Postcard Exchange Round 20 - Comments and Feedback

[Patrick Latour]

Ok, time for an update:

Pete H: Opera house, the angle is interesting, after few seconds, if it was not of the peoples, you would not be sure if the picture is upside down or upright.

kraker: Infrared, always a pleasure to see, love the surrealism of the ambiance. The paper is also a great addition to this image.

Rob / Hannah: I look at the picture, then I look at my 50 something cards ready to be mailed, and I put them in the trash bin. I was not proud of my prints, and was thinking about doing a reprint for the last days, they look so bad compared to all the ones I received and your card helped me to take my final decision. It is so sharp and tones are fabulous, it is the kind of image I like. She did a great job on it...

Back to the darkroom now...

 

[Pete H]

Lots to comment on

Anikin's very amusing Napoleon chess set. I'm always impressed by people who print in colour - I can't even get B&W right. I must admit that my mental picture of Josephine is not quite the same as the figure in the chess set

It's great to get alt process prints in the exchange. Sly's Colliery Dam footbridge is the first tea-toned cyanotype I've seen. The brush marks, paper texture, and torn edges all work together with the toning so I'm expecting to see someone in Victorian clothes appear at the end of the bridge. Thanks for the hard work, Lillian!

PhotoJim's farm building. The thin upper clouds and the grass form a nice spiral which takes the eye into the middle where it looks as if the tree is supporting the building.

Kraker's Lily pond. The tonality is just so beautiful combined with the IR effect. We're honoured to get your Brovira, Jacco!

Another John from JohnnyWalker. Perfectly exposed and printed to show the shadow details at the same time as every detail of his face.

Laurent's frosted wood and grass. I like the contrast between the made-man straight lines and the natural curves.

LikeMarlonBrando's carriage driver. The carriage behind frames the driver and horse's head nicely.

Kevin Kehler's old door. Are there so many derelict farm buildings in Canada? PhotoJim gave us the overall view, and now Kevin goes in close for the detail. As others have said, the texture is really special.

Labcoat - you managed to get in very close but the birds don't seem too bothered. It makes a nice family scene.

Rob Skeoch and Hannah: The direct look, centred subject and angle of view seem to convey a lot about the worker, and the building and steps give it a strong composition. Excellent!

Thanks to everyone.

Pete

 

[kraker]

Patrick and Pete, thanks for your comments. Good to know that my cards have started to arrive at their destinations.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

One more today

Rob Skeoch (Hannah) - I recognised your print from the last exchange I was in, round #17. Not the same photograph mind you, but the same style. Maybe it's the "Zeiss look" but yours is always one of the favorites when I show people my postcards. I read the back and was surprised to see it was taken by your daughter, the style is quite similar. Or I'm just not too good at recognising style.
A lovely photograph, and the wider angle lens really works for this. Great angle and fantastic tones, especially in his jeans. A lot of individual elements that tie it all together, I like the symbol on the hat. Fantastic shot and masterfully printed - what more can you ask for. I imagine it'll be a favorite of this round as well.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

You guys are too kind.
-Rob Skeoch

 

[mooseontheloose]

Two more cards this week -- Hoffy's close-up of cut-logs really emphasizes the texture and grain of the bark, and Rob Skeoch's/Hannah's postcard of the Haitian worker is a great example of environmental portraiture that I would like to be able execute half as well.

 

[hwv]

I Have received two more postcards during the last two weeks:
Rob's photo taken by his daughter. I's great that she is working as an aid worker, and it's also great that she is taking photographs on traditional film.
Pete's Pinhole from Norway. Nice pinhole. While watching it, I have a good mind to take a picture with my capuccino cam again.
Until now, I've received 10. I'm looking forward for those still on their way.

Btw, here is a little "making of" video of my postcard.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[mike c]

OUCH!! Just received Slumry's card.At first look a pain shoot threw both my upper and lower gum line.You aren't a Dentist are you Stephen ,this card is shockingly cool .Going to show it to my Dentist.

 

[Allen Friday]

I finally got all the film developed, picked out the image for the exchange and printed it last night. The cards are drying and will be ready to mail starting tomorrow.

Just like last round, I will be sending a typical Iowa image.

Allen

 

[MattKing]

I’ve previously commented on nine cards. Since then, cards from 2 more APUGers have come in:

Rob Skeoch/Hannah- “Haitian Worker” - excellent and intriguing - like father, like daughter
Pete H. - “Norwegian APUG Gathering” - I too really like rocks!

11 down, 17 to go

Thanks to everyone for participating.

PS - mine are printed, spotted and labelled, and the cards addressed to Canadian APUGers are in the mail. The rest will follow shortly.

 

[lorirfrommontana]

WooHoo! Got my cards printed last night. Just need to spot of few of them, get them labeled and will send on Friday (payday!). Sorry I'm so late this round.

 

[labcoat]

I finally sent out my last batch of cards on Saturday. I made four batches from different negatives - I just couldn't deceide on a single phicture.

So far I have received ten really neat cards. This round I'm actually going to write comments, but I'll put those in my next post.

 

[Nige]

just sitting here looking at Steve Browns postcard and thought... wonder if the googlecar had been past...

link

although for some reason when clicking on that you get a very low res pic... google "upper gardiner street, brighton, uk" and zoom right in to streetview

 

[MattKing]

I’ve previously commented on eleven cards. Since then, cards from 2 more APUGers have come in:

slumry - “Unwise #7, a self portrait” - ouch!
MattKing - “Fender (or is it Drop Earing)” - seems to have survived the postal service without injury

12 down (plus my own), 16 to go

Thanks to everyone for participating.

PS - I've now mailed the rest of my cards - the USA and international ones - all from a post office in the USA

 

[KWhitmore]

My cards are finally ready for the post office. Thanks to everyone I've received cards from so far...they've all been pretty fantastic.

 

[mooseontheloose]

So glad APUG is back and we can get back to business!

Two cards arrived in the past week:

slumry's "Unwise #7, a self portrait" -- kind of creepy, but well-done, and I'm sure there's an interesting story behind it!

Black Dog's "All Informed Moment" -- a nicely captured casual moment.

 

[Laurent]

Now it's time to ask Laurent...

Some see frozen weed, some (I) see water, frozen in time by the photographer. Did you send two different cards, or can you enlighten us what it really is are looking at?

Sorry for the long delay (and may be for other questions later in the thread) I've been away with no connection for 3 weeks and then there were APUG updates...

As you guessed, I sent two different cards : one is a frozen catway on a pond, with frozen weeds poking through. The other one is a ship lock with some water leaking between the doors, and a long exposure to keep the water fuzzy...

Thanks all for you nice comments, I'll comment later on the 12 cards received while I was away !

Cheers
Laurent

 

[ignatiu5]

Thanks to those who created the wonderful cards that I have received so far; lots of inspiring stuff.
Mine went out on Monday.

Cheers,
ignatiu5

 

[Tim Gray]

I've been a slacker this round. However 60 cards were printed on Sunday and as soon as I get them labeled and can get to the PO, I'll send them out. I've received a lot of great postcards this round. This might be one of my favorite rounds so far - a lot of variety in the subject matter, printing technique, format, etc.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Well I think I have a world first!

The last week I received a card from likemarlonbrando, fine, looked good, felt funny, put it on the pile as I have been super busy with work and other things.

Well it turns out that there were two prints stuck together, not really stuck together, the edges on two diametrically opposed corners were slightly bent up, which held the two cards together, all the way from the USA to Australia.

So I have two prints of the same thing.

My print was underneath, so my address was the one the postal people and machines saw, it was also the one with the postage mark from the USA system stamped onto the card and postage stamp.

Quite incredible!

I now intend to purchase an Australian postage stamp, place it alongside the USA postage stamp (which is unmarked) and send it to France.

So the person who lives in Chateauneuf Sur Loire, France is going to have a quite special postcard.

Mick.

Ps:- The card has a horse and cart/taxi and presumably the driver standing alongside on it. Quite a nice scene.

PPs:- I know your printing is good as both prints are identical in every aspect.

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

More postcards to comment on, I'm deterimined to keep it up for the whole exchange.

Andrew (Oxleyroad) - I liked this one as soon as I pulled it out of the mail box. A tremendous sense of concentration on his face, and he clearly knows what he's doing. Lots of detail, and a nice range of tones that reminds me of fishing trips on overcast days up the murray when I was little (I distinctly remember falling in and getting my dinosaur pajamas wet - mum wasn't impressed).
A photo you're both sure to treasure for years to come.

Jacco (Kraker) - Aha! I havent gotten any IR photos yet in this exchange - I love it. A brilliant otherworldly glow, and the paper is just gorgeous. It feels so alien but warmly inviting. Brilliantly executed infrared image, and masterful use of your tools. I was quite flattered to find your kind comments on my own postcard written on the back - Thank you very much, and I think it's the first time I've received a personal message in these exchanges.

Jake (BlackDog) - Very gritty image, and I like the balance of the soft leaves with the rough post on the left. There's something to be said for good solid composition - I'm sorry Australia Post printed a barcode over most of the leaves. Technology for you.
And I dig the Dylan reference.

Stephen (Slumry) - Ahh, this reminds me of when my eldest sister got her wisdom teeth removed, and insisted on keeping them in a little jar on the coffee table and showing them to everyone she could. I never really got why, but teeth DO have an oddly appealing texture, and especially in this photo. I've let this sit on the coffee table for a little whole too, and I really like how the pearl finish of the paper works with it. Solid composition, excellently printed, and makes me just slightly uncomfortable. Makings of a great image.

Rich (LikeMarlonBrando) - The Bessa III, one of those cameras I've lusted over late at night - I would never have expected I'd get a postcard from one, considering how few there seem to be in the world. I love this guys expression, and the punchy, slightly high contrast. The horse seems perfectly disinterested, he seems a bit skeptical, and all the stuff going on in the background just makes me think there's been some weird car vs. carriage carnage. Gorgeous little photo.

 

[Laurent]

This is a very good story, Mick. I guess "the person living in Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France" will be very happy to receive this card and this is good for your karma !

I finally take the time to comment on the cards I received for this round...

Rob Skeoch's Haitian worker. The subject is very moving, thanks for this !

Andrew Carson's Oxleyroad. This is a lovely shot of your son fishing, and I guess he (and you) will cherish it for years ! The timing is well chosen !

Kraker's IR shot. I love IR landscapes, and this one is a very good one !

Eugene Anikin's Napolean chess set. The second card in color I receive, and very humorous (may be the fact that it makes me think of a certain short president has something to do with that )

Labcoat's goose and goslings : very intriguing the first time I saw it, and I still like this one.

Kevin Kehler's door knob. The wood aspect and structure is fascinating and very well rendered.

Pete H's Oslo opera house. The lines and perspective make the view very attracting, and the people converging to the same area gives some dynamic to this image.

David James Lee's view of the Louvre museum The lines of the pyramid and the shapes of the umbrealls make this almost abstract, and the black border really ads to the image.

Hoffy's "Subject to flooding" : the light is great and I love the details of the foreground

Black dog's "Informal moment". I don't know who the people are, but they seem to share a very intimate moment. As for Rob Skeoch's worker, this makes me care about the people, well done !

Slumry's "Self portrait" : well, what can I say ? May be I share your pain I guess the picture made you fell better about these teeth ! More seriously, the symetric composition makes this a nice image.

JohnnyWalker's "Man in Black". The low key is great, and makes this a very nice image !

MattKing's "Fender". I understand why you wife wanted you to call this "Drop Earing". The limites DOF makes the first fender "stand" in front of the image, and the second one adds dynamic to the image.

And ,finally, Crispin's Time machine. My first Minox view, the grain makes it look antique, which is well suited to the image. Were you in the soldiers crowd ?

Thanks to you all, the round is a great one (again !)

Laurent

 

[Mick Fagan]

This is a very good story, Mick. I guess "the person living in Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France" will be very happy to receive this card and this is good for your karma !
Laurent

Laurent, the person who lives in Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France, will get a hand stamped post certification, I intend to go to my local post office, where I know the people there very well as I spend a lot of money there every day with my business. My intention is to ensure that the Australian postage stamp, is the only one stamped.

By the way my card is marked 11/30 and the one to Chateauneuf-sur-Loire, France, is marked 9/30.

I have other cards but I will remark on them later in the week, been in the darkroom for most of the day and need a fresh mind to make remarks.

Mick.

 

[david James lee]

thank you very much Laurent. i was worried that the postcards never reached their destination or/and that nobody liked them. i value your comments. merci.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I received MattKing's "Fender" which, yes, I agree, could be called "Drop Earring". Something about it reminds me of Christmas decorations as well. I really like this one!

Also in the mail this week was Crispin's "time machine" which has a great gritty look to it (love that grain!). Feel bad for those guys in the armour though - hope it wasn't too hot a day!

Well, I'm off to the Philiippines for a few weeks so here's hoping the rest of the postcards for this exchange will be waiting for me in the mailbox when I return!