Postcard Exchange Round 43 Comments & Feedback

[Laurent]

This week I received:

iandvaag's "Douglas Dunes", first color card for this round, with a very low point of view which makes the image very different.
djhopscotch's "La Cas de Dona Lupe" , and its repetitive pattern of bottles, which tends to drag my eye in the image again and again.

thanks!

My plans are to print next week, from recent negatives, so I hope I'll be able to claim my cards sent soon!

 

[Black Dog]

I just got the Douglas Dunes as well, and enjoyed the composition with the blocks of colour (the XA2 is a very handy little camera isn't it?).

 

[Laurent]

Today I've got graciemansion's card from Delray beach. I fully agree, Florida is a strange place, but a place I really loved each time I visited (and Delray beach is one of my favourites there !) I had one afternoon to "kill" once around there, and I made very strange encounters. Thanks for the image, and all the nice "souvenirs" it brings to my mind!

 

[Oxleyroad]

Just a heads up that I've yet to send out my cards. Should be in the post box Sunday, but the international destinations might be delayed until Monday. Apologies all. I was just not organized enough to get the cards done before family arrived to stay for the last 3 weeks.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I'm in the same boat - I actually did some test prints of the cards before going on vacation, but didn't have time to print them all. Since I've been back I've been really busy at school with the start of the new school year. Hopefully though I will get into the darkroom this weekend or next to get them all printed and out in the world.

 

[Laurent]

Was able to print yesterday evening, I almost had second thoughts but SWMBO loved them, so I'll try to write and send before the week-end

 

[Laurent]

My cards are in the mailbox... should arrive soon!

 

[Black Dog]

IIRC April is a rest month, so we're ok as long as they arrive by the end of the month.
Also received David Dorcich's bottles-I enjoyed closely studying the forms and reflections in this one (maybe try printing it with a bit more contrast as well though?)

 

[Howard Earl]

Mailed my cards out Monday April 2nd. Hope you all enjoy.

Howard

 

[Laurent]

Mailed my cards out Monday April 2nd. Hope you all enjoy.

Howard

... And one arrived today in Chateauneuf! Very nice contact print (If I get back to LF one day, it'll be for contact printing !) with lots of textures and details, thanks !

 

[Erik Petersson]

I printed mine today. It might need a little more contrast, but I will not have time to print again. I am sure you will understand.
best
/Erik

 

[Oxleyroad]

My cards went to the PO this morning.

 

[kraker]

Received since my last update:

djhopscotch Doña Lupe, well, a tasteful image, one might say. A rather soft print, but that really works for the subject and composition.
iandvaag Douglas Dunes, who would have thunk that... a wet colour print, not too common on this exchange, and a real gem as well. Nice composition, with the grass in the lower right corner as a nice touch. The XA2, nifty little machine that is!

 

[kraker]

And the day after I've commented on two cards that arrived a while ago, two fresh cards were in the mail:

Howard Earl, propeller, a subject that lends itself perfectly for black & white. Metal, sun, shadow, water, snow, brickwork, it all comes together. Very nice print.
Laurent, seaside walled city view, looks like the sun breaking through after some rain, and that works great in this photo. The interesting wall on the left, the single person walking , yes, very nice as well. If I may ask, where was this photo taken?

 

[Laurent]

And the day after I've commented on two cards that arrived a while ago, two fresh cards were in the mail:

Howard Earl, propeller, a subject that lends itself perfectly for black & white. Metal, sun, shadow, water, snow, brickwork, it all comes together. Very nice print.
Laurent, seaside walled city view, looks like the sun breaking through after some rain, and that works great in this photo. The interesting wall on the left, the single person walking , yes, very nice as well. If I may ask, where was this photo taken?

Thanks for your appreciation! I forgot to mention the negatives I printed were all shot in Marseille earlier this year. The wall on the left is a art of the Mucem,very interesting place indeed.

 

[Black Dog]

And the day after I've commented on two cards that arrived a while ago, two fresh cards were in the mail:

Howard Earl, propeller, a subject that lends itself perfectly for black & white. Metal, sun, shadow, water, snow, brickwork, it all comes together. Very nice print.
Laurent, seaside walled city view, looks like the sun breaking through after some rain, and that works great in this photo. The interesting wall on the left, the single person walking , yes, very nice as well. If I may ask, where was this photo taken?

I've just received that one too-second those comments, very moody.

 

[rpavich]

I just received my second postcard; this time from Oxleyroad. It's called "River Rouge" and it's very nice. I really well done card with a lot of interesting technical information about it included as well!

 

[tezzasmall]

Mailed my cards out Monday April 2nd. Hope you all enjoy.

Howard

And I have just received your postcard, so thanks Howard.

An unusual site of a giant (ships?) propeller on a vacant bit of side walk / land with a brick building as the background in NY - oh, and a bit of melting snow!

Quite a different picture that one would expect to see walking down a road!

It's a lovely 5x4 contact print taken on Ilford HP5.

Many thanks once more Howard.

Terry S

 

[drpsilver]

14 Apr 2018

Here are my comments on the cards I have received recently, in the order they are in the pile next to the keyboard.
"River Rouge" from Oxleyroad is nicely photographed and printed (considering the age of the paper). The matt surface works for this image of a very peaceful place.
"La Casa de Dona Lupe" from djhopscotch is of particular interest because I am a home winemaker. The narrow depth-of-field draws the viewer into the photo. Consider printing this photo with a little more contrast, it might give it some "punch".
The card from rpavich featuring singing Christmas ducks. Nicely printed, sharp and with good contrast.
"Propeller" from Howard Earl reminds me of a friend that has one of these (but smaller) as a garden sculpture. Was this part of an exhibit/show, or was it removed from the ship for maintenance?
"Douglas Dunes" from iandvaag was a surprise in two ways: (1) a color print, and (2) sand dunes in SK?. My Mom was raised on a farm near Swift Current, SK, and when I visited the farm all I experienced was fields of wheat. I am also impressed that you printed this yourself. It is very well done.

Until the next batch of card lands on my desk.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Rob Skeoch]

These are my latest arrivals.
Laurent's photo of beautiful buildings with the water in front of them.
Oxleyroad's River Rouge of the river flowing past.
graciemansion photo from the beach area.

 

[ozphoto]

I've finally had time to print my cards and will endeavour to get to the post office this week to send them off.
Apologies to all - I've been snowed under with quite a lot of work and other commitments and these have been on the backburner.

To all who have sent out cards - I have received quite a few, they are in a pile on my desk waiting for me to go through and comment on. The quick glance I have as I grab the mail and sort, has revealed some wonderful cards from all of you, I've just not had time to fully appreciate and let you know they have arrived.

 

[drpsilver]

20 Apr 2018

Received a card from Laurent this week. I like the composition of a person contemplating the clouds. This photo has a story to tell.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Erik Petersson]

Thanks everyone for your lovely pictures!
I will be sending mine this weekend. It is a photo from a concert in a cellar in Stockholm some time ago. A bit dark and fuzzy, but that's the point of this picture. As I am still learning how to print, I don't think technical details are very important. But if anyone is interested: Tmax 400, exposure probably a second but still underexposed. Developed in Xtol, and finally printed on some Tetenal paper. It was really a challenge to achieve any contrast at all.
This was a really fun exercise, I'll join again!
/Erik

 

[tezzasmall]

Thanks everyone for your lovely pictures!
I will be sending mine this weekend. It is a photo from a concert in a cellar in Stockholm some time ago. A bit dark and fuzzy, but that's the point of this picture. As I am still learning how to print, I don't think technical details are very important. But if anyone is interested: Tmax 400, exposure probably a second but still underexposed. Developed in Xtol, and finally printed on some Tetenal paper. It was really a challenge to achieve any contrast at all.
This was a really fun exercise, I'll join again!
/Erik

And I received your card this morning Erik (Friday 27 April 18).

As you say, it's maybe a tad underexposed but it's still an interesting print, especially as I too like low light pictures with a bit of movement in them (complete with a bit of blur.)

It sounds like you had a bit of trouble with the printing but I think you did really well since you are only just learning to print. It's an up hill struggle, that we all go through, but before you know it you'll be wondering what the fuss was about.

All the best and many thanks for your card.

Terry S

 

[Black Dog]

And I received your card this morning Erik (Friday 27 April 18).

As you say, it's maybe a tad underexposed but it's still an interesting print, especially as I too like low light pictures with a bit of movement in them (complete with a bit of blur.)

It sounds like you had a bit of trouble with the printing but I think you did really well since you are only just learning to print. It's an up hill struggle, that we all go through, but before you know it you'll be wondering what the fuss was about.

All the best and many thanks for your card.

Terry S

+1 on that-it's ok to print dark if you feel it's appropriate!