Postcard Exchange Round 34 Comments and Feedback

[mooseontheloose]

Randal, I don't have to worry about family when I shoot, although sometimes I do when I'm with friends, especially when travelling. When I do, it's often about compromise. I become more selective of where I stop and shoot, and generally speaking this approach works well in not alienating my friends when I'm in photography mode. Also sometimes it's just a matter of give-and-take -- I'll miss the lovely early evening light to go out to dinner, but they will probably wake up when I get up at 4 am to catch the sunrise elsewhere. And sometimes it's about saying - you do what you want to do, and I'll do what I want to do, and we'll meet up later. That way we both have "me" time, which is good.

When I'm local, I just know that if I'm with non-photographers, even in a highly photogenic environment (which is often the case here in Kyoto), I know that the only pictures I'll be taking is with my iPhone. Trying to do anything else generally leads to frustration for everyone involved. Luckily though, I'm single and live alone so I can choose when and where I want to photograph at any time, although during the school year work often gets in the way. That being said, it was really great to meet a local APUG member recently (oolalajp) - it's the first time I've been with someone who walks as slowly as I do, spending time looking at things with a photographer's eyes. How great. It made me realise I wasn't a freak for being such a slow walker (because I'm always looking, even in familiar routine environments). I guess there are similarities that most photographers share and understand in one another.

 

[Randalcav]

Rachelle and Todd, Great feedback!

Rachelle, you really hit on something that I can relate to, slowing down and really looking at things. I'm always looking at the sights around me with a high level of observation, kind of looking for photos, even without my camera. I think we do see more of the world than the average person.

Todd, you have combined the ultimate marriage of bicycling and cameras, much like the early days of photography. I like your thoughts about it being a hobby and we should use it as a creative outlet as the opportunity presents itself. It's not about the total number of exposures that we make, but the fun we have doing it. I'm really going to try harder to have more fun with it this year. I look forward to seeing more great work from both of you.

 

[adelorenzo]

My cards went into the mail today, I managed to get them mailed in March but people won't receive them until sometime in April. Sorry 'bout that.

I have also received a fair stack of cards and am remiss in posting comments. Will do soon.

 

[mooseontheloose]

They keep slowly coming in!

A beautiful white amaryllis from megzdad81 - I like the treatment here but I think I would like see it as a low contrast image.

"Parallels" from astroclimb - a nice shot from the streets of San Francisco. I have to admit what I like looking at the most here are the buildings - they are so much more architecturally interesting (in a normal, everyday sense) than what I get to see here in Japan. I would love to visit it someday, but that may well be far into the future.

 

[Laurent]

It's been a long time since I did not comment... In the mentime I received:

Todd's Parallels, an intruguing street scene.

David's Shcool's out, very nice shot of an old building, which make me feel nostalgic about time passing.

Horst's (TheMissingLink) card, a very delicate 4x5 landscap. The deepness is impressive on this view.


RandalCav's The Boulder, a landscape which makes me feel the land, or so I think. Would love to have a sit there and contemplate the view!

Megzdad81's White Amaryllis. The close up is so close that it becomes almost abstract.

Thanks!

I have printed about half of my cards (time is short these days, and taking up the guitar willnot give me more time!!) so I hope I'll be able to send them by the end of the week.

Cheers!

 

[mike c]

Have a great card yesterday come in, An expansive field with a span of tree's under a great cloudy sky. Thanks Horst.


Mike

 

[Randalcav]

Horst,
Your image has a magical quality about it. I like the way you captured the shadows of the clouds on the field. I believe this is on a long discontinued film?
Rollei R3. Thanks for the card!

 

[MrBrowning]

I have my Negatives developed and will be send out my postcards on Monday. I apologize for the delay.

I'm living in two places and I will do my best to get the cards I've received together from both homes and comment on them. For now I'd like to say thank you for all the cards how great they all are.

 

[mike c]

2 cards today,astroclimb's "Parallels" a large painting framed by tall buildings in the background , and Ozphoto's well made "Never Again" a concentration camp in Dachau, Germany both are very nice.

Mike

 

[ozphoto]

Todd's "Memorial" arrived today - reminds me of similar along the highways and backroads in Australia.

 

[drpsilver]

03 Apr 2015

Ozphoto's card landed in my mailbox yesterday. I like the composition of sculpture and building. The subtle tones and heaviness of the photo invoke the evil that took place here. Thank you for the reminder that this should happen "Never Again".

Regards,
Darwin

 

[MrBrowning]

My cards are out in the mail as of 10:00 this morning.

 

[astroclimb]

Two in the last couple of weeks...

...cam in the mail.

Horst's (themissinglink) photo of a field with trees and clouds is so barren (the scene, not the photo's composition) and dark that it makes me very glad spring is here. Perhaps that wasn't your intent, but this image feels so "February" to me, where by February I mean cold and dry and all I can do is hide from the dark type of feeling. Come September or October I'll be looking forward to the Winter, but not this time of year.

I wish that "Never Again" was true but I'm afraid to say that the reality is that's not the case. Since the Holocaust, how many mass murders of thousands, tens-of-thousands, millions have there been? Too many! Perhaps that is what was going through my head when, on our visit to Dachau this past December (we were on a short tour of Germany during the Holidays), I could only feel nothing, nothing creative that is, only forlorn, almost hopeless for a world that God has made with so many blessings ready for us to enjoy. Thank you so much Ozphoto for making an image that I was unable to approach, but one that will cherish.

 

[astroclimb]

Got it quickly

MrBrowning's Orchid came today, apparently quite efficient work by USPS. I really like the image of the orchids but more I like how used the selective development technique to replicate in patterns the pattern already placed in the image by the flowers themselves. Not sure how you achieved the selectivity on an image that was only waiting to be selected, but kudos to you!

 

[mike c]

A great card from adelorenzo, the Yukon must be full of beautiful places like Pooley Canyon, good thing you live up there Anthony and make these excellent photo's cause it is way to cold for my southern blood. And the paper you used ( Ilford Art 300) it reminds me of some paper I used forty years ago, nice texture and colder than I thought the Art 300 would be.

Mike

 

[ozphoto]

...cam in the mail.


>>>I wish that "Never Again" was true but I'm afraid to say that the reality is that's not the case. Since the Holocaust, how many mass murders of thousands, tens-of-thousands, millions have there been? Too many! Perhaps that is what was going through my head when, on our visit to Dachau this past December (we were on a short tour of Germany during the Holidays), I could only feel nothing, nothing creative that is, only forlorn, almost hopeless for a world that God has made with so many blessings ready for us to enjoy. Thank you so much Ozphoto for making an image that I was unable to approach, but one that will cherish.

Sadly, astroclim, you are correct, history continues to repeat itself. It was indeed a sobering experience, and I put a great deal thought before undertaking the editorial shoot over the 3 months I was in the EU.

I hope I achieved what I was aiming for, whilst respecting the resting places of many thousands of poor souls who perished. It was a tough gig, but ultimately I'm glad I persevered; hopefully it will have an impact on my 3 nieces to help them understand - their grandmother spent time in one of these camps in the Ukraine during WW2. She doesn't speak about it, but her tears when she saw the final images, spoke louder than any words could possibly achieve.

 

[ozphoto]

The Songkran holiday is over which means the mailbox (should) start to fill up again!! Thankfully the first delivery yesterday consisted of my NYT and megzdad81's beautiful "White Amaryllis".

Love the tones and texture on the petals - a lovely image.

 

[MrBrowning]

MrBrowning's Orchid came today, apparently quite efficient work by USPS. I really like the image of the orchids but more I like how used the selective development technique to replicate in patterns the pattern already placed in the image by the flowers themselves. Not sure how you achieved the selectivity on an image that was only waiting to be selected, but kudos to you!

Thanks. I wanted to try something a little different and well the Orchid cards were the result.

 

[kraker]

Apologies

Hello fellow postcard exchangers,

I want to apologise for the lack of communication on my behalf. I have received some very nice cards over the past weeks, months, but I am way behind in commenting on them. I have committed to send my share of cards (and rest assured, I will), but I have not had a chance to print anything (or find another means of getting cards ready for sending).

All this "events getting in the way of [etc]", we all run into it sooner or later. Just thought it would be good to let you know I'm still here, enjoying what postcards I have received, and certainly committed to sending out my cards. Alas, with a lot of delay, as April, the "breather month" is already nearing its end.

 

[ozphoto]

adelorenzo​'s lovely card arrived yesterday. Love the view - I'd love some snow here in BKK right now!!!

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Hi everyone, just had a look a the calendar, sign up for the next round starts next week! Hope all is well

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Round 35 sign up thread started - just click the link in my sig below...

 

[mooseontheloose]

I think I've missed commenting on a few cards I've received since my last post, and I know it can be a bit frustrating to send cards out and then not hear anything about them (did they even arrive?). Just to keep my list updated, I've received cards from: adelorenzo, astroclimb, drpsilver, MattKing, megzdad81, mike c, MrBrowning, ozphoto, Randalcav, TheMissingLink, and TXFZ1. That's half my list - even though others will be late I'm still looking forward to getting the cards whenever they are ready.

 

[TheToadMen]

Hello everyone,
I finally wrote all my 28 postcards for PCX-34 this evening. I'm sorry I'm so late.
I'll post the cards tomorrow. I hope they'll find their way to you all.
Thanks,
Bert from Holland

 

[mooseontheloose]

I just received labcoat's card in the mail, what I'll call "the next best thing". I really like everything in the shot - the square format, the view through the passageway, the wet stones - it has timeless feel to it. Thanks.