Postcard Exchange Round 58 Comments and Feedback

[koraks]

Received @henryyjjames Howth Hike Bike card.

Me too! Ah, Howth...such a pretty place. @henryyjjames ' card took me back to when my girlfriend and me hiked there one day. Really beautiful!

 

[henryyjjames]

I kind of like them trickling in. I very rarely use the post any more. It's fun to look forward to getting the mail each day wondering what I'll get next. I've gotten 5 so far. My only regret is that I didn't go ahead and do "all". Printing more cards once I got going would have taken minimal time, and postage for post cards in the US, even international, is minimal. From the post marks and postage on a couple of the international ones I've received so far, the same can't be said for all, unfortunately. Post cards are a wonderful way to communicate in these sterile computer days.
I've already picked out a handful of negatives for the next PCX, count me in!

I agree. I love using the post. It's a little more expensive in Ireland than it is in the US, but I think it's worth it. I also wish I had done 'all', I signed up for 20, which was only a few less than everyone. I think I actually printed plenty anyway. Next time...

 

[mfohl]

I received mikeg's "Callanish II" today. Wow, what a nice print. Both the stone and the steer are interesting, with another small stone off to the left, suggesting the "circle". And printed very nicely, with the ominous sky.

Oddly enough, there is a herd of that breed of cattle not far from here in Ohio, and I have an interesting digital image of it. Used if for the background of my zoom meetings for a while.

Thanks Mike!

 

[jonmon6691]

Been out of town this week, came home today to a box full of great cards!

@henryyjjames your card Howth Hike Bike is fantastic; I love how the bike stands out against the darker tones of the fence and shadow. Was it painted white? Here in Portland white painted bikes are left on the street as a memorial

@negativefunk Thanks for your card, I really like how crisp and clear the surface of the water looks

@mshchem This postcard will really be a great time-capsule of US politics, I look forward to coming across it in a move years from now

@mfohl Another awesome postcard, I really like your eye for abstract forms in everyday objects

@mikeg What a cool photo! It looks like the bull is waiting for you to look away so he can upen up the entrance to his secret lair under that rock

Looking forward the next 5! I sent mine out a little over a week ago so I'm hoping they're starting to show up

 

[henryyjjames]

@henryyjjames your card Howth Hike Bike is fantastic; I love how the bike stands out against the darker tones of the fence and shadow. Was it painted white? Here in Portland white painted bikes are left on the street as a memorial

I'm glad you like it! Yes, it's painted white, but this one (as far as I know) is not a memorial.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Look like things are going well. I've been absent for a while but eventually checking in.

George

 

[mfohl]

I received three nice postcards:

jonmon6691's "Cranes" - a cool shot of a construction crane stretching all the way diagonally from corner to corner. With another counter balancing crane on the bottom. And there is just a glimpse of the obligatory American flag on the end. On Ilford post card paper, too! Thanks Jon! And thanks for the nice words about my card.

jvo's "Preaching at Wall and Broad Sts". A 45-year old negative of a preacher pontificating on a crowded street. Except for a couple women on the left, this could have been 100 years old. Nicely toned print, too, which accentuates the age. Thanks James!

negatvefunk's "2". Or is that "Z"? At any rate, a square image looking out over a small barge across a river, where there are a few other small boats. Plus trees and their reflections. Andrea says it's the first walk in Valencia's Albufera with the Rolleicord. A successful walk, I'd say. Thanks Andrea!

Three great cards to add to the collection!

 

[mikeg]

Thanks @jonmon6691 and @mfohl. Glad you liked the card. The breed of cow in the photo is the Highland cow. Definitely a female cow and not a bull. Highland cattle are an incredibly docile breed despite the massive horns and are a national symbol of Scotland.

 

[Daniela]

Well, the darkroom goddesses and gods are finally smiling upon me. Cards are printed, written, stamped and will be going out tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing of their reception!

 

[drpsilver]

13 Mar 2023

I have received many wonderful cards which I will comment on later. Life has been very full, and just this past weekend was able to spend some time in the darkroom printing the postcard edition for this round. I will tone them tomorrow, and try to have them in the mail by week's end.

Thank you for all the wonderful photographs you have shared.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[mshchem]

I've been getting wonderful cards, I will comment soon. This is so much fun.
Mike

 

[mshchem]

OK, here's a review of the cards I have received
@mikeg "Callanish II" . Amazing photo of standing stones, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. Perfect in every way

@henryyjjames , "Howth Bike Hike Ireland". Beautiful job, composition and perfectly printed! Well done.

@negativefunk , '2" Terrific reflection of landscape in water, great photo!

@Don Heisz "Greenhouses" Snowy scene, using a vintage Kodak lens for a postcard camera! How cool is that! Nicely done.

@Michael Howard "Not That Way Guys!" Whimsical scene of a child walking "his" geese. Excellent composition and execution!

@mfohl "Various trees and a house" Very nice landscape photo, farm house and bare trees.

@BHuij "Reflection" Beautifully printed trees, big rocks and sky reflection in a lovely stream. Very dramatic, every zone is in the photo. Very nice!!

@Dunga "Cold Dream" One of the rare icy hazy winter days, beautiful square format (which I love). Cinematic quality, A+

@jvo "Preaching at Wall and Broad streets" Great picture from a vintage negative. Celebrating free speech in NYC!

This is it for today, I'm blessed with really great pictures. Thank you all!

Best Regards Mike

 

[Don Heisz]

Received @negativefunk's "First Walk" card, with a very serene scene depicted of boats quietly floating in peaceful water. Looks like there's a swell lens on that Rolleicord.

Also received @koraks' very nice colour diptych of a nice forest - and a good write-up about the area and the likely fate of the trees in the print. The print itself is very nicely done.

Thanks to you both!

 

[koraks]

Thanks @Don Heisz for confirming receipt and your kind words! I'm glad the print has made it!

 

[Daniela]

Received @jvo 's "Preaching at Wall and Broad Sts" today from a 45-year old negative! Great backstory, I didn't know anything about it! Did you shoot the scene or is it a found negative? Thanks, James!

 

[BHuij]

Also got @jvo 's photo from yesterday. It has such a nice chocolate tone. I'm not usually one for warm tone prints, but I'm really enjoying this one. Lots going on in the photo, and a very cool history. Thanks!

 

[koraks]

Received @jvo 's "Preaching at Wall and Broad Sts" today

Me too!
It's a neat little time capsule - a preacher dressed like he stepped out of the 1880s, photographed about a century later, and then printed onto a very modern material indeed! It's fun how the print manages to span that timeframe!

 

[Daniela]

Me too!
It's a neat little time capsule - a preacher dressed like he stepped out of the 1880s, photographed about a century later, and then printed onto a very modern material indeed! It's fun how the print manages to span that timeframe!

Our mail delivery seems to be in sync despite being in different countries and half of France being on strike (at least, La Poste employees are still working...for the moment ).
I agree with the preacher's clothing comment. I had to do a double-check the date! Very cool.

 

[Don Heisz]

Our mail delivery seems to be in sync

@jvo must've done it on purpose - I got the card yesterday, also. And I also wondered if it's his negative or a found one. Very cool image.

 

[Daniela]

I received @Tom Taylor 's "Wagon Wheel" today. What a beautiful composition! I now know what a soft focus lens is! Thank you, Tom!
I also had to look up what Bodie day was; it sounds fun and the park seems like a great place to visit!

 

[koraks]

Yes, I've also got the wheel! A very nice print, that's airy and light. Indeed, it must be a beautiful place.

 

[drpsilver]

17 Mar 2023

I was hoping to send my cards this afternoon (Friday), but climate change had a different schedule. On Tuesday (14 Mar) Los Altos experienced 45+ mph sustained winds. A nearby open space preserve experienced 100 mph winds. As a result I lost power between Tuesday morning and today (Friday) evening. I was toning my cards when power went "down", fortunately I had only 6 cards left to tone.

I have all my labels printed, and now need to assemble the cards before sending them on their way to your mail boxes. Hopefully they will be delivered to the post office by Monday afternoon.

Regards,
Darwin

Edit: I will comment on the cards I have received later. Thank you to all.

 

[Don Heisz]

I also received @Tom Taylor's card. I like the composition you chose for the shot and the tonality of the print is very smooth - very nicely done. I do wonder how many people wandering around would just trip over the wheel, though?

 

[Tom Taylor]

Received James O'Gara's fine In the Heart of the Financial District;

Henry James' jewel Howth Hike Bike, Ireland (Happy Saint Pat's Day!);

negativefunk's First Walk..Great picture. As soon as I can get some Saffron I'm going to try Paella;

Rcphoto's Lake Cumberland – An interesting view of a Railroad Truss Bridge across the Lake;

mschem's Tires 15 Up – Great satirical capture.

Great photo's everyone!

 

[Tom Taylor]

Glad everyone liked the print! I shot this at the end of the day when I was walking back to the parking lot – used whole roll of 120 on it both soft-focused and stopped-down. This was my first-time silver printing in quite a while – several years in fact and it appears that my hefty stash of paper it still good!


Getting back into enlarging turned out to be a learning experience. After cleaning the enlarger, I started to align it according to the manual and the wrench slipped from my hand and struck the Versalab which promptly went dead. Fearing that I wrecked the laser I called up Versalab which was supposed to be closed at that hour (after 6pm). “Hello,” a lady answered, and after explaining my situation said that that maybe the wrench popped the battery up. If that wasn't the case then I could send it in for repair “but it wasn't going to be a $30 repair.” I found the little Allen wrench that came with the laser and sure enough the battery had popped-up breaking contact. I replaced both batteries with new ones since the original ones were installed in 2008.

Then came the old alignment issues: Once aligned at a specific height, you had to realign for a new height. I had a Bes-Align board which you could tweak back into alignment at the new height but those are no longer available. After looking around online I came across the “Naked Photographers” video on aligning the Beseler 45MXT. The Beseler manual only covers the side-to-side and front to rear alignment with no mention of the lens stage alignment. On my enlarger the 4 set-screws on the Lens Adapter Assembly were missing and Beseler only sells the compete assembly and not the individual parts. Went to Home Depot which had the 10mm ones and Ace which had only the 8mm but neither would work. So, I ordered a new assembly from Beseler. It came in Wednesday and I installed it with the head raised almost to the top and the laser indicated only front to back alignment was needed, which I did, and when I dropped the height to the 24” recommended height for adjustment the alignment hadn't changed (reflection half in and half out of the bullseye). Hopefully the new assembly takes care of the alignment issues so I don't have to fuss with it every time I change to a new height, and I can now use screw-in lens board instead of the Bes-Align board.


I don't see how the 4 set screws affect alignment according to the Naked Photographer. There's no head on the screw which would cause the assembly to raise, and the upper portion of the enlarger is not drilled to accept them. The gasket on the new lens stage is more compressed and even all the way around from the old which is foam and raised in the right quadrant. I suspect the setscrews are to retain an even distance between the assembly and top of the enlarger and the 3 thumb screws are for adjusting. When I installed the new assembly, I tightened the thumb screws. The lens board (with the lens) now installs easily and more securely than with the old assembly.