Postcard Exchange Round 50 Comments and Feedback

[tezzasmall]

@mooseontheloose - I received your lovely card in the post today. A nicely composed image of a timeless subject. I like the weighting of the boarders on the card. The notes on the back made for a very interesting read. I hope I will be able to experience the location in person one of these days. Thanks again for sending a card my way.

I too have now received Rachelle's card.

A lovely soft tone image of five of Sudan's pyramids, which I never knew of. The shape of them is different to the Egyptian ones that I know of, so come as a totally new image to my eyes and have me wanting to explore the world's other ones, online if not on foot.

Many thanks Rachelle.

Terry S

 

[hkbenji]

Two more cards with thanks -

@mooseontheloose - from Sudan via Kyoto to Hong Kong - beautiful print and nice composition! Great that you still managed to travel there before all the fun and games started.
@Rowreidr - a timeless looking print. Great choice of paper and film - I never used Xtreme100 but looks like there are no markings on the film edge - perfect for sprocket-type photographs!

 

[CircusMalta]

@CircusMalta - I received your card this past weekend. I really like the perspective of this image; it really draws you in. The flower has an almost luminous glow to it, and the window sill has plenty of character. Many thanks for taking the time to print and for sending my way.

I posted my cards out yesterday. I hope they'll reach the UK addresses today, and the international addresses in the next week or so. I've found that I learn a great deal from these printing runs, but right now I'll just be glad to have my bathroom back to normal!

Thank you for your comments!.. I live in an old building, hence the window charachter..

 

[MattKing]

CircusMalta - thankyou for this response. I think it solves my mystery as to who sent me the last card I commented on - you did!
It is indeed a very nice card.
Just a hint - it really, really helps if you put a note on it that identifies who it came from, which round it is for, and what its title is.

 

[Rowreidr]

Thanks for the comments. A little history. I had not shot very much this round, so took one afternoon off from work and just walked in NYC. I had done some sprockets on the bronica, but this was the first time trying it on the LCA. I actually thought I was too close for this shot based on the viewfinder, but was so happy it came out, especially since the shots that I thought were going to be the postcard worthy, ended up being trash. UFX 100 has marking, easily seen when not shooting the sprockets, only faintly seen on the negatives, and lost in the digital conversion. I was a little worried about my paper choice, as I tested waterproofness after printing. Interestingly, after dunking in water for 10 seconds and some rough handling, it seemed to give it a more artistic appearance. Feel free to try yourself.

 

[mfohl]

I also received rowreidr's Empire State with sprockets. I can only echo what the other folks have said. Nice shot, and very nice presentation.

 

[hkbenji]

Thanks @bedrof for the horses! What I love almost as much as those black and white beauties is that wall..! Great stuff.

 

[drpsilver]

03 Oct 2020

Here are my comments on the most recent batch of cards I have received.
I really like the card from Rowreidr of the Empire State Bldg. This photo strikes me as being made with a pinhole camera - I am not familiar with the Lomo LCA 120 camera. I like how you used the entire width of the film. Nicely printed on very nice paper. A photo of pyramids in Sudan from mooseontheloose is very intriguing. It seems that many cultures built pyramid like structures. The long foreground draws the viewer into the photo. Unfortunately the post office "added" its mark/gouge to the print. The card from hwv of an "EXPO" near an europlakat sign stripped of its message. I like to deep depth-of-focus that allows for an "everywhere sharp" photo.

Thank you to all for you kind words regarding the photo I used for Round 50. (Rachelle, I also have difficulty photographing shelf fungus.)

Regards,
Darwin

P.S. Let the Round 51 fun begin.

 

[mfohl]

I received hkbenji's Climbers. Nice tones in the rocks. Very nice paper, the Hanemuhle. And a square postcard with a black border. Very nice, thanks!

 

[mooseontheloose]

03 Oct 2020
A photo of pyramids in Sudan from mooseontheloose is very intriguing. It seems that many cultures built pyramid like structures. The long foreground draws the viewer into the photo. Unfortunately the post office "added" its mark/gouge to the print.

Sad to hear about the postal addition, although that always seems to happen to at least one card that I receive in every round. As for the pyramids, Sudan has more pyramids than any other country, but they always get overshadowed by their neighbour to the north, even though quite a few temples and structures in what is now Sudan were built by the Pharaohs. The Nubian pyramids, on the other hand, were built centuries after the Egyptians stopped building theirs (no one really knows why). Since I have so few keepers from this trip due to the aforementioned film and camera problems, I'd really like to go back and photograph them again.

 

[bedrof]

Thanks @bedrof for the horses! What I love almost as much as those black and white beauties is that wall..! Great stuff.

I'm very glad it reached you, thanks for the comment!

 

[BSP]

Hoi @gijsbert

Bedankt voor de prachtige foto van tijdens je reis naar Rome. Ik ben blij dat je hem in een envelop verstuurd hebt want deze is zo mooi dat het eeuwig zonde zou zijn als Tante Post hem beschadigd had onderweg.

Groeten uit Vlissingen
Bill

PS: just thanking @gijsbert for another great addition to this round's jewels

 

[bedrof]

I've received so many great cards and haven't written a word yet!
So:
@Nige - oh, your lith print of a Joshua Tree NP landscape is so beautiful.
@rst - "Empty playground" gives a disquieting feeling. Nice to see a cyanotype card, it's a rare thing in the PCX.
@vedostuu - car detail card looks really classic. I did noticed the fine contrast of the print.
@mfohl - nicely performed pinhole shot is another rare thing one can receive, especially when it is 6x9. Was that a laser cut hole? I hope to make a pinhole camera someday for a 8x10 Harman DP paper of which I got a pack in my freezer.
@cramej - "Administration building" - another classic card but in the architectural sense. It's very unusual to see the backwriting made with a typewriter.

Thanks for so many interesting prints!
I will get back to you with more comments about the rest of the cards received so far.

 

[mfohl]

I've received so many great cards and haven't written a word yet!
So:
@mfohl - nicely performed pinhole shot is another rare thing one can receive, especially when it is 6x9. Was that a laser cut hole? I hope to make a pinhole camera someday for a 8x10 Harman DP paper of which I got a pack in my freezer.

Thanks for so many interesting prints!
I will get back to you with more comments about the rest of the cards received so far.

Thanks Ilya, it is a ZeroImage model from Taiwan, so it is a professionally made pinhole. Not sure if it's laser cut, but I'm sure it's precise.

-- Mark

 

[Black Dog]

I received Black Dog's "Emma's Wedding" and Rowreidr's "Empire State Sprockets" earlier this week (not sure when, it's all a blur!). It was nice getting two slightly larger than normal postcards. Jake, I'm not sure what paper you used but I really love the finish! The image is a really nice slice of (wedding ceremony) life. Rowreidr - it's been awhile since I've shot film with the sprocket holes showing, but I think it really works in this image - it really forces the viewer to keep looking up. I like it.

Fortezo, which was one of my all time favourite papers...sadly it's now gone to the great gig in the sky. However Fomatone is very promising and looks good as a replacement for Forte Polywarmtone. I'm probably going to revisit these images in future exchanges as I'm pleased with the candid photography skills I developed back then.

 

[jvo]

i'm finally getting around to commenting on the wonderful cards i've rec'd this round. first though a little explanation.

We've been in the process of adopting my grandkids for the last 4 years - now finally done. we've come to the awareness that as they get older, (now 7 and 12), they should each have their own bedroom. So everything goes into storage (or passed on), and my darkroom will return to it's former status as a bedroom. (I've bought a digital camera (i did feel the earth quake), and it may work out for me.). I will miss the darkroom.

so, to comments, from...
cramej, rose in glass, a worthy '1st effort' with nice soft lighting and tone
rst, empty playground - great inspiration! as I also close the darkroom, i bought some pop paper to do the same thing! very nice!
vedostuu, very fifties, nice blacks/noir - mood and feeling.
rowreidr, nyc-very covid! wonderful print, perspective, paper, tone - all unite
mooseontheloose, nubian pyramids - stunning, great perspective and mood -
hkbenji, climbing, vertigo! now that's impact, i like the lighting and tone!
hwv, expo, a detailed view of a coronavirus impact? nice picture for the eye to wander in
bedrof, irish series, more heights!!! great lines and layers
iandvaag, you get the mood - a real sign of these times! well seen.
arvid, well composed and exposed, great depth and detail.
terry s, lloyd bldg, very-escher, lots of action for a "static" view... great tones.
bsp, coronavirus, halloween - cold tone, depth, fun
lucid, under destruction, superb printing of well seen, sign of the times.
drpsilver, fungus ladder, nice composition and exposure with detail and contrast
oxleyroad, roadworks, now that's sharp and well-scene, good blacks
nige, what a view on portriga - brings tears to my eyes! spectacular...
mattis, had to look that up - men at sea... great perspective, juxtaposing the statues and people!
black dog, edinburgh sky, i can feel the "smile" you get walking and seeing this view!
howard earl, bleeding heart plant, i like the definition and lightness
gijsbert, fountain at pantheon, nice shapes and lines, exposure and detail!

each pcx is a special surprise in seeing peoples work, art and experiences - truly special. i will have access to a community darkroom which i think will work. I hope this will not be my last exchange... i think it's been the best. thank you

 

[hkbenji]

One more arrived -

@gijsbert - Fountain at the Pantheon. Impressive sharpness and details. And no people! Love the birds in the sky too.

Thanks!

 

[drpsilver]

07 Dec 2020

A card from darinwc of two boys riding on a path. A very fortuitous conjunction of events to make a nice photo. I like how you took advantage of the warm tones of "old Dektol".

Regards,
Darwin

 

[darinwc]

Sorry, normally late with these things. But with the fires in california and covid-19, I was especially late. I am so very glad to have the opportunity to participate.

 

[BSP]

@darinwc : Ten points for serendipity in that photograph!

Thanks for staying on board and all the best!

 

[mooseontheloose]

Oops...wrong thead!

 

[Black Dog]

Sorry, normally late with these things. But with the fires in california and covid-19, I was especially late. I am so very glad to have the opportunity to participate.

No worries, nice to have you with us and take care!

 

[Laurent]

My dear APUG friends (yes, I'm still coming to APUG ),

I've been late for almost all PCX rounds, but this time I'm especially late. 2020 has been a tough year, but I'm starting to recover (no big issues, but my serenity was hit hard by the Covid crisis + some personal decisions which were not so wise (next time I'll listen more to SWMBO)). The darkroom is a great healing place, when someone has the energy to drag one's feet down there (and Leonard Cohen helps a lot!)

Anyway, even if I did not use the pile of paper I bought during the first lockdown (I'm still making my way through proof prints, as contacts are too tiny for me to make accurate decisions, and improving my editing process. ), I've finally been able to print my cards (not the negatives I selected, and the cards I printed early may be used for another round) and now have to put these in envelopes, with a short letter.

In the meantime I received a huge pile of great cards, which I hope to comment soon.
I hope you'll get the cards before Christmas for most o you, and wish you Happy Holiday!

 

[BSP]

@Laurent, I am glad to read you are getting back online. Have a good Xmas and keep printing!

 

[darinwc]

@Laurent: It has been a tough year for us all. Glad you were able to get into your sanctuary. Looking forward to your card if I am on the list.
-Actually one of the things I like about the exchange is the large range of time it takes to receive the cards. It is definitively the gift that keeps on giving!