Postcard Exchange Round 54 Comments and Feedback

[bedrof]

Satin is quite nice for quite a few different subjects - I've used it in the past for the postcard exchange.
One thing it is really good for is scanning - for some reason, satin surface prints scan better on a flatbed scanner than glossy, pearl or more textured surfaces.
And for those who aren't receiving enough acknowledgments, I'd recommend persevering. The last two years have been draining in many, many ways.
I'm trying to get to my comment backlog in at least Round 53, and so far I am up to date in Round 54.

Ah, considering statistical data of the last 3-4 rounds I thought that anomaly to be a postal failure.

P.S. I've just recollected that I might have some minor comment backlog dating back to Round 50, which was massive.

 

[mfohl]

I just received MattiS' cool red light camera photo. Complete with friendly greeting and traffic in the background! Good catch!

 

[mfohl]

And I received Matt King's "Canopy" a nice forest scene with light coming from the left. A few sunlit trees kinda in the center, surrounded by trees in the shadow. And selenium toned, too! Very nice, thanks Matt!

 

[drpsilver]

05 Dec 2021

My cards are ready to deliver to the post office on Monday. I hope you like the image I selected.

I have received several cards. Here are my thoughts ...

The card from mfohl of "Three Tires" is nicely composed. The white chain adds to the image prompting this viewer to ask where these tires have been, and what is be hid the doors. Nicely printed. Unfortunately the post office added a little scuff to the center of the image.
The photo of a sunflower from Don Heisz provides a lot for the viewer to see. I like how you held the detail in the highlights. The black background eliminates all distractions.
"Canopy" from MattKing is a reminder that there is light after "liquid sunshine" in BC. Unfortunately the post office took off a piece of emulsion. Part of the patina of the PCX.
The photo from gijsbert of a cemetery monument with some magical lighting. I like that the angel is facing away from the viewer as to be leading the way forward. I also like the satin finish of the paper used.
"Cheese" from MattiS reminds me of the cameras routinely found on the roads in Switzerland. Always watching with a potential surprise in the in the mail. Nice photo.

Thank you for all these nice images. I look forward to more in my mail box.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[gijsbert]

Received "canopy" from @MattKing , cool forrest scene, nice contrast, looks sharp!
Also, @MattiS red-light camera, excellent capture, like the bokeh, Cheers!

 

[hkbenji]

My apologies, I am running late in getting postcards out; hope to get onto it soon!

Received the following with thanks:

@MattiS - Fun shot of a speed/traffic camera, traffic included. Nice bokeh indeed.
@mfohl - Glowy Holga shot of an Old Clunker in heavy vegetation. Good stuff.
@Don Heisz - High contrast photograph of leaves from a special pocket. Just beautiful.
@Simon I - A giant Owl in Barcelona. Love the composition. Great detail and tone too.
@gijsbert - A glowing angel with a strong focus on the wings in a cemetery. The moderate IR effect works very well here. I've been trying to get a handle on Retro 400S (Rollei Infrared; same stuff, I believe?) and for me, it works out as a ISO50 film, and that's without a filter.. Must investigate further.. In any case, great print!

 

[Howard Earl]

Merry Christmas postcard fans.

Responding to the wonderful cards I’ve receive s for PCX 54.

Don Heisz - tiny dollar bill on print. Made me look twice and smile.
Gijsbert - Angel with glowing wings nice light.
Matt King - Beautiful canopy of trees. Looks like a great place for a walk.
mfohl - Nice tire wall. Great visual.
Mattis - Hate it. Too many camera tickets for me.
Darwin - Beautiful lily. Excellent exposure. Keep up the great work.

 

[Don_ih]

@Howard Earl - I received your sunflower card a while ago. I grow sunflowers every year (they grow themselves, actually) next to my driveway and end up taking a hundred photos of them - yet they're all different. Getting your card is like I sent one to myself

@MattiS - I also received your card. The traffic cameras here aren't as jovial - if anything, they look rather stern.

 

[bedrof]

@Don Heisz - Tree fungus - Sort of a Deja vu card. I remember one from previous rounds looking very alike. Interesting subject for a macro photography.
@gijsbert - Angel at the cemetery - An interesting stress on the wings while keeping the figure in the shadow. And I like this concurrence of the wings and tree leaves in tone and forms.
@mfohl - Steps and Shadows - An abstract visual puzzle from Mark. It's remarkable how many interesting pattern subjects can be found right at out feet.
@MattiS - Cheese! - Heh, I can understand the reaction of Howard And the stamp fits the subject perfectly. Nicely composed.

Thank you all for your cards.
Have a Happy New year

 

[Don_ih]

I also received a photo called "Checker Lily" from @drpsilver - they look sharp enough to cut your hand - they look like they're reaching for something. Very cool! The card itself had some emulsion scuffed off - a badge from travels.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

The sign up thread for round 55 is up just click here.

George

 

[MattKing]

Two more cards excellent received here:

Howard Earl - "Sunflower" - a nice and cheery image, and we can all use nice and cheery!
MattiS - "Cheese" - Cards that make me smile are always appreciated, and this one made me grin! I showed it to a few other people, and they grinned too!

 

[cramej]

Postcards away today!

I've received them from:
@gijsbert
@Don Heisz
@Simon I
@drpsilver
@MattKing
@MattiS
@Howard Earl
@mfohl
@bedrof

Thanks all!

John

 

[bedrof]

Postcards away today!

I've received them from:
@gijsbert
@Don Heisz
@Simon I
@drpsilver
@MattKing
@MattiS
@Howard Earl
@mfohl
@bedrof

Thanks all!

John

Oh, the first one of my cards reaching the destination. Glad it crossed the ocean successfully.

The second half of my cards for this round has just been put into the mail office collecting box.

 

[Don_ih]

@bedrof - I received your card yesterday. It survived the trip very well - not even a bent corner. The print is very nice - I like the way that paper toned, it gained a very nice look. I see you used Retropan - a film that definitely enlarges better than it scans (I find that to be true of all Foma films, though). The photo itself is quite interesting, because it looks all at once like leaves or shells or boats - you really have to look. It's very nice.

 

[mfohl]

I received cramej's Light and Shadow Study: very nice. A dominating brick wall with some odd angle shadow areas. And the shadow of a lamp post. Without the actual lamp, which adds mystery to the photo. Thanks! This is my kind of shot! And thanks to the refernce to Ray Metzker; I'll have to check him out.

 

[Don_ih]

I received a colour card (title Kerri) from @hkbenji a few days ago. It's a very interesting composition, made of straight lines in a featureless wall (except for a plain set of double doors) with a person standing casting a dark shadow against the wall. It's very conceptual realist, actually.
Yesterday, I received a card (Light and Shadow Study) from @cramej which is also made of straight lines and shadows (but no person) and has a very cinematic feel to it. However, there is a shadow cast by a lamp-post (you see only the shadow) that orients the viewer. The image would be abstract without it. Instead, it's a bit like film noir.
Very cool photosfrom both of you - thanks!

 

[tezzasmall]

Now covid free, I was finally allowed out to post my cards yesterday, Thursday 20/01/22. Enjoy!

Terry S

 

[drpsilver]

24 Jan 2022

The card from cramej is very nice. I like how the shadows interact with the wall, and the shapes that form. There is a lot for the viewer to see in this photo. Nicely printed. I have never heard of Ray Metzher. I will have to do some "digging" at the library.
I like the subtle colors in the card from hkbenji. The doors look like they are not real, and are a wonderful contrast to the person. Well done.
The close-up of a sunflower from Howard Earl almost "floats" above the paper. I like how you controlled the depth-of-focus. Unfortunately the post office "took a bite" of the emulsion at the sunflower's center. Part of the patina of the PCX

I look forward to Round 55.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[mfohl]

Today I received "Kerri", a beautiful minimalist photo from hkbenji. I think if you looked up minimalist in the dictionary, you might find this photo. A beaurtifully done color portrait. Thanks Benji!

 

[mfohl]

And today I received tezzasmall's print of a crane type apparatus I think near water. Printed dark to accentuate the sky and clouds. And printed full frame with a black border in a carrier larger than 35 mm. Nicely done! Thanks Terry!

 

[tezzasmall]

And today I received tezzasmall's print of a crane type apparatus I think near water. Printed dark to accentuate the sky and clouds. And printed full frame with a black border in a carrier larger than 35 mm. Nicely done! Thanks Terry!

Always good to hear that the first has arrived!

Many thanks,

Terry S

 

[Howard Earl]

Many thanks to cramej for the “Light and Shadow Study”. Nice photo many shades.
Another thank you to tezzasmall for what looks like a pretty big crane.


Howard Earl

 

[Black Dog]

Thanks as ever for all your lovely cards!

 

[mfohl]

I received Black Dog's nice winter woods scene. A color print of some dull pretty much colorless flora. Yes, we have a lot of that in Ohio, too! Thanks Jake! PS - I love the Keith Richards stamp!