Postcard Exchange Round 47 Comments and Feedback

[tezzasmall]

My first card of this round got into the postal system yesterday.
Hope to finish the rest soon.

Well, I've received a lovely card from Bedrof.

It's called, 'the queer cones', and what a lovely matt (FB?) paper it has been printed on too!! I must look it up = Fomabrom, N - grade, Bedrof says.

It's a picture of some, what look like, quite large cones made out of wood, or maybe ceramic tiles? It's a bit hard to see how big they all are, as there isn't anything to compare them too in the picture. But trust me, it's much easier to appreciate when one has the print in front of ones eyes to look at.

It was taken on his 'new' camera, a Yashica Mat 124G, so has been printed in the square format, which is a favourite of mine for the right subject.

The print has then been finally followed by being toned in polysulfide and selenium, which give it a really lovely colour overall.

Great picture, so many thanks for sending it. A great addition to my collection.

Terry S

 

[mfohl]

Just received two cards from Canada: Matt's very nice tree, and Rob's Indian Festival, also very nice. Thanks Folks.

PS - Rob, one of the best photographers I know personally used a Leica, and the 21mm was his lens of choice. He was a master at it.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I also received Matt and Rob's cards (yesterday), both are great and visually interesting with the amount of detail within each image. Rob, I can kind of understand your feelings about the 21mm (I struggle with a 20mm on my Nikon FE sometimes) but in this case I think it really works. Matt, yours is another image that I think can work in more than one orientation, although I like the proper one very much.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

These are the images that I've received so far. Thank you everyone for taking the time, making the prints and sending them out. Without the efforts of all of us, none of us would have the excitement of receiving these cards in the mail. It's a great project and wonderful of this group and George to keep it a live.
-Rob
MOOSEONTHELOOSE - Image of "Russian Woodpecker" -
BLACK DOG - Image of "Rosslyn #4 Fugitive Light"
DRPSILVER - Image of "Silting In, Bolinas"
IANDVAAG - Image of "Frenchman River Fence"
GRACIEMANSION - Image of "Manhattan with a Holga"
MFOHL - Image of "Shadow Photo Columbus"
TEZZASMALl - Image of "ROME"

 

[awty]

I have a couple more. Jake's picture of some sticks in the mud who dont want to get wet in the sky reflective pond or maybe they are stopping those that wish to. Also Ian's picture of more sticks and posts this time in the clouds, no terra firma here, nice and soft, great effect, but the clouds look fluffier on the other side. Thanks guys.

 

[Howard Earl]

Finally got around to posting my postcards. Work, travel, bad knee.

I love the images i have received from all of you.

Rob Skeoch, Festival of India.
Paul, Embroidery.
Matt King, Reacing Across.
Sean, Staircase.
Moose on the Loose, Russian Woodpecker.
Ian Andvaag, Frenchman River Fence.
Darwin, Silting In, Bolinas.

As a group I see beauty, diversity, attention to detail, multiple format usage and incredible work.

George,
thank you for continuing this project.

Howard Earl Simmons

 

[Black Dog]

Finally got around to posting my postcards. Work, travel, bad knee.

I love the images i have received from all of you.

Rob Skeoch, Festival of India.
Paul, Embroidery.
Matt King, Reacing Across.
Sean, Staircase.
Moose on the Loose, Russian Woodpecker.
Ian Andvaag, Frenchman River Fence.
Darwin, Silting In, Bolinas.

As a group I see beauty, diversity, attention to detail, multiple format usage and incredible work.

George,
thank you for continuing this project.

Howard Earl Simmons

As do I! Btw, Rob's Festival image is very well composed and the 21mm has been used to great effect here. A lens that wide can be really effective when appropriately used-which it has been. I think Bruce Gilden used either a 21 or 24mm for his classic photo essay 'Facing New York'.

 

[drpsilver]

11 Aug 2019

After sorting through the "postal bin" of mail I picked-up from my vacation hold I found the following cards.
The card from tazzasmall is very well done. I like how you lead the viewer into the image with low values (foreground) to mid-tones (sky). You also kept texture in the foreground, and the slight brown/sepia tone adds to the feeling of old Rome.
The card from iandvaag is quite interesting because Ian purposely masked the foreground. At first such a large "negative space" was distracting, but soon found myself concentrating on the fence and sky. The repeating patterns and diagonal line help keep the viewer in that part of the image.
I was one of the those who received a color photo from Black Dog. The photo is of five visitors to Princess Street (maybe London?). I like the quote you wrote on the card. A reminder to stop, look, and appreciate ones surroundings.
A nice "street photo" from Rob Skeoch. I find it interesting that there is a "Festival of India" in Toronto, Canada. I only dream of owning a Leica M series camera, and agree with your conclusion regarding the 21mm lens.
The card from graciemansion arrived in a postal service envelope. I did not think that one could mail something 2.5"x2.5" without the extra "non-machinable" postage. I really like the image. You have clearly told the viewer what is your subject. You are also fortunate to have a "sharp lens Holga". Well done and very creative.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[MattKing]

I find it interesting that there is a "Festival of India" in Toronto, Canada.

Here on the left coast of Canada, we have Vaisakhi (Sikh) festivals in April each year. The two main parades - Vancouver and the one week later Surrey - attract between them about 500,000 people.

 

[Black Dog]

11 Aug 2019

After sorting through the "postal bin" of mail I picked-up from my vacation hold I found the following cards.
The card from tazzasmall is very well done. I like how you lead the viewer into the image with low values (foreground) to mid-tones (sky). You also kept texture in the foreground, and the slight brown/sepia tone adds to the feeling of old Rome.
The card from iandvaag is quite interesting because Ian purposely masked the foreground. At first such a large "negative space" was distracting, but soon found myself concentrating on the fence and sky. The repeating patterns and diagonal line help keep the viewer in that part of the image.
I was one of the those who received a color photo from Black Dog. The photo is of five visitors to Princess Street (maybe London?). I like the quote you wrote on the card. A reminder to stop, look, and appreciate ones surroundings.
A nice "street photo" from Rob Skeoch. I find it interesting that there is a "Festival of India" in Toronto, Canada. I only dream of owning a Leica M series camera, and agree with your conclusion regarding the 21mm lens.
The card from graciemansion arrived in a postal service envelope. I did not think that one could mail something 2.5"x2.5" without the extra "non-machinable" postage. I really like the image. You have clearly told the viewer what is your subject. You are also fortunate to have a "sharp lens Holga". Well done and very creative.

Regards,
Darwin

Thanks- it's in Edinburgh (a city I always find inspiring). The quote is from the film 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.

 

[mfohl]

I just received a very nice waterfall and art installation from Howard Simmons. Thanks!

 

[bedrof]

Well, I've received a lovely card from Bedrof.

It's called, 'the queer cones', and what a lovely matt (FB?) paper it has been printed on too!! I must look it up = Fomabrom, N - grade, Bedrof says.

It's a picture of some, what look like, quite large cones made out of wood, or maybe ceramic tiles? It's a bit hard to see how big they all are, as there isn't anything to compare them too in the picture. But trust me, it's much easier to appreciate when one has the print in front of ones eyes to look at.

It was taken on his 'new' camera, a Yashica Mat 124G, so has been printed in the square format, which is a favourite of mine for the right subject.

The print has then been finally followed by being toned in polysulfide and selenium, which give it a really lovely colour overall.

Great picture, so many thanks for sending it. A great addition to my collection.

Terry S

Oh, I'm happy it reached you, Terry. You're right, that one sent first was assigned to your address.
The cones are rather big, about 5 to 6 meters each, covered with wooden tiles. Someone else of the list will receive a card with the same subject but slightly different toning.

At the same time I received 4 cards of this round,will comment on the shortly.

 

[Black Dog]

I also received Matt and Rob's cards (yesterday), both are great and visually interesting with the amount of detail within each image. Rob, I can kind of understand your feelings about the 21mm (I struggle with a 20mm on my Nikon FE sometimes) but in this case I think it really works. Matt, yours is another image that I think can work in more than one orientation, although I like the proper one very much.

I agree re. Matt's card-I love this type of image. Have a look at Frederick Sommer's desert images some time; you'd probably like them.

 

[Black Dog]

I have a couple more. Jake's picture of some sticks in the mud who dont want to get wet in the sky reflective pond or maybe they are stopping those that wish to. Also Ian's picture of more sticks and posts this time in the clouds, no terra firma here, nice and soft, great effect, but the clouds look fluffier on the other side. Thanks guys.

Thanks-your sheets of plastic reminded me of Buddhist prayer flags for some reason; you've taken a seemingly mundane subject and managed to transform it...the toning really suits it as well.

 

[iandvaag]

Lots of great cards received -- thanks all!

Graciemansion – Construction site west side of Manhattan – It is quite effective as a contact print. I actually thought the emulsion of the paper was peeling away when I first opened the envelope! The darker area provides kind of an oversized matte for the image, which is an interesting effect.

Howard Earl Simmons – Kent Falls State Park – Nice composition placing the rocks in front of the bright water to create contrast and provide definition to the figures.

Rob Skeoch – Festival of India – I’d say the composition didn’t get away from you with this shot! Very neat. I like the connection the main subject makes with the viewer by looking right into the camera.

Matt King – Reaching Across – So much detail to keep me looking! Nice job filling the frame.

mooseontheloose – Looking Up – I like how the almost perfect symmetry is slightly broken by the alternating cylindrical structures above. I also enjoy the creamy smooth gradient in the sky.

Paul – Embroidery – Very nice toning – it works very well. Interesting how it got anchored to the fence in so many places.

 

[Howard Earl]

Received Princes Street Gardens #1 from black dog.
Interesting photo, love the Ferris Bueller reference.

 

[Black Dog]

Received Princes Street Gardens #1 from black dog.
Interesting photo, love the Ferris Bueller reference.

Thanks-pleased somebody appreciated it.

 

[drpsilver]

28 Aug 2019

Here are my comments on the latest batch of card I have received. The card from bedrof from Cyprus. The brown tone gives the image a feeling of being from the "old country". The square format works well for the image. The photo from awty is very well composed. The split toning (Se & sepia) is well done, and gives the photo depth (both visually, and to its story). This could have been photographed in the Midwest US. The card from Howard Earl of Kent Falls (I wonder if any relation to William Kent (Senator) who donated Muir Woods to NPS). The cairns look like little men grading the falls.
Edit: MattKing's card of an old tree. The upward perspective accentuates the hight, and age, of this tree. The sepia tone lends a realistic color to the photo.

Thank you to all for sharing you work.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Black Dog]

I just received a very nice waterfall and art installation from Howard Simmons. Thanks!

Me too- stones as substitute people. I love all those old stories about objects coming to life when us people aren't around. Also nice contrast between static stone and flowing water.

 

[mfohl]

I just received "Monk's View, Cloisters" by jvo. Nice! And who woulda thunk it was in NYC?? Thanks James!

 

[Wayne Frederick]

Thanks to all who have sent me cards. I hope to have my cards sent out in about a week. I would like to comment on the cards I have received so far:

tezzasmall - an intimate photo of a fountain in Rome. I like the paper and the brown tone. Composition is very good.

graciemansion- a very tiny photo of a construction site- an interesting view through a hole in the fence covering. Looking at it with a magnifying glass I see pretty ordinary work in progress, a man carrying a pipe, etc., but what is that thing with the bright eyes reflected in the window? Anyhow, very nice symmetrical composition.

Black Dog- a surrealistic photo of a confusing landscape with a circle of dramatic light around an unidentified object. I like it very much.

Howard Earl- a nice photo of a grouping of arranged stones like those seen wherever there are stones to arrange, but I think these have been made to look particularly alive and observant.

iandvaag- an interesting high- contrast infrared image, made with a medium format stereo camera that I had never heard of until now. I like this image upside down also.

Matt King- a sharp, sepia print of a great old contorted tree.

drpsilver- amusing picture, surely it will float at high tide.

mooseontheloose- a somewhat creepy photo of a radar array that looks flimsy and temporary, yet still stands. I like the clouds and the square format.

Rob Skeoch- an excellent action shot, nicely printed.

jvo- a nice evocative photo taken at The Cloisters, which I am sorry to say I have never visited. I like the play of light and shadow in this print.

 

[jvo]

a very busy summer - and fun... my cards went out a week ago, and i've rec'd a bunch...

from terry, tezzasmall, a gem of a view from rome, wonderfully printed, nice layers, graphics and lines... printing is excellent, matte suface - special
from howard simmons howard earl, kent falls - that really needed to be captured and done very well great perspective and impact.
from ian andvaag ianandvaag, grasslands park - moody with a different perspective, impactful
from mattking an intriguing old tree "reaching across", very descriptive and a treal contortionist, done with my favorite film.
from jake williams black dog, yes ww1 memorial, and it is haunting (maybe they always are), especually with that tree overseeing all!
from rob skeoch, festival of india, hmmm, i like the composition, the "information", impactful and an image that sets a fun mood of the festival.
from paul fitzpatrick, awty, an intriguing "embroidery", at journey's end... nice tone, well composed.

thank you for your contribution to my enjoyment!

 

[tezzasmall]

Just to comment about the paper that I used this round, as it seems to have been well received. It is Ilford's Art 300 paper, which I've just finished my first box of. For the right subjects it's a really lovely textured and slightly warm toned FB paper, that in this case is thick enough to cut up and send as postcards through the post.

If anyone hasn't tried it yet and wondered about it, buy a small packet to try. Yes it is a bit more expensive than the rest of Ilford's papers, but I think it's worth it!

Terry S

 

[tezzasmall]

I just received "Monk's View, Cloisters" by jvo. Nice! And who woulda thunk it was in NYC?? Thanks James!

And I too have now received the print, here in the UK.

As said, the view is not something one would expect to see in NYC itself. Many thanks for the further addition to my collection James.

Also of interest, is that I've received a number of 'postcards' now, over a few rounds, of pictures printed on 'ordinary weight' RC papers, all of which have made it through the international postal system undamaged.

Previously I have sent out ones made on Ilford's Art 300 paper, which is a bit more robust, and the paper seems well liked. But for the coming postcard rounds and for some pinhole work, I have purchased some of both Kentmere and Ilford 4 x 5 RC paper, to try using in both. It will be interesting to see how these postcards do, as the Ilford postcard paper, although heavier, is quite a bit more in price for people on a budget.

Terry S

 

[MattKing]

Previously I have sent out ones made on Ilford's Art 300 paper, which is a bit more robust, and the paper seems well liked. But for the coming postcard rounds and for some pinhole work, I have purchased some of both Kentmere and Ilford 4 x 5 RC paper, to try using in both. It will be interesting to see how these postcards do, as the Ilford postcard paper, although heavier, is quite a bit more in price for people on a budget.

I expect it helps that I attach adhesive labels to the back of my postcards for the purpose of including the necessary background info and address. The three small labels, which together cover about 1/4 to 1/3 of the card, have the added benefit of stiffening the card.