Postcard Exchange Round 55 Comments and Feedback

[MattiS]

Cards are piling up here so I´ll give you some feedbacks today.

I had my PCX print session last night, will prepare tle labels for the cards next. So my cards should be on the way by the end of the week.

 

[jvo]

intriguing!!!

 

[jvo]

from gijsbert, skogafoss - a view of iceland. not reykjavík and no ice!

a very nice waterfall, park with visitors above and below the falls.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Thanks to each and everyone for the wonderful pictures.8 of them have already arrived in Romania, and are up on the "beautiful prints" wall.

I'm really sorry, but I haven't been able to do my part, as of now - two deaths in the family, various kid-related issues, and a new job have prevented me from going into the darkroom for close to two months. Will do my very best to send them in the following weeks.

I would not worry yourself about the postcard exchange. Life challenges all of us, and you as well as your family/friends come first. I send thoughts and prayers for you loss.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Cards 11 through 14 arrived both yesterday and today. I think my local postman 'Ben' is hanging onto them as he says they are a real treat for him. He does not deliver a lot of postcards anymore and these being real photos has him talking for ages. keisisqrl - "as it should be". Black and white, but I can almost make out the colour just the same. ajmiller - "Nutholme Farm". I feel I have a connection here as the young Capt'n that raised the flag of Great Britain on the beach of what is now Botany Bay in 1770, sailed there in a ship that was originally a 'collier' named the Earl of Pembroke, and built in Whitby. The the Royal Navy purchased it, refitted it and renamed the vessel HM Bark Endeavour. distributed - "Concrete and Steel". The geometry is perfect on the square picture and well balanced lines. gijsbert - "Waterfall in Iceland". The detail of this image is brilliant. My mid teenage son who is rarely interested in anything but himself and electronic devices immediately asked where is that, can we go there. So Gijsbert thank-you for this image. There is hope for me and my son yet.

I've said this before, but I'll say it again. Thanks for the cards that everyone has taken the time to make and send, and thanks for the comments on my card. Like previously noted, I feel the digital output cards have added to the round and I'd like to see then in the next.

 

[jvo]

Thanks to each and everyone for the wonderful pictures.8 of them have already arrived in Romania, and are up on the "beautiful prints" wall.

I'm really sorry, but I haven't been able to do my part, as of now .

photography is about life, and sometimes life throws a bunch of curves... relax, take care of you and your family - enjoy the postcards.

p.s. i'm going to "steal" your display idea... i have the perfect place to show all the postcards from each exchange!!!! thanks.

 

[mfohl]

I also received gijsbert's Skogafoss. A great shot of the falls. People visible at both the bottom and the top. Nice tones in the print, and even a hint of detail in the sky. It is indeed a wonderful country. I spent some time in Akureyri in the north. Second largest city in Iceland, 17,000 people, and 4 art galleries! Yes I do like the print Gijsbert, thanks!

 

[bedrof]

14 Mar 2022

To All:

My cards will go to the post office tomorrow. I will comment on the cards I have received later.

I have been very distressed about what is happening in Ukraine. I admire both the Ukrainian people, and those protesting in Russia. My thoughts are drawn to our fellow Postcard Exchange member bedrof. I hope all is well with him and his family.

Regards,
Darwin

Hi, Darwin
Thanks, we are okay here.

very sad ...

have received ELEVEN from Exchange #55

have commented on half of those...will resume commenting, hoping for a few more over the weekend ahead...

very sad...one came back to me today, unopened...

I'd crossed my fingers and sent to Ilya Petrov of Moscow, Russia...

it came back unopened with USPC notation: RETURN TO SENDER...REFUSED...UNABLE TO FORWARD...

Was postmarked from Albuquerque 3/1/22, returned today 3/25 with 3/17/22 ...special notation Manual Processing Req (manual processing required).

Must be lonely to be a Russian.

Looks like not every postal carrier accepts mail to Russia right now.
But mail service still works. Not long ago I sent my "Photrio blind print exchange" package to Spain and it worked fine and didn't take much longer than before, though it travelled through Poland and Netherlands.

I guess my remaining cards to overseas locations will go in envelopes. Hope to send them soon.
And I'm very glad that my cards of the first batch got to Hong Kong and the States successfully.

 

[jtk]

ILYA...I doubt USA blocks mail to Moscow....no reason to do that.

I fear Russia's snail mail is being blocked, like most of the Internet.

Can you receive email from Google or Yahoo ? (I use those systems).

 

[bedrof]

ILYA...I doubt USA blocks mail to Moscow....no reason to do that.

I fear Russia's snail mail is being blocked, like most of the Internet.

Can you receive email from Google or Yahoo ? (I use those systems).

I checked local post office the other day and they do not accept mail to the US. It is a high level ban, working in both directions I presume. Though private carriers have no problems with shipping and I can get some books or camera or whatever from ebay, BH etc to the storehouse of a mail-forwarding company and then here to Russia.

I got some ways of moving the "entry point" to some neutral country and if things with that mail ban do not change within few weeks I'll do my best to transfer remaining cards into hands of that neutral country mail service.

Considering Internet access restrictions, I do not feel them in my everyday activities. Sure I can use my gmail account and I do receive electronic letters with no restrictions applied to that traffic.
Only Facebook and Instagram were blocked, if we're talking about info sources, but those blocking measures might be easily overrun. Anyway I stopped my IG account as I disagree with that recent hate speech policy.

But we're far from the PCX topic now. Just PM if you want to know something else

 

[Don_ih]

Received "Shape Shell" from @unwantedfocus - very cool abstract detail of the outside of a parking garage: you would not guess that is what it is from the photo. Nicely printed on a paper that reminds me of the Kodak Y surface. Thanks!

 

[MToma]

Thanks to all for you understanding and still coming-in postcards.

I've finally managed to get into the darkroom (damn, how I missed that...) and printed out all the 15 postcards and shipped them as of Tuesday. Forgot how much fun it is to dodge/burn and spot 9x12cm prints (it was the size that felt good to me for that particular image). Hopefully none of them will get lost in post.

 

[Jim Christie]

Received two cards recently. Gijsbert sent a picture of Skógafoss waterfall in Iceland. The people in the photo really give a sense of its size; must have been amazing to see in person. Shape Shell from unwantedfocus is from the facade of a parking garage. I love abstractions, especially involving architecture, so I enjoyed this one. Also made a note to try that Hahnemühle satin paper -- seems to work well for B&W with the pro-100 which I use as well.

 

[jtk]

would it be OK if I reviewed/commented upon all of the dozen-plus postcards I've received...in one or two posts?

 

[MattKing]

would it be OK if I reviewed/commented upon all of the dozen-plus postcards I've received...in one or two posts?

That is a great way to do it - I'll watch for your post(s).

 

[mfohl]

I also received unwantedfocus's Shape Shell. A nice structure abstract. I like structure and I like abstract. This has the added benefit of symmetry. Very nice. Thanks Ralph!

 

[jvo]

I rec'd 2 more cards.....

from howard simmons, lighted cross on open field, (it took some detective to track done who was in westchester (postmark)), nice lines contrasting with the tree silhouettes.
from unwanted focus, shape shell, an interesting abstraction and nicely done on matte paper. my granddaughter didn't believe it is a parking garage - "too nice, you can't see the cars!"

Thank you.

 

[jvo]

very sad ...

have received ELEVEN from Exchange #55

john,

like you i also send out all the postcards I can - i wonder if it's clear that because other people send out various lesser amounts, not everyone who sends MAX or ALL will receive the same amount of cards they sent out?

this round there are 11 people doing MAX or All... I don't know how the list is developed but i'd be surprised to receive much above that number, certainly nowhere near 24!

just a thought...

 

[Don_ih]

I don't know how the list is developed

As an example, if ten people want to send only one and one person wants to send one to everyone, and there are 11 people, then no one would get more than 2.

 

[jvo]

thanks don, never really taxed my little grey cells to figure that out!!!!

 

[MattKing]

As an example, if ten people want to send only one and one person wants to send one to everyone, and there are 11 people, then no one would get more than 2.

I have this feeling that I'm back in high school math class - sadly without my high school hair!
It would be interesting to know from George how many cards the "Max" people got this time.

 

[ajmiller]

Received a postcard from @MattiS of 'Zollern II/IV' colliery. Interesting history from Germany's industrial past and now a museum. (much the same as the coal industry here in the UK). A striking photograph nicely framed against a cloudy sky. The small figure on the structure gives a good impression of scale. Again, another paper I hadn't come across - Rollei Vintage RC 312 - which works well for the subject. Thank you for sending it through.

 

[Don_ih]

thanks don, never really taxed my little grey cells to figure that out!!!!

Well, because of how "Max" works (I had to look it up), if you have a list, you're supposed to received a card from everyone on your list. My example above treated "Max" as "All". Someone who sends to "All" shouldn't expect to get a card from everyone on the list.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Card 15 arrived today. Based on jvo's description it came from Howard Simmons "lighted cross on open field", very sharp picture and I like the outlines of the trees in the distance.

 

[unwantedfocus]

Received a postcard from @MattiS of 'Zollern II/IV' colliery. Interesting history from Germany's industrial past and now a museum. (much the same as the coal industry here in the UK). A striking photograph nicely framed against a cloudy sky. The small figure on the structure gives a good impression of scale. Again, another paper I hadn't come across - Rollei Vintage RC 312 - which works well for the subject. Thank you for sending it through.

I totally agree that paper looks insanely good, its on my bucket list, what's also funny I showed it to a friend and he would not believe it was shot on the camera that is listed on the back of the card haha.

I received 18 so far.

@jvo I recounted like 3 times to make sure before I post, but if someone shipped max cards there should only be 21 cards in total without the "extra cards".