Postcard Exchange Round 47 Comments and Feedback

[MattKing]

A few more cards, so a few more comments:
Rob Skeoch's "Festival of India" street scene does a great job of imparting the feeling of claustrophobia in the midst of a crowd. Based on what I see here I would suggest experimenting a bit longer - the 21mm lens may reward you in a slightly less crowded environment.
More comments to come.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Forgot to metion the sign up thread for the next round is live. Link HERE

 

[bedrof]

Comments, finally
mfohl - "Shadow photo" - I really like this kind of play with forms, patterns and lines.
MattKing - "Reaching across" - There is something very unrealistic about the tree and at the same time tones, textures and fine details are so much real.
tezzasmall - Roman fountain card - This tiny card makes me want to coat some liquid emulsion again. The subject adds much for the lovely vintage feeling.
drpsilver - "Silting in, Bolinas" - The composition is just perfect. As people here already observed, letters visible only in the reflection and absence of people makes it feel a little eerie.

 

[drpsilver]

02 Sept 2019

I also received "Monk's View" from jvo. You fooled me into thinking old monastery in Europe, but in NYC! Well done. I like how you maintained the low values without distracting from the window.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Black Dog]

02 Sept 2019

I also received "Monk's View" from jvo. You fooled me into thinking old monastery in Europe, but in NYC! Well done. I like how you maintained the low values without distracting from the window.

Regards,
Darwin

As do I -a nice quietly meditative image.

 

[mfohl]

Hello Folks, I sent out 14 postcards and received 10. My fear when I started this was that some of my cards would be "eaten" by the postal service. My cards were smallish, 3 1/2 x 5 inches, and they were fiber paper, which has a tendency to curl. I suppose if Gracie's 2 1/4 contact print could make it, mine should, but I was still worried.

In any event, this has been an enjoyable exercise. Looking forward to the next round.

 

[tezzasmall]

Hello Folks, I sent out 14 postcards and received 10. My fear when I started this was that some of my cards would be "eaten" by the postal service. My cards were smallish, 3 1/2 x 5 inches, and they were fiber paper, which has a tendency to curl. I suppose if Gracie's 2 1/4 contact print could make it, mine should, but I was still worried.

In any event, this has been an enjoyable exercise. Looking forward to the next round.

I too have received a Polaroid in one round, with no problem or damage by the postal system.

And recently, I cut a few sheets of 10 x 8 Ilford Art 300 paper into 4, so they were a very similar size to the ones you have sent. Art 300 is a lovely thick FB paper and they were received okay.

Sometimes it matters not what size your picture or envelope is, some just don't arrive at where they are supposed to!

And as you say, it's all about the fun of it all, an '...enjoyable exercise.'

So worry not, just look forward to the comments and receiving some lovely cards from others, from all around the world.

Terry S

 

[mfohl]

Thanks, Terry.

 

[Howard Earl]

Recently received Monk’s view from James O’Gara.
Thank you, nice photo and the Cloisters is a place near that I should visit more.


Howard Simmons

 

[bedrof]

More comments on the rest of the cards, received so far

Black Dog - "A street scene, Princess street Gardens" - the only color print of this round! One might start thinking of it as of an image from a family album
iandvaag - "Frenchman River Fence" - the card is filled with an ethereal air, due to the IR sensitive film I presume. The fence posts direct the viewer's eye in a strong and somewhat abstract manner. What is this TL-120 3D camera?
mooseontheloose - "The Russian Woodpecker card" - great implementation of the scene. This tracery pattern of the antenna array against the clouds deserves being printed really large.
Rob Skeoch - "Festival of India card" - interesting variety of faces depicted here. And oh well, personally I've never used anything wider than 28 mm or its equivalent, so cannot judge on even wider lens.

 

[Black Dog]

More comments on the rest of the cards, received so far

Black Dog - "A street scene, Princess street Gardens" - the only color print of this round! One might start thinking of it as of an image from a family album
iandvaag - "Frenchman River Fence" - the card is filled with an ethereal air, due to the IR sensitive film I presume. The fence posts direct the viewer's eye in a strong and somewhat abstract manner. What is this TL-120 3D camera?
mooseontheloose - "The Russian Woodpecker card" - great implementation of the scene. This tracery pattern of the antenna array against the clouds deserves being printed really large.
Rob Skeoch - "Festival of India card" - interesting variety of faces depicted here. And oh well, personally I've never used anything wider than 28 mm or its equivalent, so cannot judge on even wider lens.

Thanks for your comments. I also enjoyed the ethereal air in iandvaag's card (I've been an enthusiastic experimenter with IR film in my time).

 

[awty]

Catch up time, have Matt's card, except I dont know which is the right way up, I think it must be viewed while lying down and looking up, love the toning. Bedrof's card, first I thought they were tooth pick bushes, then I can see a man walk past and I can see they are enormous tooth pick trees!, like the texture of the paper, makes a noise when you scratch it with a tooth pick. JVO's card of a window in his castle, love the way it frames the outside and the way the light cuts across the brick work, but you should install some glass in case it rains. Mr H.E. Simmons wonderful fluffy white water fall being observed by the wee little rock people of the valley, very nice work maintaining both highlights and shadows. Thanks everyone for your cards and comments, catch up on the next round.

 

[bedrof]

Catch up time, have Matt's card, except I dont know which is the right way up, I think it must be viewed while lying down and looking up, love the toning. Bedrof's card, first I thought they were tooth pick bushes, then I can see a man walk past and I can see they are enormous tooth pick trees!, like the texture of the paper, makes a noise when you scratch it with a tooth pick. JVO's card of a window in his castle, love the way it frames the outside and the way the light cuts across the brick work, but you should install some glass in case it rains. Mr H.E. Simmons wonderful fluffy white water fall being observed by the wee little rock people of the valley, very nice work maintaining both highlights and shadows. Thanks everyone for your cards and comments, catch up on the next round.

Paul, your comment made me really laugh out loud this morning, thank you. Well, those are birches not the toothpicks, but due to high magnification needed to show a recognizable man's figure on a card, the trees are not very well rendered I'm afraid.
I'm very glad the card reached you safe and sound half the world away, but you're only the third person in this round who confirmed receiving my cards, while I sent some of them fourteen pieces as early as in June.

 

[awty]

Paul, your comment made me really laugh out loud this morning, thank you. Well, those are birches not the toothpicks, but due to high magnification needed to show a recognizable man's figure on a card, the trees are not very well rendered I'm afraid.
I'm very glad the card reached you safe and sound half the world away, but you're only the third person in this round who confirmed receiving my cards, while I sent some of them fourteen pieces as early as in June.

Your pictures are always the highest of quality Ilya, the person walking past gives perspective, without him you I would not appreciate the size of the birches.
I usually wait till I receive a few cards before commenting, yours arrived a week or so ago. Postage from Russia is surprisingly quick I have found, most of Asia is super slow.
Thanks again for your card.

 

[Wayne Frederick]

Yesterday I received a card from bedrof entitled "Sunset over Neva river, Saint- Petersburg". Very well done image taken with a Yashica Mat 124G 6x6 camera and printed on Slavich Bromoportrait paper, sepia toned. I like the composition and the tonality. I also own a Yashica Mat 124, and I have just gotten it out of the drawer to use (It has been years since I used it). Thanks Ilya for including the information on film, developer, paper, toning and camera used since this really helps me learn new things about black and white photography.
Wayne Frederick

 

[Laurent]

Dear Photrio/Apug friends (yes, APUG it is and will remain in my mind ;-) )

I had a veeeeeery hectic summer and am still trying to recover a "normal" life.

I received a LOT of great cards, for which I'm thanking all of you, but did not even find the time to acknowledge/comment.

I'm trying to get back to the darkroom but time is very scarce, so I can promise I'll send my cards, but cannot commit about when... hope you'll pardon me!

Laurent

 

[mfohl]

Today I received two very nice cards. One was bedrof's "Queer Cones", an interesting structure indeed. With some nice clouds, too. And in an area of Russia I haven't heard of. I see an exercise with google maps this evening. And the second is Wayne Frederick's Abbott School in Maine. Obviously going through some construction. And I didn't notice the painter until I read the back. I noticed the ladder, but not the painter! Nice creamy whites on the building.

Two great cards! Thanks, guys!

 

[Black Dog]

Today I received two very nice cards. One was bedrof's "Queer Cones", an interesting structure indeed. With some nice clouds, too. And in an area of Russia I haven't heard of. I see an exercise with google maps this evening. And the second is Wayne Frederick's Abbott School in Maine. Obviously going through some construction. And I didn't notice the painter until I read the back. I noticed the ladder, but not the painter! Nice creamy whites on the building.

Two great cards! Thanks, guys!

Thanks from me too- both carefully seen and printed. It's always good to see somebody looking beyond the obvious.

 

[tezzasmall]

Today I received two very nice cards. And the second is Wayne Frederick's Abbott School in Maine. Obviously going through some construction. And I didn't notice the painter until I read the back. I noticed the ladder, but not the painter! Nice creamy whites on the building.

Two great cards! Thanks, guys!

And I too have now received Wayne's card = many thanks Wayne.

Before reading the details on the back of the card, the picture looks like a lovely white painted wooden building, that is straight out of a period film set.

As it turns out, it really is an old building that is being repainted, in the town of Castine in Maine and to make it better, there are also some other similar buildings around the town, so I bet they get a lot of picture takers visiting.

And looking up the camera that Wayne used = WOW! what a great looking camera you have there, to take them pictures with Wayne. For those who haven't received the card, look up an Exakta VXIIa.

So, as always, many thanks for the further addition to my collection.

Terry S

 

[Black Dog]

Maine of course was photographed extensively by Paul Strand for 'Time In New England' ;essential viewing if you haven't seen it already. It'll teach you a lot about sequencing images and how they work with text (selected by Nancy Newhall).

 

[jvo]

got back from a trip that was longer than expected and found 2 more cards, both wonderfully printed... from
wayne frederick, castine historical society, straight-on and sturdy, a true new england character - wonderful tones, perpendicular lines - i'm there!
ilya bedrof, walking by the trees - on nice linen textured paper. made stunning by the accidental appearance of the lone walker. i would have wanted to take the same picture when i saw the trees, but it's the walker who makes it real - the tree lines broken by the man's shape, wow. good luck with the yashica - after many years i've resolved that tlr's are my camera of choice!

thanks for some really enjoyable and inspiring work!

 

[jvo]

i wanted to check and see how many of cards i sent out were rec'd this round... there are comments from 7 people as having rec'd cards... so 9 of my cards were lost en-route or no comments.

for those that haven't rec'd one i'd like to be able to send another - email me. it won't be immediate, (printing, etc.), but i will do it.

 

[drpsilver]

Dear Photrio/Apug friends (yes, APUG it is and will remain in my mind ;-) )

I'm trying to get back to the darkroom but time is very scarce, so I can promise I'll send my cards, but cannot commit about when... hope you'll pardon me!

Laurent

15 Oct 2019

Laurent, no need for a pardon. I look forward to seeing the image you do select. I also have been struggling to find "darkroom time" in-between my other activities.

I received a card from Wayne Frederick of an old school house repurposed as a historical society - how appropriate. It is very nicely printed and composed. I am not familiar with the camera used (Exakta VXIIa), you controlled any converging lines very well.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[MattKing]

A few more cards again, so a few more comments:
Wayne Frederick - "Abbott School" - a really nice example of architectural photography. And I really like the painter's legs! It is nicely printed too!
bedrof - "Sunset over Neva river, Saint Petersburg" - a beautiful, warm toned river scene, very well printed. The location is exotic, and the light is magical. Thank you.
Black Dog - "The Call, Edinburgh" - a really nice colour print, of a statue commemorating a war that ended a century ago. Thanks Jake for giving us a glimpse of Edinburgh.
Howard Earl - "Kent Falls State Park" - a beautiful waterfall, with evidence that the Inuit have had influence far afield (look up "inukshuk" to see what I mean. I like the printing choices too.
jvo - "Monk's view, Chapter House window, The Cloisters" - an interesting and enigmatic view of the outside, from the inside. Nice and large too!
12 of 14 cards received so far. Thanks everyone!

 

[Black Dog]

A few more cards again, so a few more comments:
Wayne Frederick - "Abbott School" - a really nice example of architectural photography. And I really like the painter's legs! It is nicely printed too!
bedrof - "Sunset over Neva river, Saint Petersburg" - a beautiful, warm toned river scene, very well printed. The location is exotic, and the light is magical. Thank you.
Black Dog - "The Call, Edinburgh" - a really nice colour print, of a statue commemorating a war that ended a century ago. Thanks Jake for giving us a glimpse of Edinburgh.
Howard Earl - "Kent Falls State Park" - a beautiful waterfall, with evidence that the Inuit have had influence far afield (look up "inukshuk" to see what I mean. I like the printing choices too.
jvo - "Monk's view, Chapter House window, The Cloisters" - an interesting and enigmatic view of the outside, from the inside. Nice and large too!
12 of 14 cards received so far. Thanks everyone!

Thanks Matt-it's part of an ongoing project inspired by the poetry of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, who were both patients at Craiglockhart war Hospital in Edinburgh in 1917. I visited Edinburgh on 28th June this year (the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles) and some of the images from that day will surface in a future round.