Postcard Exchange Round 60 Comments and Feedback

[koraks]

I've been a bad boy.

So far, I've not sent my cards. I will, though. It's high on my to-do list. I promise! Sorry for taking so long.

Also, I've not acknowledged receipt of the wonderful cards I've received this round. I hope I'm not leaving anyone out, but I have in front of me, and have the pleasure of being able to watch, fondle and marvel about (in no particular order):
@mshchem's man-tree; a beautifully made print with excellent contrast control and a subject that speaks to the imagination.
@Todd Barlow's rock wall; an excellent specimen of the concept that I'm sure many of us have photographed many times - but certainly not always as convincing as this one!
@negativefunk's wind farm - magically muted light and an interaction between two figures in a landscape that makes me ask some pretty fundamental questions about ourselves.
@Michael Howard 's Last Supper - a sun-drenched scene that really pops off the paper and takes me right out there into the desert!
@mfohl's Strange; a convincing statement, with an interesting contrast between the muted rendering of a pinhole and the boldness of the statement.
@drpsilver's beetle tracks - a study of texture that suggests an excellent eye for detail, both in observing the world and then capturing it and committing it to print.
@jvo's hah-rumphf, an image that never fails to make me smile - and printed on DPII, a paper I've come to appreciate for my own color printing!

 

[Don_ih]

I think everyone can run a bit late, every now and then. Also, everyone like the last card that arrives, a month after all the others. It feels like a bonus.

 

[mfohl]

I think everyone can run a bit late, every now and then. Also, everyone like the last card that arrives, a month after all the others. It feels like a bonus.

Yes, stretching out the pleasure of the activity ....

 

[MattKing]

I've been a bad boy.

We will have to report you to the moderators.

 

[mshchem]

I enjoy the late cards, sometimes it's the unexpected things that are the most enjoyable.

 

[negativefunk]

I received also @Michael Howard 's ghost rider. Interesting installation and body of work, and i like the bold contrast.

Also It is still early to be late i think

 

[mfohl]

I received daniela's "An Overthinker's Dream". Definitely an appropriate title! Many things to see, many things to think about. Not least of which is the placard (?) in the foreground. I attended the opening of a local exhibition, and the juror said he liked images that "invited the viewer in". This one is very inviting. And the hedges are cool too!

Thanks Daniela!

 

[Daniela]

I received daniela's "An Overthinker's Dream". Definitely an appropriate title! Many things to see, many things to think about. Not least of which is the placard (?) in the foreground. I attended the opening of a local exhibition, and the juror said he liked images that "invited the viewer in". This one is very inviting. And the hedges are cool too!

Thanks Daniela!

Thank you!
The object in the foreground is a sign. I don't quite remember if it was just blank or I was looking at it from the back. Either way, I liked that there wasn't any discernible writing on it.

 

[Daniela]

Just want to share that if anyone comes to Paris between now and March '24, there's a nice exhibition on holiday postcards at the Musée de la Poste. From the history of the postcard to printing methods and contemporary mail art, cool stuff!

A couple of things I particularly enjoyed and found inspiring:
In 1870, you could send postcards by hot-air balloon

Note the art. 4: The government reserves the right to keep any postcard that could provide useful information to the enemy.

Also, at some point, the back was reserved for addresses only, so the text had to be written in the front. I might try this on another exchange...

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#60 gems received as of Nov 12:

Nov 10 - mshchem - Man in Tree - My wife and I are debating where the man is, I actually see a large cat climbing the tree, never the less well seen and executed!
Nov 8 - Daniela - An Overthinkers Dream - Great title for this shot full of "Easter Egg" questions... what does the lawn sign say and what is the black image to the left. Well seen!
Nov 7 - KRNOW - Gunnera Leaf - Beautiful and inspirational to try!
Nov 6 - DRPSILVER - Tiger Beetle Tracks - I love black and white - tone and texture and the abstract, nicely done!
Nov 3 - Tel - Lunch - This is my second PCX and like the first I find motivation from images of others. Opportunities for shots are everywhere, why am I not taking my camera everywhere, thanks!
Nov 3 - JVO - hah-rumphf - Great shot! Especially the slight head tilt that adds to the whole dismissiveness!
Nov 3 - Michael Howard - Ghost Last Supper - The contrast difference between the figures and the hill side really grows on me every time I return to the photo, nicely done.
Oct 27 - mfohl - Why so serious? - Well seen! - why are the wipers up, why is the oil filter gasket on the ground, why is only the passenger side sun shade down, why....
Oct 25 - negativefunk - I was going elsewhere - Beautiful image with the fog!
Oct 20 - Don Heisz - Bean leaf - Love the detail of the photo but also the story on how it was made.

 

[Ajven]

Today I received "Man in Tree" by @mshchem - challenging abstract photo and I would agree with @Todd Barlow: man in the tree should be warned that the big cat is climbing up the trunk
Thank you for postcard!

 

[mfohl]

I received a beautiful photo from KitosLab. St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv. White building with beautiful golden domes. And artwork on the surrounding walls. Thanks Hennadii, and peace.

 

[mfohl]

I received Jim Christie's "Forgotten Things". Wow! My kinda shot! An old door with hanging hardware and massive peeling paint. On an old wall with some mysterious chain hanging off to the right. Good shot, Jime, thanks.

 

[SJC1952]

I've been away for a holiday. Arrived home to see postcards waiting for me:
JVO's hah-rumphf! his dismissive response made me smile!
DRPSILVER TIGER BEETLE TRACKS taken with one of my favourite SLR's an A1
Todd Barlow's rock wall. I've photographed many rock walls over the years not as successfully as Todd's photograph.
Michael Howard's Ghost Rider I really like the mystery in this photograph.
mfohl Clunker and Tools taken with a Holga....is this pinhole photography? Square format really works well in this photograph.
Ansel Mortensen's Scotts Valley using an ETRS and a 75mm lens......one of my favourite combinations but never for what looks like a Scottish Thistle!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

These are the cards I've received since my last posting....
Man in Tree by mshchem really captures the tonal rainge of the scene, so muh detail in those shadows, so much you can see in this photo if you keep looking.
St Andrew's Church Kyiv by KitosLab Hennadil Kolchev really nice balance of the subject and the space left open for the sky. It's a great looking shot and the IR film adds so much.
An Overthinkers Dream by Daniela has some strong lines that really bring you into the photo, and a nice balance with the sign on the lawn.
Scotts Valley by Ansel Mortensen, I didn't even know that Kodak made postcard paper!! Great detail in the subject, you could prick yourself on those plants they're so sharp.
hah-rumphf! by James O'Gara what a funny photo. Really made my day. Is he grumpy, content or just needing a nap.

 

[drpsilver]

16 Nov 2023

I too received Tiger Beetle Tracks from @drpsilver - but I was thinking that with no context, it was impossible to determine just how big that beetle was. I guess that proves my eyesight is not as keen as @Daniela's.

The Tiger Beetle is only about 2 inches in length. A small beetle that covers a lot of territory in the dune field.

I have received many wonderful cards over the past several weeks. Here are my comments in the order of the pile on my desk.
"Scissors" from Don_ih is a neat example of extreme contrast without loosing any interest in the subject.
"Snow Changes Everything" from Tel has some interesting tones (yellow and orange) in the snow and sky that make this photo unsual.
"Grain Elevator Pattern" by mfohl is an abstract that "works" in all orientations. Well done.
The card from negativefunk arrived without a name. A bit of deduction solved the ID issue. I like this photo because almost everything is shrouded in fog. Gives the image a magical quality - mystery unfolding.
"hah-rumphf" from jvo brings the viewer face-to-face with a "passive fellow(?)". I wonder what he is observing.
"The Three Graces" from SJC1952 looks like it was made at a conference of characters. One that is a member of the "Order of Perpetual Indulgence" (from the photo).
"Scotts Valley" from AnselMortensen is a great use of depth-of-focus to highlight a subject. Great score on finding old Kodak postcard paper. Well done.
"Ghost Rider" from Michael Howard is a good discription of what the desert can do to you and/or you bike. Rhyolite is a very nice place to photograph because there are lots of interesting subjects.
"Man in Tree" from mshchem is intriguing because I do not easily see the man in the tree. Thank you for the challenge.
"Niagara Escarpment Rock Face" from Todd Barlow invites the viewer to touch this wall. You captured the texture and tones that make this photo interesting.
"Forgotten Things" from Jim Christie tells a story of better times for this door. I really like the paper you used for this print. It is glossy, but with little matte surface. Where did you find this paper?
The most moving card I received is from KitosAB of the Kyiv from the vantage point of St. Vladimir the Baptist of Rus. Your county's struggles are always on my mind. Thank you for taking the time to share part of Ukraine with me.

Thank you all for sharing you vision of your world in this exchange.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[koraks]

OK, prints are finally made and dry - now only to finish them and ship them out. Will take me a few more days, probably, but I'm getting there, finally!

 

[mfohl]

I received AnselMortensen's nice "Scots Valley". Excellent shot of a coupla teasels with some other teasels way out of focus in the distance. Good shot. And on the nice Kodak postcard paper from years ago. I'll have to see if mine is still good.

Thanks Doug!

 

[Jim Christie]

16 Nov 2023

...I really like the paper you used for this print. It is glossy, but with little matte surface. Where did you find this paper?...

This was an inkjet print on a paper from Red River called Palo Duro SoftGloss Rag. It's a nice all-around paper for both B&W and color. I use a dye-ink printer (Canon pro-100), and when I print directly from Lightroom certain color tones sometimes get a little over saturated on this paper. However, I recent started using QImage One to print and I'm seeing more consistent and predictable results.

 

[mshchem]

Update cards I have received last couple weeks, not in order

@jvo Hah-rumphf, great print, I know how he feels.
@Todd Barlow , Niagara Escarpment, beautiful land form, nice contrasts
@KitosLAB , double exposure, well done, nice print!!
@Jim Christie I love the subject! Really very nice digital print, the paper is perfect.
@SJC1952 The Three Grace's, The Order of Perpetual Indulgence, Ha!
@drpsilver , Tiger Beetle Tracks, really good composition, tricky to photograph!! Beautiful.
@mfohl ,Grain Elevator Pattern, terrific composition, nicely printed,

 

[mshchem]

Missed one

@negativefunk , I don't see a title, A beautiful fog shrouded landscape with a giant wind turbine! Lovely!

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#60 gems received as of Nov 19:

Nov 15 - KitosLAB - Mill and Wooden Temple - I used to pass a Boykos style Ukrainian Church in Brampton Ontario, just beautiful! Never stopped to photograph. Motivation to photograph is returning! Added double exposure, nicely done!
Nov 10 - mshchem - Man in Tree - My wife and I are debating where the man is, I actually see a large cat climbing the tree, never the less well seen and executed!
Nov 8 - Daniela - An Overthinkers Dream - Great title for this shot full of "Easter Egg" questions... what does the lawn sign say and what is the black image to the left. Well seen!
Nov 7 - KRNOW - Gunnera Leaf - Beautiful and inspirational to try!
Nov 6 - DRPSILVER - Tiger Beetle Tracks - I love black and white - tone and texture and the abstract, nicely done!
Nov 3 - Tel - Lunch - This is my second PCX and like the first I find motivation from images of others. Opportunities for shots are everywhere, why am I not taking my camera everywhere, thanks!
Nov 3 - JVO - hah-rumphf - Great shot! Especially the slight head tilt that adds to the whole dismissiveness!
Nov 3 - Michael Howard - Ghost Last Supper - The contrast difference between the figures and the hill side really grows on me every time I return to the photo, nicely done.
Oct 27 - mfohl - Why so serious? - Well seen! - why are the wipers up, why is the oil filter gasket on the ground, why is only the passenger side sun shade down, why....
Oct 25 - negativefunk - I was going elsewhere - Beautiful image with the fog!
Oct 20 - Don Heisz - Bean leaf - Love the detail of the photo but also the story on how it was made.

 

[negativefunk]

A few more got in the mailbox in the last week or so
@jvo 's hah-rumphf. Good capture and better description. The fellow also brings out a chuckle when I pass by the card. Thanks!
Thanks @SJC1952 for "the three graces". a good 'street portrait' of three characters in costume - it's good when the subject cooperates .
@drpsilver "tiger beetle trucks" - it actually took me a bit to understand they were a bug's tracks and not, say, a manmade contraption. I like that they seemingly go toward the darkness.
I like the contrast and glossy surface of @mshchem "man in tree". I see his shadow peering on the right hand side, will be fun to see where the others see him.
Thanks @AnselMortensen for "Scott's valley". I like these kind of images for the mood they evoke. Unrelated: I was this close last week to get a Bronica myself as I am in for a WLF medium format thing.

 

[bedrof]

Got the first card of this round, "Gunnera Leaf, Cornwall 2023" by @krnow
Beautiful example of this alt.process. Paper feels very nice.
Can you elaborate on the type of varnish applied? It made the picture sparkle vividly.

 

[negativefunk]

I just got @koraks ' Gourd in the post. Well, the rendition of a gourd. It's a very fine monochrome-y colour print, I like the paper you chose a lot and there is a nice tonal separation which makes it very tridimensional. (side note - I want in fact now to go get one to prepare a risotto).
Also - thanks for the comment! Made my day!