Postcard Exchange Round 51 Comments and Feedback

[Michael Teresko]

03 Dec 2020
The card from Micheal Teresko of an area in South San Francisco, where in SSF I have no idea.
Regards,
Darwin

That would be Oyster Point.

-m

 

[mfohl]

I received darinwc's nice "Boys on Bicycles" today. Nice scene of some carefree boys. And excellent shadow detail! Nice print! It said PCX 50, but I think it was 51.

 

[drpsilver]

06 Dc 2020

I received a card from RSImages of "The Colossus". An interesting sculpture, but kind of creepy without a body. You captured the shadow detail nicely.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[tezzasmall]

And I have received two cards so far.

BSP's interesting architectural view, but with only minor details on the back of the card. Luckily he followed it up on here with further details.

Oxleyroad sent a travel postcard of a view of a lighthouse and palm trees, from a family holiday in Sri Lanka. This is the type of postcard that makes you also want to visit the place photographed.

Many thanks guys.

Terry S

 

[mooseontheloose]

Hi everyone - I can't believe it's nearly mid-December already! Thanks for all the great postcards, I will comment on them sooner rather than later, and hope to get my darkroom sorted this weekend so I can get some printing done for the exchange. Hopefully I can get the cards out before the end of the year.

 

[BSP]

@RSImages, your very nice postcard of Colussus reached me today. Thanks alot! I am always astonished what great images can be made with such old and simple tools. Which goes to show its all about the skilled photographer in the end.

 

[mfohl]

I received gijsbert's excellent still life today! Thanks! My wife noticed eyes and a mouth in that structure. My question is, is that bourbon in the glass?? Good one!

 

[gijsbert]

@mfohl ha ha, shot glasses are good tools!

Also received the Colossus from @RSImages nice print with all those bricks, must be an interesting object to visit!

From way before:
- lighthouse @Oxleyroad, lovely print, very subtle that soft contrast
- @drpsilver nice still life with uplifting message for these sometimes tough times
- @Dan McGuire cool church spire, so sharp - and it's a crop!
- @MattiS pinhole cyanotype double whammy, very nice, I am going to put some cyanotype chems in my next order - although might have to wait for the sun to get a little stronger...
- 'top hat' from @mfohl interesting view, so symmetrical, very cool! and only just now notice the weeds in front of the door
- 'south san francisco' from @Michael Teresko, intriguing structures in a park, or is 'the wall'?
- 'duinen' van @FotoGys , mooie herinnering aan het vaderland, grappig, als ik in Nederland ben kom ik nog wel eens bij Castricum en Bergen aan Zee maar niet in Egmond!

Love getting this kinda mail, thanks everybody!

 

[rst]

In the meantime two more postcards arrived.

Michael Teresko sent 'South San Francisco' . Looks like a ring of short poles. Like the composition. Thanks.

hkbenji sent the card in an envelope. A good decision as that little gem would not have travelled as good without it. A very nice image that I like a lot.

What I see is that more and more people go hybrid and use inkjet printers. Although I plan to stick with cyanotypes for now it is good to know that there is an alternative in case cyanotype does not work for some reason. From a technical point of view ... these inkjet prints I got so far are all of a high quality. Better than what I ever was able to produce in the darkroom. But then, also the darkroom prints I receive are better than what I was able to produce in the darkroom. That should teach me something ...

Cheers and stay safe
Ruediger

 

[JimEA]

I've now received all of the postcards I'm due I think (I'm new at this so only committed to sending 5). Thankyou to @MattiS @Dan McGuire @FotoGys @Michael Teresko @hkbenji for such a great and varied bunch of postcards. Love each of them for different reasons.

Also massive thankyou to @George Nova Scotia for organising this.

Jim

 

[BSP]

Does anyone know if the postcards that are sent to Harman/Ilford ever arrive there?
I have sent them one every round I participated in but cannot recollect ever seeing any feedback.
Just wondering....

 

[MattKing]

They have commented - not necessarily in the Postcard Exchange threads - that they appreciate and enjoy the cards.
For a little while they even participated.
From a couple of recent conversations with them I've come to the understanding that they (Neil and the gang = @Harman Tech Service) are extremely busy, due to a number of factors, including consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

[BSP]

Thanks @MattKing for commenting. If they enjoy receiving the cards only half as much as I do then I am happy to keep sending them one every round. I hope every bit of light helps in these dark times.

 

[FotoGys]

Well here I'am again, received several postcards this and last week.
@Mike: some square of poles somewhere in SSF, I like the composition and tonal range and become curious about what would be behind the fences.
@hkbenji: I love the composition and diffusing background of the city line. It's really desolate during covid pandemic. Also the square format I love, haven't used it in years
@Gysbert: I memory of the autumn, really nice tabletop, I love the lighting and contrast as well as the matte paper. Jij ook fijne feestdagen
@iandaag: I was intriged by this picture and loved reading the extensive explanation of process followed in the cover letter. Respect for all the effort taken.
@RSImages: The Colossus sculpture, impressive and well captured in beautifull light.

 

[tezzasmall]

I too have now received a card from RSImages. The image side got a bit more than the usual markings, but that's to be expected occasionally I suppose.

An interesting picture of what is a 15 foot sculpture made out of house bricks.

The quality is also very impressive, given that it was taken on a box camera.

Many thanks.

Terry S

 

[MattKing]

I've received a few more really nice cards:
Michael Teresko - "South San Francisco" - this is intriguing and almost other worldly. It is also interesting to see how an inkjet print withstands the rigours of the mail system.
iandvaag - "Qua'ppelle Valley" - postcards made with home made emulsion - just about the opposite of the card from Michael Teresko. Moody and dark, but impressive in the accomplishment. And the enclosed letter about the process is greatly appreciated, specially because of the connection referenced with Photo Engineer.
RSI Images - "The Colossus" - The subject is interesting, but I particularly appreciate the patterns in all the bricks, both those forming the sculpture and surrounding it.
Thanks everyone. It has been really nice receiving these cards.
My cards went out early this week in Canada Post. I hope you see them soon.

 

[BSP]

@MattKing 's "Waterlogged" landed on my doormat today. A nice scene turned into a lovely image through vision and craftsmanship. My wife likes it very much too.

Fun fact: the Dutch ethnic population in British Columbia is larger than the native North American's.

 

[MattKing]

@MattKing 's "Waterlogged" landed on my doormat today. A nice scene turned into a lovely image through vision and craftsmanship. My wife likes it very much too.

Fun fact: the Dutch ethnic population in British Columbia is larger than the native North American's.

Thanks - I'm impressed by how quick it got to you.
And to supplement your fun fact, the Dutch ethnic population here is supplemented by or contributed to by a strong contingent who came here with Afrikaans as one of their birth languages.

 

[mfohl]

I recieved iandvaag's card. Wow! A 4x5 negative contact printed onto a card with hand coated emulsion! Very cool! And a long letter explaining both the process and the subject. The "Who's Calling" Valley. Thanks, Ian, great card.

 

[drpsilver]

29 Dec 2020

Here are my comments on the latest batch of card that landed in my mailbox.
"Waterlogged" by MattKing makes for a very interesting image with lots of repeating patterns, and reflections. The brown/red tone fit the image well.
The card from Howard Earl of an old barn in the form of a quonset hut. I like how the foreground and background contrast each other, and highlight the barn.
How cool to receive a hand coated silver emulsion card from iandvaag! I am impressed that you attempted to coat your own paper with a silver emulsion. I wanted to work with Azo paper only to have Kodak stop production - big bummer. I am glad that you are trying to "carry on" Ron's passion for emulsions. The image gives me the feeling os be a dark place filled with mystery.
The still life from gijsbert is a reminder that the winter is coming. Well done keeping the entire leaf sharp.

I am also excited to see so many old, and unfamiliar, cameras used to make photographs for this round.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[hkbenji]

Many thanks for the postcards I have received over the last few weeks! Great stuff.

@drpsilver - Especially liking the toning with this uplifting still life.
@RSImages - Interesting sculpture and impressive quality from the box camera.
@Michael Teresko - Intriguing photograph. Great composition.
@gijsbert - What a nice glow coming from this leaf. Very nice.
@darinwc - Thanks for the nice story and photograph. What a gem!
@iandvaag - Absolutely fascinating.. - hand-coated paper! Thanks for keeping the coating edge in, very interesting. I am finding that the lighting makes a big difference when viewing your print. Very inspirational - keep at it!
@Howard Earl - Amazing detail. Looks as if nature will reclaim the barn soon.
@MattKing - What a great print. Nice toning and paper. Love the photograph.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

The sign up thread for the next round is up. I waited a little extra to make sure 2020 was truly gone for everyone.
I thank everyone for the cards and comments and wish everyone the best for 2021.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/postcard-exchange-round-52-sign-up.180532/

George

 

[bedrof]

Two more cards arrived during last few weeks.
Never give up by @drpsilver - interesting set of items arranged here accompanied by the slogan. Nice job!
And an Old barn by @Howard Earl.
I've heard many people complaining that Bergger is a greyish film, but I see here a great contrast range with very good midtone rendition.
Thanks!

 

[mfohl]

I received bedrof's beautiful Olive Trees lith print. Trees from Montenegro, Agfa Brovira paper. Wow, where did you get that? Excellent postcard, and yes, I like it. Thanks Ilya!

 

[tezzasmall]

All postcards are in the mail as off yesterday.

Some how I have only just received FotoGys postcard for this round...?

A most interesting view of his country's landscape, which catches you unaware, as it is not what one expects.

Thanks for the time in writing by hand on the back of the card. The story of the picture and camera details, of which I've just looked up and was totally surprised to see what a lovely camera you took on a trip! It's made me wonder about my usual must 'pack light' thoughts, when we're allowed on holiday once more.

Many thanks.

Terry S