Postcard Exchange Round 61 Comments and Feedback

[George Nova Scotia]

Messages have been sent for round 61 you should have a new conversation from me. 28 people joined in this round.

As usual this thread is for comments and feedback. Let us know how you are doing and feel free to comment on what you receive.

Please wait a few days for any corrections then let the mailings begin. There have been address changes so check carefully. Please check that your name is the first on your list and your information is correct

Ajven (10)
AnselMortensen (20)
ARS (20)
bedrof (12)
Ben_P (10)
BHuij (6)
Daniela (5)
Don_ih (15)
drpsilver (ALL)
Dunga (15)
gbroadbridge (10)
Howard Earl (20)
Jim Christie (10)
jvo (ALL)
krnow (20)
KyleMika (5)
MattiS (ALL)
mcarmo (3)
mfohl (ALL)
Michael Howard (ALL)
mshchem (MAX)
negativefunk (20)
Simon I (ALL)
SJC1952 (6)
soysos (6)
sworlok (10)
Thorsten (10)
Todd Barlow (MAX)


George

 

[Don_ih]

My postcards have been tossed merrily into the mail box.

 

[Daniela]

I can't even decide which negative to print yet!

 

[MattKing]

I can't even decide which negative to print yet!

I used to take three or so possibilities into the darkroom, do up some good postcard sized prints from each, and then make my decision based at least partly on which negative was the most straightforward to print in quantity.
Complex burning and dodging schemes tend to become less fun when they need to be duplicated over and over and over again.
When making your prints, it is worthwhile considering choices that support volume printing. For example, I often used a longer than normal lens for the negative chosen for the small 4"x5" prints. The greater lens to easel distance can lead to a more comfortable working approach!

 

[Daniela]

I used to take three or so possibilities into the darkroom, do up some good postcard sized prints from each, and then make my decision based at least partly on which negative was the most straightforward to print in quantity.
Complex burning and dodging schemes tend to become less fun when they need to be duplicated over and over and over again.
When making your prints, it is worthwhile considering choices that support volume printing. For example, I often used a longer than normal lens for the negative chosen for the small 4"x5" prints. The greater lens to easel distance can lead to a more comfortable working approach!

Easiness of printing certainly plays a role in my decision. I do have some flexibility with that because I only send 5, so that doesn't make repetition too much of a hassle. Well, my darkroom will be closed for 2 weeks anyway, so I'll have more time to think!

 

[Michael Howard]

It's a bit of a challenge to find negatives that print well at 4x6 or 5x7. I'm a bit of a wide contrast range kinda guy. My PCX60 prints were a perfect example, each one required dodging the outer zones leaving the center to not completely blow out. I'm searching right now for a little bit of an easier negative with a strong subject for this next round.

 

[Don_ih]

I can't even decide which negative to print yet!

I printed 9 negatives (and rejected 4) and sent 5 different images to people. This time, I was using negatives I shot while testing a Leica I was fixing and almost every negative I printed needed dodging on one side since the shutter wasn't set correctly. I was also testing a weird developer and had a couple of negatives with weird streaks that I didn't see until I printed them. I almost never send just one image (only did it once). One or two rounds, I sent everyone different images.

 

[mfohl]

I can't even decide which negative to print yet!

I wish I could "like" your comment ...

 

[drpsilver]

05 Feb 2024

I have chosen a negative to print for this round. Now I need to create a "time slot" in order to print the edition.

When selecting a negative I look for easiness to print mixed with a creative element to make the print interesting.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[MattKing]

I find that when choosing from 35mm or 6x6/6x4.5 negatives, for relatively small prints like 4"x6" postcards, the appearance of the frames on a contact proof sheet viewed at normal distances can be a good guide as to whether the postcard image will have some "pop".
Is something needs to be printed moderately large to have "presence", it probably won't succeed as a postcard.

 

[Todd Barlow]

Was communicating with technical@harmantechnology.com about some paper date codes and I had asked if they are receiving postcards from the Photrio / APUG PCX and they gave permission to share the following...

From Sue at Harman....
We certainly do receive lots. We look at all and read all - and all are so good in their many different ways. We pin all on to notice boards. - I've taken a photo of one lot that's near my office.
The display isn't as tidy as it should be (sorry!) - so doesn't do all the cards enough justice really. But we are constantly pinning up and removing cards, to ensure all do get shown - so that's why sometimes the boards look a little chaotic/messy!)
Please pass on our apologies that the cards look slightly chaotic in the pin-board display, but hopefully it will still be nice for all to know that we always enjoy receiving them/reading them - and do display all.
Best wishes, and I hope you carry on enjoying all your photography/darkroom activities.
Sue

 

[Daniela]

Was communicating with technical@harmantechnology.com about some paper date codes and I had asked if they are receiving postcards from the Photrio / APUG PCX and they gave permission to share the following...

From Sue at Harman....
We certainly do receive lots. We look at all and read all - and all are so good in their many different ways. We pin all on to notice boards. - I've taken a photo of one lot that's near my office.
The display isn't as tidy as it should be (sorry!) - so doesn't do all the cards enough justice really. But we are constantly pinning up and removing cards, to ensure all do get shown - so that's why sometimes the boards look a little chaotic/messy!)
Please pass on our apologies that the cards look slightly chaotic in the pin-board display, but hopefully it will still be nice for all to know that we always enjoy receiving them/reading them - and do display all.
Best wishes, and I hope you carry on enjoying all your photography/darkroom activities.
Sue

View attachment 362328

Thank you for sharing!
I never sent one because I assumed it'd go into some sort of black hole LOL

 

[MattKing]

That comment from Sue is consistent with posts they have made from time to time over the many years.
The early posts were, of course, made by Simon Galley, who used to comment sometimes about individual cards.

 

[mfohl]

Hey Sue, can we talk you into selling your Postcard paper again? Please?? Please please please???

 

[BHuij]

Was communicating with technical@harmantechnology.com about some paper date codes and I had asked if they are receiving postcards from the Photrio / APUG PCX and they gave permission to share the following...

From Sue at Harman....
We certainly do receive lots. We look at all and read all - and all are so good in their many different ways. We pin all on to notice boards. - I've taken a photo of one lot that's near my office.
The display isn't as tidy as it should be (sorry!) - so doesn't do all the cards enough justice really. But we are constantly pinning up and removing cards, to ensure all do get shown - so that's why sometimes the boards look a little chaotic/messy!)
Please pass on our apologies that the cards look slightly chaotic in the pin-board display, but hopefully it will still be nice for all to know that we always enjoy receiving them/reading them - and do display all.
Best wishes, and I hope you carry on enjoying all your photography/darkroom activities.
Sue

View attachment 362328

Ha! I see mine up there. I had an extra on my first PCX here (#58 maybe?) and decided to throw it in the mailbox to Ilford. It's the bent one near the top right, directly under the one of the cross.

My dad recently dug out some binders full of negatives he shot in his younger years. This particular photo was of Lake Louise, shot in the 70s on his Yashica Mat 124. I thought Ilford would get a kick out of knowing people were still making prints from 50-year-old FP4 negs.

In any case, I just finished addressing and stamping all of my postcards for this exchange. Got brave and decided to try regular RC paper for 5x7 postcards. Hopefully they don't get too shredded in the mail. I'll drop them off tomorrow morning.

Hey Sue, can we talk you into selling your Postcard paper again? Please?? Please please please???

I personally commit to buying 10 rolls of Harman Phoenix if the 4x6 paper hits the market again 50 rolls if we get Cibachrome back.

 

[mshchem]

I spotted one of mine as well. Gotta love Ilford! I am hoping to get in the darkroom this next week.

 

[Dunga]

I can't even decide which negative to print yet!

Same story every quarter )
But it's also nice that it forces me into the archives and to spend some time remembering moments and picking a frame to share with you.

 

[Don_ih]

I use the exchange as an excuse to take pictures - I only make the postcards from new negatives. So I'm taking pictures during the sign-up month that I think might be appropriate. (The only exception was the Niagara Falls photo I used one round.) So, by the time the sign-up is over, I'm ready to print (sometimes they're already printed by then but it sometimes takes me a month to make the labels).

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#61 cards received as of Feb 9, 2024:

Feb 9 - Don Heisz - Rust - Great subject matter! This subject always captures my attention when I am out shooting. Loads of detail and contrast. Almost an abstract. Great photograph!

 

[Don_ih]

I'm glad you like it, Todd.

 

[mfohl]

I use the exchange as an excuse to take pictures - I only make the postcards from new negatives. So I'm taking pictures during the sign-up month that I think might be appropriate. (The only exception was the Niagara Falls photo I used one round.) So, by the time the sign-up is over, I'm ready to print (sometimes they're already printed by then but it sometimes takes me a month to make the labels).

I use the exchange to share my photos. I already take plenty of them, this allows me to cast them about. And yes, I only use new negatives as well. Not necessarily the newest, but definitely within the last year.

Got half of this round printed. They'll all go out probably next week.

 

[Ajven]

Was communicating with technical@harmantechnology.com about some paper date codes and I had asked if they are receiving postcards from the Photrio / APUG PCX and they gave permission to share the following...

From Sue at Harman....
We certainly do receive lots. We look at all and read all - and all are so good in their many different ways. We pin all on to notice boards. - I've taken a photo of one lot that's near my office.
The display isn't as tidy as it should be (sorry!) - so doesn't do all the cards enough justice really. But we are constantly pinning up and removing cards, to ensure all do get shown - so that's why sometimes the boards look a little chaotic/messy!)
Please pass on our apologies that the cards look slightly chaotic in the pin-board display, but hopefully it will still be nice for all to know that we always enjoy receiving them/reading them - and do display all.
Best wishes, and I hope you carry on enjoying all your photography/darkroom activities.
Sue

View attachment 362328

That's great, thank for sharing this photo. I can spot my postcard there!

I'm currently in "selection phase" for round 61....

And today, the first postcard from @Don_ih was delivered - Abandoned Farm House. I really like the composition - the curve of the snowy road that leads to the electric pole with a hanging wire, which connects the pole to the abandoned farmhouse again with a smooth curve and finally the house, almost before falling apart. Brilliant.

 

[Don_ih]

Abandoned Farm House. I really like the composition

Thanks. I had a bit of trouble with that image. The camera I was using, the shutter was capping. I had to dodge from the right side of the print for over half the exposure. Once I got a good print, I should have copied it. It'd be too irritating to make a larger print.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I received Don_ih's "Muskoka Chairs" the other day...
Nice, peaceful image, well seen & printed on Ilford Postcard paper.
(Yay, Ilford Postcard paper! That's what my PCX 61 cards are printed on, too!)

 

[AnselMortensen]

My PCX #61 cards were dropped off at the Post Office today.
Cheers!