Postcard Exchange Round 56 Comments and Feedback

[mfohl]

A very clever image by unwantedfocus. A corporate title, "Since 1924", but not (in my opinion) a corporate image. Very nicely composed and lit. The lace looks like a smile. Thanks Ralph!

 

[bedrof]

Received @bedrof's card of a village in France. Lots of texture and detail on the buildings. (No vinyl siding to be seen anywhere.) Did you tone it or is that the natural hue of the paper? It looks good.

I might have bathed it in selenium. IIRC that card was printed on the new Ilford Portfolio, right?

 

[Wayne Frederick]

Thanks Jord186 for the "Heavy Rock" card. It shows the fine detail in the rock very well; I like that you printed the scene dark.

Thanks mikeg for the "5 sheep" card. I like this open and somewhat lonely scene.

Thanks unwantedfocus for the card showing a shoe that has been around "Since 1924". I like the composition and printing, and the history.

 

[Don_ih]

that card was printed on the new Ilford Portfolio, right?

Yes, it was. A little selenium would explain the tone. Looks very good!

Received @drpsilver's "Tree and Rock". That tree should have a great sense of accomplishment, growing where it is. It's a mighty good-looking print, too. Thanks!

 

[unwantedfocus]

@mikeg Mike I received your postcard 5 sheep, I like it a lot specially the sheep with the big horizon. It says you shot it on acros and developed it in rordinal but I usually don't like rordinal because the grain is rather big, but on yours even if its a small print I can't see any. Is this how Rodinal and across work together? Seems amazing, I defiantly have to try that combo. Thanks.

 

[mikeg]

I’m really pleased that you like the postcard. It’s one of my favourites. The film was Fuji Neopan 400 and not Acros. I’ve still got some left in my freezer and it’s my favourite 400 ISO film. I use Rodinal mainly because it’s easy to use and I don’t shoot much film these days. Rodinal lasts indefinitely, whereas I always have to throw away other developers as I don’t use them fast enough! It’s a compromise, the days of me shooting 60 or more films a year are long gone. The grain is there, but the small print minimises it. I would prefer less grain, but I accept it and sometimes try and make it a feature of the print.

I’m always quite surprised by how prominent the grain is in older photos whenever I go to an exhibition. Especially if it’s a photo journalist or documentary photographer shooting 35mm black and white. I think we are now spoilt by how smooth images are from a digital camera, even at high ISOs. Also smoothing software is so good these days.

Anyway, can I take this opportunity to thank everyone for the wonderful cards I’ve received. I’m sorry I haven’t responded individually, it’s been a crazy summer with a lot going on and very little time.

Thanks
Mike

 

[Don_ih]

I received the "Portland Observatory" in stunning black and white from @Wayne Frederick a couple of days ago. I particularly like the write-up. I gotta say, that Exakta seems to one sharp lens - that photo almost looks like a 5x7 contact print. I really like it - thanks!

 

[George Nova Scotia]

The sign up thread for Round 57 is now up, yes it's time to start a new round, so tell your friends. Click Here.

 

[Wayne Frederick]

I received the "Portland Observatory" in stunning black and white from @Wayne Frederick a couple of days ago. I particularly like the write-up. I gotta say, that Exakta seems to one sharp lens - that photo almost looks like a 5x7 contact print. I really like it - thanks!

Thank you, Don Heisz, for your comment on my card. I am glad you like it- this was the first time I used my "new" Kilfitt Makro Kilar lens on my Exakta, and I was surprised by how sharp the images turned out. I also used an orange filter (B+W 041) for this shot, which probably added to the "stun" factor.

 

[mfohl]

I received bedrof's "Shadow Over the Facade", an abstract shot of what I believe is the front of an apartment block. There are trees casting the shadows, and a large shadow is over a lower window. The high contrast contributes to the abstractness. Very nice. Thanks Ilya!

 

[Jim Christie]

Received a few more cards. The Portland Observatory arrived from Wayne Frederick, a nice photo (and background story) of a landmark signal tower in Portland. I also liked the juxtaposition of the Stop and Congress (St.) signs — probably not intentional, but it gave me a chuckle. Unwantedfocus sent Since 1924 which I found interesting in a couple of ways. First, white on a white background can be hard to get right, and it came out nicely here. Also, as another user of the Canon Pro-100 series I am always on the lookout for matte papers that work with that printer, and the Ilford paper clearly works very well. Two others with pastoral (ish) scenes — Tree and Rock, Tilton Ranch from drpsilver and 5 sheep from mikeg. Both feature a single tree — one young and growing and the other in final stages of decay. In the latter, the sheep are a humorous offset (how did you get them to pose like that? ). Thanks everyone!

-Jim

 

[Wayne Frederick]

I also liked the juxtaposition of the Stop and Congress (St.) signs — probably not intentional, but it gave me a chuckle.

Thanks Jim Christie for your nice comment on my card showing the Portland Observatory. I am glad you liked it! The juxtaposition of the signs was intentional, part of my effort to show how odd the Observatory looks in a modern setting.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Hi everyone. I've managed to get a few mins to send this update. I've received 7 cards from this round and I have yet to print my pictures for round 56 for which I apologise. Work and life has gotten in the way of being able to spend time in the dark room. Spending a lot of time on the road with work and the family has said farewell to guests that we have had visiting from Oz with just days in between since end of April. My goal is to get the pictures out before the end of October. I will also sit down and comment on the cards I have received before the end of September (I hope).

 

[Oxleyroad]

Here we go. I miscounted for my last post, I have 13 cards to report on not 7. In no particular order.
mfohl - "Looking Up". I like the image full tones from white to black.
Wayne Frederick - "The Portland Observatory". Great story on the observatory. I'll need to add it to the bucket list of destinations I have.
drpsilver - "Tree and Rock, Tilton Ranch". Yes trees can grow anywhere and I'll bet this tree captures everyone's attention who see it as the only tree.
mikeg - "5 Sheep". There is 5 sheep, and the very old remains of what must have been a huge tree. Like the composition, to me it looks like the sheep will reach the tree and not come out the other side.
unwantedfocus - "Since 1924". Immaculate detail in this postcard. I like the feel and the tonal range. Have never used Ilford Studio Matt before but after seeing this stock I will have to try it, I just hope it does not drive me to get a new printer.
Cuprecene - "Sunrise over Pinte Mountain". Great to get a coloured postacrd and so far the only one i have rec'd. I can only imagine how spectacular this sunrise must have been.
bedrof - "Shadow over the Facade". Love the Geometry angles and slanted framing of the image. Your post card for this round arrived before the postcard from the last round. Gotta love the unpredictability of the global postal services.
MattiS - "Hengstey Lake". Very industrial. Another great form of landscapes. I don't know when you took this picture but it looks like the postacrd is old and the photo taken a long time ago as well.
Don Heisz - "Maid of the Mist". I really appreciate the extra effort you went to write the message on the card.
Jim Christie - "Crab Pots". Yep they sure are crab pots. Another inkjet print that I am struggling to see the ink dots and with such a rich tone. Good to see.
mooseontheloose - "Time to go". I've seen several documentaries on this place in Japan bother back in Oz and here in the US. It must be an amazing place to see. I like the foreground people framing the couple in background.
JVO - "They Never Listen". Brilliant picture James. It appears both 2d and 3d to my eyes.
jord186 - "Heavy Rock". The contrast and tones on my post card are perfectly suited to the glossy paper.


Thanks to everyone thus far for your postacrds. I'll be late, but they will be printed and sent. I'll need to sit out this next one one for missing the deadline to send.

 

[hkbenji]

I am very late making and sending out the cards - my apologies! I still got a few films to develop; hopefully, something worth sharing will materialise. I like to send new photographs in these exchanges, as a bit of a challenge to go out and shoot more. Work - and other - has been busy busy the last few months, but luckily, now I have some free time.

Recently received with thanks:

@mfohl - "Railing and Shadow" A nicely composed Holga shot of stairs, railings, concrete wall, and trees. It works really well - the shadows especially so!
@MattiS - "Hengstey Lake" Image of a Dam-like structure. The photograph has a very old-time quality to it. Perhaps the camera and vintage paper play a part in that. Very nice.
@Don Heisz - "Maid of the Mist" The written text makes the image for me. Great idea and execution.
@Jim Christie - "Crab Pots" I think the only digitally captured photograph this round? Nice print with lots of detail - unfortunately, arrived somewhat damaged.
@jvo - "They never listen" Great photo of a street sculpture with some social commentary. Looks a little like a graphic arts project.
@Jord186 - "Heavy Rock" Enlarged 4x5 image, selenium toned. Stunning. The high contrast and deep black work especially well with the subject matter. I wonder what this would look like as a (very?) large print.
@mikeg - "5 Sheep" Love this. It's a moody, yet fun, composition. That Harman paper used to be my favourite while it was still around.
@Wayne Frederick - "The Portland Observatory" There is a lot going on in this image of a signal tower. So many lines and details. Excellent. Thanks for the history, very interesting.
@drpsilver - "Tree and Rock, Tilton Ranch" A tree appears to be impossibly growing out of rocks. Nice scene. I especially like the hint of sky on the top right.
@unwantedfocus - "Since 1924" Immaculate print of a detail of a sports shoe. They have been around that long? I had no idea. Nice one!

 

[hkbenji]

And another card just arrived -
@bedrof - A fun card of a sunbather in front of his truck (I assume it is his truck, taking a break). Many thanks!

I finally sent out my cards; all except - once again - the card to @bedrof. The postal service here is still not delivering any mail to Russia. Hopefully, that will change soon.

 

[drpsilver]

30 Sept 2022

Unfortunately the letter that I sent to bedrof was returned to me as "Mail Service Suspended". I am very sorry that the US Postal Service has decided to stop service to Russia. That hurts people on both sides of the border.

Here are my comments on the cards I have received recently ...
"The Portland Observatory" from Wayne Frederick brings back memories of my trip to Portland, ME. The room at the top does give a commanding view of the harbor. Considering the time it was built that meant control of commerce in the harbor. The photo gives a sense of how much Portland has grown around this landmark.
The photo "Since 1924" from unwantedfocus is a interesting perspective on a shoe. I like how you successfully separated all the high-key tones to give an interesting photo.
I like the composition of "5 Sheep" from mikeg because there is something in the photo to "look for". I immediately noticed the tree stump, then the sheep. I also like how you managed the "negative space" (sky) by burning the edges of the print. Well done.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[Don_ih]

I received @hkbenji 's Sai Ying Pun card - better late than never! Impressive job with both the exposure and focus on that one - the scene has a lot of depth. Very cool!

 

[mfohl]

I also received hkbenji's Sai Ying Pun. It's a lovely garden that's part of something bigger. An apartment complex? A shopping center? Very nice, thanks Benji!

 

[Oxleyroad]

I have taken a day off work, sent the family away for the weekend and taken tomorrow off work. I will be in the darkroom printing the postcards very soon and I will be able to at the latest take the cards to the post office no later than Monday.

Thanks for everyone's patience.

 

[Oxleyroad]

Rec’d a postcard from Hkbenji. One of my new favorite cards. I also completed printing my cards and took them all to the post office this morning. They are now on their way to you.

 

[mfohl]

I just received oxleyroad's "First Flowers". A very nice study of some sage flower buds. In among the other sage flower items. Very nice Andrew, thanks.

 

[Don_ih]

I too just received @Oxleyroad's big postcard (it even has "post card" hand written on it) of the sage flowers. I grew sage one year and it did come back the next year, but that was the end of it. And I can't recall if it ever flowered. I do like macro photos of flowers, though. Thanks!

 

[Jord186]

Thanks for round 56 cards. Received “First Flowers” from @Oxleyroad, love the tones in this photograph. Also really nice look to the grain.

A great Holga square image “Railing and Shadow” from @mfohl, love the format and the dark shadows.

Thanks also to @jvo, “They Never Listen”, it really pops in 3D, with those deep blacks and highlights. Nice to have some background to taking the photo too.

“5 Sheep” from @mikeg, thanks the deep shadows on that tree stump brings depth to image, really nice image and nice paper as well.

@Wayne Frederick “The Portland Observatory” wonderfully printed, appreciate that the composition embraces the modern landscape, you seem to have captured the place really nicely.

@mooseontheloose ”Country Bus” the scarecrow farmer is so real in that pose! Nicely captured, fascinating place, I need to read more about it.

@MattiS “Hengstey lake” really nicely framed and printed, all that white water you can almost hear the noise coming from it.

“Since 1924” @unwantedfocus really nicely shot and printed, love the framing. Those Ilford inkjet papers are really stunning and the matt finish really works for this image.

“Tree and Rock, Tilton Ranch” @drpsilver, really sharp on those rocks and the tree, I somehow really want to be there and know what’s beyond the horizon.

@hkbenji “Sai Ying Pun” lovely image lots going on. The little foreground spot lights are very cool, with the street scene below. Again, really nice paper, I thought this was a fibre print when I first saw it.

Thanks all

 

[jvo]

finally... better late than never?

from

mattis, hengst - lake, power, great lines and depth
mfohl, track - perspective and depth with the pano camera, really make this and interesting photo
hkbenji, hiking twin peaks -great perspective and feeling of the place, wonderful depth and light
joumon6691, bull run river gorge -very appealing cyanotype, really works for the subject and well-composed
mooseontheloose, country bus - well composed, and guaranteed to excite interest in Nagoro
dunga, endre ady memorial house - (had to look up his poems), nice light and inviting
d heisz, maid of the mist - a throwback! impactful, emblematic of the ships name.
jord186, heavy rock - definitely not an inanimate rock, with that big eye looking at me... very nicely printed
drpsilver, tree and rock, tilton - interesting detail... the peak of the horizon provides the contrast and balance making the tree and rock more interesting.
mikeg, 5 sheep - those sheep are staring at rodin' statue of balzac! it's a really great picture!
unwantedfocus, since 1924 - great high key portrait - a shoe! i like the shapes. funny.

thank you for some really enjoyable work.