Postcard Exchange Round 50 Comments and Feedback

[Oxleyroad]

12th postcard in. Nige - Joshua Tree National Parkm USA. What a really well executed Lith print. It looks like it was taken a hundred years ago were the words from my 12yo daughter mouth. Yet another Postcard that is seeing prominance on the fridge for all to see.

 

[mfohl]

Two very nice postcards arrived today. cramej's Rose in Glass, a 4x5 contact print of a rose in jar. A calm, cool tabletop image. And vedostuu's old car window with the leading rear view mirror. Thanks John! Thanks Jouni! And yes, I love Jim Jarmusch: Down by Law, Dead Man, etc. Haven't seen Coffee & Cigarettes yet, but now it's on my list!

 

[Oxleyroad]

Saturday saw the arrival of postcard 13. cramej - 'Rose in a glass'. A great print made with HArmon direct positive paper. Was there any preflash of the paper before this picture was taken?

 

[cramej]

Saturday saw the arrival of postcard 13. cramej - 'Rose in a glass'. A great print made with HArmon direct positive paper. Was there any preflash of the paper before this picture was taken?

Thanks! No preflash on these - just a straight exposure. I probably wasted 10 or 12 sheets because I was in 'negative paper' mode thinking I needed less and less exposure until they were nearly black. I tried a couple sheets with a preflash but it was far too much so I decided to put off testing that for another time and another box of paper. I really like the paper but found that it exhausts the developer faster than regular paper. The last 5 or 6 prints didn't have the same dmax as the first 10 or so.

 

[Lucid]

@cramej - A very nice direct positive made it's way through my door this past weekend. This round continues to present a series of discoveries, as this is the first direct positive I've seen in person. Nice subject with good max black/white. I also like the size of the postcard, any smaller you would've given @hkbenji card a run for his money!

 

[Lucid]

@iandvaag - Yesterday your card and letter arrived in the post. It is a fun image, and I'm sure many of us have seen similar exchanges during these interesting times! The size of print works well for the image. I'll admit though, when I first received the envelope, I did wonder if there was a print in there! The accompanying letter made for an enjoyable read. It was interesting to read the model of enlarger used, glad to hear it's still in use! Many thanks for sending a card my way and for sharing your thoughts on the experience of doing so.

 

[mfohl]

Two nice cards came this week. Black Dog's Calton Hill. It appears to be an evening shot with some heavy clouds. Two photographers snapping something with their cell phones. And a very interesting building on the left. An observatory maybe? And Nige's Joshua Tree National Park. We have everything west coast there: rocks, clouds, yucca plants, scrub grass, and even a Joshua tree. Printed (and apparently toned?) on Agfa Portriga Rapid paper. How I miss my Agfa paper ...

Two great cards! Thanks!

 

[jvo]

i have a bunch of cards to comment on and will do so this week... i sent out 26 cards and am concerned that they have each arrived... if you haven't rec'd it please email me, i will reprint and replace it.

thanks

 

[Oxleyroad]

I would wait a good while before reprinting. The USPS is getting bogged down due to the directives from its leadership. My monthly lease statements are taking on average 6 weeks (42 days) to travel from TX to MI. Good thing I do not rely on getting things like medicine through the post.

 

[iandvaag]

The quality of cards I’ve received in the postcard exchange just continually goes up. I don’t think I can keep up! Thanks all!

@Lucid - Under Destruction - The subtle toning is lovely. The edge of the emulsion got scrapped in transit, mimicking the damaged posters and scratched sign. Love it!
@BSP - A very cheerful lady enjoying a sunny day, although I’m glad I’m not her! I like the smiling people in the background very much.
@vedostuu - Classic chrome rendered in silver gelatin - a perfect match. It looks like caffenol is a great match too! The distorted reflections of what appears to be tree branches looks so cool. Love the stamp too!
@mfohl - The texture of the carpet reminds me of snow. I love what the pinhole did with the bright halo of light.
@Black Dog - Calton Hill (The climbers) 2 - Beautiful golden light with long shadows.
@jvo - Arboreal Spirits - I must confess I’ve not heard the murmuring of the arboreal spirits, but I am impressed by their stature and form in this print. I very much appreciate the cooler tone for this image.
@MattiS - Mennesket ved Havet - They have quite good posture; no slouching at all! The lower contrast of the subject is printed very well giving smooth tones.
@RSImages - Sunken Gardens - Wow, you’ve got a winner here! I love my Canon EOS camera too, it just works. Excellent positioning of the dragonfly with respect to the background. This is so important for macro images and I find it difficult to determine in B&W. The bright body pops against the dark background, while the fine details of the wings can be seen against the lighted portions. Well done!
@cramej - Administration Building - The stark sky and hard shadows gives a very imposing and stately look to the building. I love the typewritten back too.
@Nige - Joshua Tree National Park - This is something super special. I don’t think I’ve seen a Lith print in person before. It is incredibly compelling. I love the coarse image texture and warm-toned highlights. The “look” suits the image perfectly; thanks so much!
@drpsilver - Fungus Ladder - The sharp fine details of the jagged edges along with the shallow depth of field makes this look like an electron micrograph. The edges of the fungus pop so much they look fluorescent. (I notice that Lucid made this comment earlier as well.) Thanks!
@madhatter - I very much like the image, and it’s printed beautifully. The gradient of the grime is a very cool effect. I wonder what lies behind the doors.
@Oxleyroad - Roadworks - I don’t think I’ve seen a print from P30 before, so that’s wonderful to see. Looks like a great film. It looks like such an active scene, but the lack of people makes it quite remarkable. I really like how the image extends from rubble very close in the foreground to huge distance down the street.
@Luis-F-S - Double Clematis - Like two alien eyes looking back at me... Or maybe a delicious steam bun on an ornate platter... They are very majestic flowers. The tonal separation is great and I like the composition as well.

Thanks all!

 

[jvo]

I would wait a good while before reprinting. The USPS is getting bogged down due to the directives from its leadership. My monthly lease statements are taking on average 6 weeks (42 days) to travel from TX to MI. Good thing I do not rely on getting things like medicine through the post.

good point... thanx.

 

[mfohl]

I got Howard Earl's Bleeding Hearts yesterday. A 4x5 shot of a row of bleeding heart flowers on a branch. With everything else very nicely blurred out with depth of field. Thanks!

 

[BSP]

@BSP - A very cheerful lady enjoying a sunny day, although I’m glad I’m not her! I like the smiling people in the background very much.

Hi there Ian,

I just received your 'Covid Kiss' and was quite moved by it and by it's accompanying letter. Loved the "funny" format too!
You really captured a fleeting moment in our human condition. This is what photography really is all about to me.
Thanks for sharing it through this wonderful medium.

Regards,

Bill

 

[iandvaag]

Thanks for the kind comments Lucid and Bill.

 

[RSImages]

A postcard came yesterday from @astroclimb and it looks like a place I would like to visit. Love being near the water where you aren't feeling like you are suffocated by tourists.

 

[BSP]

Just a quick note that @astroclimb 's postcard fell on my doormat today.
Thanks Todd, nice one!
Both the objective and subjective quality of the postcards in this round keeps on amazing me.

My regards, keep on printing!

Bill

 

[RSImages]

Ian (@iandvaag ),

The Covid Kiss is such a moving image and the story behind it... Wow!

Not sure there are words for it. The elderly seem to be lost in all of this. Time and again I hear people comment on the need for human touch and the mental stimulation the elderly get from personal interaction. This is a tragically perfect image of the time.

I love the story of how it was printed. Thanks for sharing.

 

[tezzasmall]

I enjoyed emptying the mailbox yesterday. Found there a stack of cards for rounds 49 and 50 mixed.
Surely will write more soon.

And I have just received your postcard Ilya.

Shot on Ilya's travels around the west coast of Ireland in 2011, I have a simple but lovely composition of a bus coming towards us, with wilderness on either side and a large mountain in the background.

I too have visited that part of Ireland and your card brought back good memories, so thanks for that and for the card!

Terry S

 

[mfohl]

I received astroclimb's "Tide is Out", a scene in a fishing village (?) where the tide is very low. Always like this, or just this year? Nice shot, thanks Todd!

-- Mark

 

[drpsilver]

22 Aug 2020

To All:

As I write this the sky is filled with smoke from 2 major fires on two side of our neighborhood totaling 370,000+ acres. Please keep the San Francisco Bay Area in your prayers.

My comments on cards received are as follows (in no particular order):
A color print from Black Dog of a good example of "documentary photography". Unfortunately the post office machines took off some of the emulsion.
A nice close-up of a dragonfly from RSImages with a very shallow depth-of-focus. Nicely captured.
The photo "Under Destruction" from Lucid of a subject I have seen too much of - closed businesses. Nice commentary.
The card from vedotuu is well composed. Developing the print in caffenol gives it a "old print" look. I would not have thought to develop prints in caffenol.
"Bleeding Heart Plant" from Howard Earl is well composed. I like how the leaves frame and focus the viewer to the blossoms. Well done.
"Tide's Out" by astroclimb reminds me visiting the Bay of Fundy, but with the look of Fulford Harbor (on Salt Spring Island, BC). I like how the background does not detract from the main subject.
The very touching "Covid Kiss" from iandvaag is my favorite of this round. It is a very simple composition, but filled with feeling and emotion. The story you told in the enclosed letter adds "connections" to the photo.
A nice photo from jvo taken while "communing with the arboreal spirits".
A photo of a very unusual set of statues from MattiS. Where these commissioned fo commemorate something, or just as a work of art?
The card from Nige from Joshua Tree Nat'l Park (JTNP) is very nice. I like the contrast, dark sky, and detail of the photo. The contrast of Joshua Tree and rocks is wonderful because these are the things that characterize JTNP. The brown/sepia toning makes the image "sing". Very well done.

Thanks to all for sharing your work. I hope all is well with you and your families. Stay safe and healthy.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[BSP]

I always like a nicely executed juxtaposition shot and @hwv 's "EXPO" really fits the bill!

Thanks!

Bill

 

[radiant]

Got some new cards!

@iandvaag Covid kiss - it is quite obvious that the story and subject drops to feelings, no doubt about it. I also like this kind of street photography style and the compositon. Also the non-common form factor is catching eye. I would myself printed this with higher contrast but it works well like it is. It is really nice to see different approaches.

@cramej A huge respect on the amount of work you have gone through for this postcard. When I started printing for this round I started making 5x7" DP myself and for a moment I thought it would be cool to do DPs for some PCX round but I dumped the idea because the amount of work it involves. But you did it. Then the other thing is the typewriting. You make me feel like a lazy bastard when cutting, gluing, stamping etc. feels like a burden. But no, you TYPEWRITE all the information. This is some dedication that should be given prize Oh yeah, I didn't get into the photo itself but feel exhausted already. Well lets just say that the photo itself is in line with previous.. to put it mildy.

@Howard Earl The composition is so good and the sharpness of this print made me get some negative film for my 5x7" .. I've always discarded the idea of shooting plants etc against green background - but you succeeded with this. Focused area is managed so well that it makes me wonder how long have you been composing this shot.

Thanks guys, you made my day better!

 

[MattKing]

I am very grateful.
As I shared in the sign-up thread, I am in the midst of a long interruption to my darkroom availability, due substantially to a move, and couldn’t continue at this time my longtime participation in this exchange. It is particularly disappointing, given that this is round 50 - an accomplishment of all the participants, over many years indeed.
I indicated that I was reluctantly bowing out, but a bunch of you stepped forward and asked me to share my address with George anyways, so that you could send me a card.
I did, and George obviously did, because many of you have sent me cards.
I’ve enjoyed each and every one immensely.
I didn’t know how to start out with thanking everyone for the cards I received, so I procrastinated. But that is truly unfair. So I’ve sucked up the courage, and pass on my thank you and comments to everyone whose card I’ve received and appreciated, as follows:

cramej - “Rose in Glass” - interesting and atmospheric appearance - glad to see what people can do with Direct Positive paper
Oxleyroad - “Where’s the Water Gone” - a sweet moment - thanks for sharing
madhatter - “Two Doors” - a dramatic and graphic image - the high contrast chosen during printing is very nice. Just one hint - please put your screen name on your card, because I sort and catalogue them that way.
Luis-F-S - “Double Clematis - a subtle print that I really enjoy
vedostuu - “Coffee and Cigarettes” - an intriguing choice of viewpoint and a neat car - I like the mystery of the words on the back
Lucid - “Under Destruction” - a very nice print, of a scene that combines almost classical form and a well controlled hint of chaos
Tezzasmall - “Lloyds” - a very nice print, of a fascinatingly complex scene. I looked at it and immediately thought of Terry Gilliam’s movie “Brazil” - a movie that has always stayed with me
BSP - “Keep Printing Bill” - I like cards that make me laugh, and this is a great example. Well printed as well
Nige - “Josua Tree National Park” - an incredibly atmospheric lith print. I really like the dramatic tones. I looked at it and wanted to ask “Where is the dinosaur?”
RSImages - “Dragon Fly” - a commanding image that I had trouble identifying without the information on the back. I always like that in a postcard
MattiS - “Mennesket ved Havet” - a wonderfully enigmatic card. The combination of the huge, other worldly statues and what I would assume are a bunch of tourists is wonderful. The composition and angle of view draws me in. And the photographer in the foreground is perfect!
Howard Earl - “Bleeding Heart” - This collection of jewel like blooms just glows.
rst - “Playground Hoop in Cyanotype” - It is so nice to see another postcard from Ruediger, and a cyanotype at that. This card is an evocative use of the process - blue mood comes to mind
drpsilver - “Fungus Ladder” - as many participants in the postcard exchange know, I’m quite fond of stumps and trees. This one is particularly nice. The fungus looks particularly good as well, no doubt due to the fine job of printing
mfohl - “Town Street Bridge” - pinhole images can be a good choice for the postcard exchange, and this card is a good example. The “swoop” of this bridge, and the atmospherics of the pinhole rendition draws me to this card.

By my count that is 15 cards from people who have no reason to expect a card from me in return. I am both very grateful, and humbled.
Thank you everyone. Receiving cards in this round has been a great source of enjoyment that makes not having a darkroom for such a long time a bit more bearable.

 

[radiant]

@Nige Thank you for awesome lith print. Composition and printing just top notch. 10/10!

 

[mfohl]

I received bedrof's card from the Irish series. A bus driving along a lonely road. And on the wrong side, of course! Even a teeny white house in the distance. A nice sky with clouds over the hill. Thanks! And I miss traveling too.