Postcard Exchange Round 57 Comments and Feedback

[drpsilver]

16 Jan 2023

Two more cards arrived in my mailbox:
"Self-Portrait" by cramej is very interesting, and reminds me of Alfred Steigletz's "definition" of a portrait - it does not need to have to include a face. In this case just a part of the shadow of the photographer. The high contrast adds "punch"to the print.
I really like the perspective of Dunga's "Cold Dream". There is a lot for the viewer to look at, and for, in this print - lots of patterns.

Thanks to all who have shared their work.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[cramej]

I also received @Dunga 's postcard the other day. If I let my eyes defocus a bit, it reminds me of the reflection of blood vessels from my retina that I could see during an eye exam recently .

 

[negativefunk]

I received yesterday @cramej 's self portrait - a nice photo and a crisp print indeed - thanks for that!

 

[Daniela]

I received @jvo 's "Stairway to Heaven" today...exactly 2 months after it was sent
Awesome composition and contrast between those unyielding straight lines and textured clouds!
Thank you!

 

[mfohl]

I just received a nice small print from bedrof. A Moscow street scene of what I am guessing is an art studio with appropriate graffiti. And some passersby. In Moscow, as in the U.S., as in Western Europe, as in almost everywhere, there is the dude with his face in the cell phone! Good catch, thanks Ilya.

 

[koraks]

I just received a nice small print from bedrof.

Me too! This one's actually 'Old Boat' from Cyprus. Brings me back to the island! Very nice print, very nice toning, too. Much appreciated, and well worth the wait!

 

[Don_ih]

And I received, from @bedrof , "Fallen Tree by the Brook" - a very nicely printed picturesque scene of a small brook cutting its way into the ground. It does look like a remote and lonely location. It certainly is very far away, yet it looks like it could be very close to here.

 

[drpsilver]

11 Feb 2023

I just received "Hills Over Katun River" from bedrof. Thank you for a nice print from the "wilds of Russia", it sounds like a place filled with "photographic opportunities". It is nice that it captured this image on my favorite film, Plus-X. Where did you find this film? Kodak has not been producing PX for more than a decade.

I hope you have received the card I sent you via Uzbekistan.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[mshchem]

I received "Looking Up" from @bedrof beautiful picture, massive stones. I think every zone is in this photo from black to white.
Nice to see the Russian postmark

 

[bedrof]

With all those things happening around I completely forgot to write few words about cards received lately.

@mshchem - OPEN – Crisp and razor sharp picture of a shop window, printed really fine.
@Don Heisz - Frosty Maple leaf – Kinda minimalistic image with an abstract air to it. Card made a long way to me being returned and then sent to Uzbekistan and then to Russia.
@peter_ - London St Pancras – Those soft and subdued colors of Portra fit this frame of a busy station very well. Nice to see the print doing justice to the film used.

Some more cards are on the way from Tashkent as I'm being informed.

Thank you guys!
And I'm so glad that many of my cards reach you all right despite all the difficulties.

 

[mshchem]

With all those things happening around I completely forgot to write few words about cards received lately.

@mshchem - OPEN – Crisp and razor sharp picture of a shop window, printed really fine.
@Don Heisz - Frosty Maple leaf – Kinda minimalistic image with an abstract air to it. Card made a long way to me being returned and then sent to Uzbekistan and then to Russia.
@peter_ - London St Pancras – Those soft and subdued colors of Portra fit this frame of a busy station very well. Nice to see the print doing justice to the film used.

Some more cards are on the way from Tashkent as I'm being informed.

Thank you guys!
And I'm so glad that many of my cards reach you all right despite all the difficulties.

Hooray!! Glad to hear from you!

 

[Jim Christie]

Bit late getting this out, but wanted to mention the additional cards I have received. Ballum Sluse, Syddanmark arrived from @MattiS — a very old anchor set against a waterway with windmills in the background. I did check the website link you provided in the card, and it seems like an interesting place to visit. @JVO sent Stairway to Heaven. It does indeed seem like the people on the stair are ‘ascending’ in some way. The light patch of the structure in the upper right seems to mimic the cloud which is a nice touch. @peter_ sent an eye-catching image of St Pancras station in London. This composition works really well in color. Postcard was sent by @negativefunk — it is indeed a “postcard shot” of a coastal cliff line (in Spain?). Burst of Grass seems to be reaching happily up to the sunny sky, which seem to be reflected in the thoughts of the photographer (thanks @drpsilver!). Continuing the theme of looking up, @Dunga sent a very nice image (Cold Dream) looking upwards into a winter tree canopy in Southern Romania…in -21 C weather…yikes!

I’ve really enjoyed looking at all of these cards. Thanks everyone.

-Jim

 

[bedrof]

11 Feb 2023

I just received "Hills Over Katun River" from bedrof. Thank you for a nice print from the "wilds of Russia", it sounds like a place filled with "photographic opportunities". It is nice that it captured this image on my favorite film, Plus-X. Where did you find this film? Kodak has not been producing PX for more than a decade.

I hope you have received the card I sent you via Uzbekistan.

Regards,
Darwin

A couple of years ago I made a winning bid for a mixed bundle of film containing three rolls of 220 PXP among some other bw and color goodies. I finished the first roll of those three during my trip to Altai in November.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I'm just way behind on things. I have these three which I really enjoy.
mshchem - "TIRES 15 UP" - Funny shot, I guess Trump did win in some peoples mind. Great documentary shot with that giant rangefinder camera.
Hkbenji - GINKGO DREAMS, TOKYO - It's great that you printed this on such a nice paper, it really sets it apart. The light coming through the trees has such a delightful colour and tone.
bedrof - "GRAFFITI" - Great composition, and a very nice job on getting all the tones out of the negative.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

They are in the mail. Sorry for the delay but things got busy. They are now in the mail.

 

[hkbenji]

Many thanks for the nice comments about my print, much appreciated.

I have received the following four with thanks -

@bedrof - "Fallen tree by the brook" - Very nice medium format landscape. Thanks for including the coordinates! Postcard arrived in perfect condition btw.
@cramej - "Self-Portait" - High-contrast - almost looking solarised - print of a fire hydrant with a shadow of the photographer. Good stuff.
@MattiS - "Ballum Sluse, Syddanmark" - Old anchor set in a straightened landscape. My eyes get drawn to the windmills and farmhouse in the background.
@drpsilver - "Burst of Grass" Indeed. I am also a big fan of grasses. The toning and grain add to the print.

 

[Don_ih]

Looks like I may the first to get @Rob Skeoch's postcard. It's a great print -and it's an actual portrait. I believe this may be a first. I'll let everyone else get theirs without my describing the print itself.

Thanks, Rob - it also arrive in pretty much pristine condition. Makes sense - you're practically next door.

 

[koraks]

Looks like I may the first to get @Rob Skeoch's postcard. It's a great print -and it's an actual portrait.

I think I've just received the same postcard from @Rob Skeoch - that is to say, it's certainly his, and hence I assume it's the some one you got.

It's absolutely excellent! Many thanks, Rob!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

Looks like I may the first to get @Rob Skeoch's postcard. It's a great print -and it's an actual portrait. I believe this may be a first. I'll let everyone else get theirs without my describing the print itself.

Thanks, Rob - it also arrive in pretty much pristine condition. Makes sense - you're practically next door.

Glad you liked it.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I think I've just received the same postcard from @Rob Skeoch - that is to say, it's certainly his, and hence I assume it's the some one you got.

It's absolutely excellent! Many thanks, Rob!

Thanks for reaching out. Glad you liked it.

 

[mshchem]

Thanks for reaching out. Glad you liked it.

Hi Rob, got your card. Great! Lovely print!
Thanks Mike

 

[mfohl]

I also received Rob Skeoch's portrait of a rodeo guy. This must have been taken before his event. I've been watching a little rodeo on tv, and boy, those guys really get beat up. Nice portrait, thanks Rob!

 

[Daniela]

I've also received @Rob Skeoch 's wonderful cowboy portrait. I remember you posted a thread about that project and I was hoping to see more. Now I have a print of my own! Thank you!

 

[jvo]

I rec'd rodeo cowboys", from "rob skeoch", with an avedon-esque portrait and a unique perspective, exudes a warm confidence and no nonsense attitude. just great!

 

[drpsilver]

29 May 2023

"Cold Dream" from Dunga is a very interesting perspective of these trees. You controlled this very bright subject very well. Making this photograph must have been challenging with a C220 in a tripod looking up.
"Self-Portrait" by cramej is interesting. I like how you made the portrait part of the photo not the main subject. Nice composition.
"Ballum Sluse, Syddanmark" by MattiS tells the story of shipping in this sluse. I like photographs that tell a story.
"Rodeo Cowboys" portrait by Rob Skeoch conveys the grit and determination of these riders. It is hard to imagine that this portrait was taken after his ride - he looks so clean. The format you use reminds me of Richard Avedon.

Regards,
Darwin