well with the subject matter. Nice subject matter to begin with , a pastoral hillside cope of trees. Good coating – foam brush or some sort of other brush I surmise. If this is your first jab at cyanotype, you are off to a fine start; let the enlarged negative making begin!

APUG lacks a "blush" icon, I could use one right now. I always appreciate and value your extensive and constructive feedback. Of course it is especially easy to take in when it is favourable, but regardless of that: please keep giving this extensive feedback. I used just some sort of brush, nothing special, just one that my girlfriend (who is attending a painting class) could part with. I have learned that (for me, at least) coating is harder to get right than exposure. I've taken your advice and have started shooting some more 6x9 negatives (the largest I can take at the moment...).
 
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Ed Bray

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I have received the following over the last week (not in the order they were received though):

Reflection: from DRPSilver, a different take on a reflection which works wonderfully, I really like this and appreciate the sentiment given.
HBooks; A Dog, looks like a Golden Retriever, your first attempt at printing, I hope you enjoyed it and will do some more.
Fozzle: Robot, A quite dark moody image.
Edcculus: Vines, nice MF study of vines climbing a wall.
BoxBrownie: Merry-go-Round, nicely printed card with a full range of tones.
labcoat: 'No Title', image of a German Shepherd Dog framed by the legs of a pair of foals

Thanks to all, I really enjoy coming home to find postcards on the doormat.
 

Oxleyroad

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Mine finally in the post box.
 
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