Postcard Exchange Round 24 - Comments and Feedback

[hoffy]

Howdy all,

It's good to see them all starting to pile in now! Since my last update, I have recieved
mooseontheloose - Sunrise over Bagan. I love it's grainy goodness! Intriguing image
DRPSILVER - Bird Tree. Could have sworn that was taken around my neck of the woods. Nice tones in the wood
TJ - Petronas Twin Towers. I hope to see these in person in a few years (planning a trip to SEA in 2013 for the Singapore GP). I'm a bit of a sucker for a shot taken amongst the leaves.
Oxleyroad - Magic Pudding... Brings back memories for me too. Thanks
Laurent - Side project. Some well worn hands there. DOF works well.
MattKing - Thimbles. Like the tones. Well seen

So, I'm now up to 10 of my 25 expected. Looking forward to the rest.

Oh and thanks to those who have commented on my cards.

Cheers

 

[mooseontheloose]

More cards arrived today...really beginning to feel like Christmas!

Laurent's "Coffee Break": I like the cut-off nature of the photo, and the OOF background seems a larger shadow to the coffee mug.

Nanette's "Australian Rules Football" -- great expressions and tackle! There's something about their hair and the overall contrast of the photo that has a timeless quality to it -- could've been taken any decade over the last four or so. Excellent!

 

[drpsilver]

06 Dec 2011

One card came in the mail today. Oxleyroad's Magic Pudding certainly captures the craziness of these characters. I have never heard of the magic pudding either. Thanks for the story behind the photo.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[ozphoto]

Oxleyroad's "Magic Pudding" arrived yesterday - love it! One of my favourite books when I was a kid too.

 

[Laurent]

I received Jacco's Street view (much better than what google does ;-) ) and really like it. The symetry of the buildings, as well as the rendition of textures are lovely.

I also received Magic Pudding from oxleyroad. I don't know the book, but the image is great.

Thanks !

 

[Aron]

I received Hoffy's great portrait of the engineer and George Richard's card, "Looking out the main gate of the Halifax Citadel on a rather dump day." I like how the light and dark geometrical objects make a frame for the central part.

I also received Jacco's card in a rather weathered condition which is a real pity as I really like both the image and the beautiful paper.

Laurent's card arrived, too. I've been following your project of the merry go round which you shared with us on APUG, I must say an impressive creature was born.

And finally, I've also got Ozphoto's great tight capture of the heat of battle.

Thanks!

 

[Aron]

I tried not to be late for this round, but it seems I can keep myself to this promise only next round. My cards are printed, although they still need to be addressed, which I'll do this weekend.

 

[Mike Wilde]

A summary of comments from what has piled up since the last round of notes from me:

Laurent – Hands of Experience. A delightful image depicting the excellent use of shallow depth of field. Whatever task this individual is doing, it appears that they are quite familiar with it. . the framing provides a nice visual triangle in the foreground, along the arm and the edge of the component being worked on that leads your eye to the center of the image, the hand. A nice image that conveys much with a limited use of contrast.

Oxley Road – Magic Pudding characters. A delightful image of these ‘sprites’, as I think of them. The human figure on the edge of the frame fulfills a most useful purpose of establishing scale; the size of the fronds of the plant in the back ground most certainly does not. I quite enjoyed the deliberately wide white borders that the maker choose to frame his image with.

Mooseontheloose - Sunrise over Bogen. Will the great HIE images ever run out for this gal? Another captivating image with the hot air balloons ascending like giant rain drops moving in reverse, amidst the grain so characteristic of this film. The granularity almost lends a pointilistic/painterly styling to the image.

George Nova Scotia – A view from the Citadel. A delightful portal effect. Great surface tonality in the foreground blocks. A carefully balanced symmetry to the scene; the flag is the only non- symmetrical element. A nice use of the slightest level of tonality even in the darkest shadows.

TJ Ooi – Petronas Towers thought the jacarandas? A neat perspective. I almost enjoyed the hand script on the rear describing your love for your country and its captivating range of scenery more than the image itself. You must try your hand as a travel writer with the tourism bureau.

Hoffy -Goolwa Station. I enjoy all of the detail in the clouds – a fortunate exposure condition rather than a skilled burn I suspect. Good detail even in the darkest tones. The converging lines of the edge of the building and the edge of the platform draws your eye into looking and considering the figures as they await to board onto this excursion. Great detail though out all areas of the print. If further manipulating the print, a minor niggle; I could have done with a selective dodge or mask on the far side of the locomotive to take detail away from that area, and thus help the locomotive stand out more. Quite nice as it is though.

 

[Oxleyroad]

A summary of comments from what has piled up since the last round of notes from me:
...
Oxley Road – Magic Pudding characters. A delightful image of these ‘sprites’, as I think of them. The human figure on the edge of the frame fulfills a most useful purpose of establishing scale; the size of the fronds of the plant in the back ground most certainly does not. I quite enjoyed the deliberately wide white borders that the maker choose to frame his image with.
...

Thanks Mike for your comments.

I now have 14/30 in. The following have arrived since my last post.

Hoffy - The Engineer. Another train card. My son is liking this round very much.
TJ Ooi - Petronas Twin Towers. I too liked the way you have captured the towers through the leaves of the tree/s. The writing on the back was just like how my mother inlaw writes on her postcards from her travels.
James Dean - Baby Charlotte. Such a sweet photo of a small one. My son was 7 weeks early and I was/am amazed by what is available in hospitals to give these early newborns the best start in life.
Ozphoto - Aussie Rules Footy. This photo is as if I was there myself.
Laurent - Hand. This hand has obviously done a lot of hard labour.

Thanks everyone.

 

[J Rollinger]

I received cards from Oxley Road, George Nova Scotia,TJ Ooi and Laurent... Thank you for the great cards, I'm enjoying them.

 

[Laurent]

I received George Richard's Halifax citadel main gate, I like the use of black/white opposition in this symetric view.

I also got TJ OOI's Petronas Twin Towers. The view of the illuminated towers through the leaves is almost unreal, and the writing lovely.

Thanks !

 

[kraker]

I received Jacco's Street view (much better than what google does ;-) ) and really like it. The symetry of the buildings, as well as the rendition of textures are lovely.

Thanks, Laurent. Mail from The Netherlands to France is just as fast as the mail from France to The Netherlands, it seems. You're the first to comment on my card (although there's no award for that).

I also received Jacco's card in a rather weathered condition which is a real pity as I really like both the image and the beautiful paper.

Sorry to hear that. I suppose it's the giant rodent on Agfa paper? I was afraid of that, I've sent my two cards to myself as well, and after a trip of what I guess is about 100 kilometers, the Giant Rodent arrived slightly damaged, whereas the Street View arrived in good condition.

I hope my cards aren't in too bad a state when they make it to all of the addresses on my list... I have a few spare cards, so if you want, I can send a replacement.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Jacco, I also received your card today (guess the Netherlands to Japan ain't so shabby either!) and it's in fairly good shape, just two of the corners are a little curled up.

I like the image a lot -- kind of a surreal street view with the angle of view and the beaver. I like the old Brovia paper too -- what a nice matte finish.

George's Halifax Cathedral card also arrived over the weekend. Really like the contrasts between the black and white and the overall symmetry of the entire image. Thanks!

 

[FotoGys]

Last week I received the following cards:

Tim Gray's - Petronas Twin Towers, a nice detailed print with exeptional perspective as well as the wonderfull message on the back;
George Richards - Halifax Citadel, like the way you took this pictures, perspective, contrast;
Laurent Barthélémy - "Merry go round" project, fine tonal print, well composed and use of depth off field;
Rachelle Meilleur - Sunrise over Bagar, suprisingly grainy picture of an extraordinary sunrise. Love it;
Andy Carson - the story behind this photo is real nice. Like the tone of the print as well as the perspective and also the way the dimensions are visible through the presence of a human being in the background

 

[hpulley]

I have received a bunch more.

Andy C sent the characters from the bronze pudding, fun sculptures with great expressions and I like the person near the edge too.

Laurent sent coffee break, seems to have cappuccino tones!

George sent the Halifax Citadel, great dark grey, white, black, then complex tones off to the horizon.

Petronas Twin Towers through the trees, I would love to visit!

Jacco sent a neat deteriorating street view, lots of little details to pick out, would love to see a larger print.

Hoffy sent the cute Enjoying the Ride, freckles and hair like my daughter, love the expression.

And Ozphoto sent Australian Rules Football, great action and contrast. Those guys are tough, no equipment for protection.

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

3 more cards arrived in postbox:

Laurent: Coffee break. Lovely tones on this, suits the mood and subject.
Mooseontheloose: Sunrise over Bagan. a Print from HIE, wow, I've never actually held a print from that film in my hands before.
T.J. Ooi: Petronas Towers. Those two towers glowing through the trees look great. and the hand written information on the back, makes it even more special.

I am really enjoying this.

 

[ozphoto]

Two cards arrived today:

Laurent's "Hand" - some lovely natural light;
George's "Main Gate" - I enjoy this type of subject too

13 down and 12 to go.

 

[Kc2edh]

Mine are finally all printed and written out! Hopefully I can sneak off to the post office at lunch break and send them out.

This is the first postcard exchange I've entered, and I'm loving it. Probably ten or fifteen cards have arrived already and they all look great. I only signed up for 25 this time, but will definitely be going for the max next year.

 

[Trond]

I finally sent my postcards yesterday!

Many of the the cards have grey marks on the white border, possibly caused by me inserting the paper in the processor the wrong way. I read the manual again after the printing session and I don't use it very often...

Trond

 

[andrew.vartabedian]

I too finally sent my postcards on Wednesday. They are of the South Park in Colorado.

Here are some quick comments on what I've received so far, as in the last exchange I very much enjoy everyone's work:

Laurent's "hand" - Beautiful tones and texture in this.

TJ's "Petronas" - Excellent perspective, I really enjoy the slightly obscured view. Also, I now want to visit Malaysia

Ricus's "Pampas grass #8" - This paper texture is great and I appreciate how rich and subtle the print is - is it toned as well?

Jacco's "Street View" - Wonderful symmetry and the smiley face is a sharp bit of irony based on the story of the place.

George Richards's "Halifax Citadel" - Another great bit of composition and combination of tones. Is that drain a bit of editorializing?

Brian Chambers's "Museum of Glass" - A lovely and subtle print with a great use of the curve.

Hoffy's "The Engineer" - Nice moment in this portrait - I like the gesture in his hand.

Rachelle's "Sunrise of Bagan" - Wow. A great scene, surreal and beautiful!

Fotogys's "office" - Wonderful crisp and shiny detail.

Andy C's "Magic Pudding" - I'm unfamiliar with the story. I appreciate how the eye lines interact between the characters and the woman in the far left.

Pilz's "Grave" - Wonderful textures and detail - the wood is beautifully carved as well.

Jim Rollinger's "The Bean" - Excellent moment here and well-made silhouettes.

Ruediger's "Alien Lamp" - I'm glad they give us some light too! I love the abstraction and clarity of vision here.

James Dean's "Baby Charlotte" - A tender portrait. Congratulations and very glad to hear of her walk!

Mark Barendt's "Concern" - Good work catching that expression - the slight blur of the movements in the back really adds to the moment.

Matt King's "Thimbles" - Perfect textures/tones and a great choice of composition.

Darwin's "Bird Tree" - Nicely seen. An albatross? Or a pelican?

Mike Wilde's pack of three - A nice diversity of subjects. With this round and the last, I'm inspired by your attention to your paper choices.

Eugene's "Dragon Soccer" - I am a fan of (and dabbler in) 3D myself and I love this little rig. It came through quite mangled by my post office, so I may have missed the effect.

Ozphoto's "Australian Rules Football" - An excellent moment, lots of drama and beautifully exposed.

--

Andrew

 

[MattKing]

I have been remiss in not commenting on any of the 15 excellent cards I have received so far. So here goes:

drpsilver - "Bird Tree, Stanford Univ." - Trees well seen, and well printed too!
FotoGys - "Architectural Interior" - intriguing curves and rich tones make this a very successful treatment
George Nova Scotia - "Halifax Citadel" - a very weighty treatment of a strong subject
hoffy - “Goolwa Station" - people and trains - what is not to like!
J Rollinger - “The Bean" - a great "swoop" of an image
JamesDean - “Baby Charlotte" - a beautiful vignette - congratulations
kraker - “Rodent Crossing" - great use of an unusual viewpoint - the card arrived a little worse for wear though
Laurent - “Artist's Hand" - a nice, strong, geometric image
markbarent - “Concern” - more trains and people - and a fascinating ghost image too
Mike Wilde - “Marion Bridge", "Monck Road 'Old Homestead" & "First Dip of the Year” - neat images on older paper, but the eye contact in "First Dip of the Year" makes it for me
mooseontheloose - “Sunrise over Myanmar” - fascinating and ethereal, this keeps drawing me back
Oxleyroad - “Magic Pudding” - this card makes me smile
ozphoto - “Australian Rules Football” - I really like well-done sports photography, like this. This old paper looks really good as well
piu58 - “Old Graveyard” - I really like the complex but not chaotic detail in this
rst - “Stehcafé” - bicycles always contribute great form to a photo - this is no exception
tj01 - “Petronas Twin Tower” - mysterious and very abstract - an interesting approach to architecture

15 down, 13 to go.

Thanks to all for participating!

 

[Laurent]

I received OzPhoto's card. Great capture of the action, and interesting poses of the two athlets !

Thanks !

 

[mooseontheloose]

Black Dog's "It's about fascination" arrived today. Nicely captured moment -- reminds me of my mom with her grandsons.

 

[ozphoto]

I'm off on vacation today, so won't be able to check my mailbox for several weeks! Looking forward to seeing them when I return home in January.

 

[J Rollinger]

I received 2 great cards from Ozphoto & Black Dog... Thank you!