Postcard Exchange Round 61 Comments and Feedback

[mfohl]

I received three nice cards / prints this week.

First is Simon I's Olympia-2. A very nicely executed lith print of (presumably) an Olympic Stadium. It has the Olympic logos. And there is a lonely bicycle under the logos. Maybe not so many people training today. And it is a good candidate for the lith treatment lots of whites.

Then there is jvo's "2 weeks old", an intimate portrait of Grandma (?) holding a very tiny baby. Nice evening light, and on the beach besides. A very well traveled baby!

And last is mcarmo's "Sempre Consegui", a portrait of a very well taken care of fishing boat. Looks like a new and clean paint job. Looks like someone is hoisting a catch of fish on the right side, and there is a bird in the background, I'm sure looking for an easy meal. A very nice clean print.

Thanks Simon, James, and Monica!

 

[mcarmo]

I received three nice cards / prints this week.

First is Simon I's Olympia-2. A very nicely executed lith print of (presumably) an Olympic Stadium. It has the Olympic logos. And there is a lonely bicycle under the logos. Maybe not so many people training today. And it is a good candidate for the lith treatment lots of whites.

Then there is jvo's "2 weeks old", an intimate portrait of Grandma (?) holding a very tiny baby. Nice evening light, and on the beach besides. A very well traveled baby!

And last is mcarmo's "Sempre Consegui", a portrait of a very well taken care of fishing boat. Looks like a new and clean paint job. Looks like someone is hoisting a catch of fish on the right side, and there is a bird in the background, I'm sure looking for an easy meal. A very nice clean print.

Thanks Simon, James, and Monica!

Thank you, Mark!
It's so good to know my little boat made it across the Ocean!

 

[mshchem]

@mcarmo got your wonderful photo of a humble donkey If I had room I would have a donkey and miniature goats

"And the Ass saw the Angel" beautiful Old Testiment tie in.

Well done!

Best Regards Mike

 

[mcarmo]

Oh I'm so happy Mike! So good that my donkey didn't get lost on his journey
When I saw in the guidelines that we were supposed to name our photos that title immediately came to mind for that one.
Euchrid would have been the alternative. It seemed like a good name for a donkey
Great to hear from you!
Monica

 

[mshchem]

And now I know about the novel!

 

[mcarmo]

And now I know about the novel!

I'm a great admirer of Nick Cave's writing. Both as a songwriter and as a novelist.

 

[Ajven]

After short break two postcards landed in my mailbox yesterday:
@jvo "2 weeks old" portrait of his grand child with the mother (probably). Very nice portrait and of course congratulation for another grandchild!

@ARS - "Indian Mound Reserve" - a very pleasant image of small waterfalls - a longer exposure time always works well for this kind of image and the image has a very calming effect. A small piece of emulsion was torn from the picture during the trip - probably somewhere the postcard stuck to another. But it's a small piece and personally I like #pcx precisely for the authenticity of postcards that traveled a long way, were tortured in sorting machines, very hard stamped with barcodes, crumpled in postmen's bags and finally reached their destination.

Thank you guys for both postcards.

 

[negativefunk]

Mine are in the post at last. I printed three different negatives this time in a long late night session, but got me going and I am quite excited as I have I think an idea for the next round.
And now that the sense of guilt is placated, I can at least start mentioning the ones that I received, bit by bit, in no particular order other than the one of me finding them scattered around the house.

@krnow 's "French beer bottles" is one of the latest arrived, and what a treat. A toned cyanotype with (taking notes) boiled eucalyptus bark, it's a fantastic print. There is a profound timelessness and stillness in the image. I also did not know (but I have been told) how far you can go with toning a cyanotype. The paper has a strong texture and a transparency that is having us wondering whether this should be put on display on an opaque or a translucent surface. Thanks a lot.

I got also @mshchem 's "Zeus @ sunset". Good boy surely planning some mischief if the name is an omen. As a person sharing the house with two cats both carring mythologic names (Freya and Circe), this found its place into our Pantheon

@SJC1952 's "pictish man" also got safely here. The presence of such fauna sure seems a good motivation for the roman's not to push further onwards. I like the dark atmosphere of the portrait, it fits the subject well.

@bedrof 's "evening light in Newport, Mayo" is a pretty postcard from a town in ireland. I like the white houses, and the way the almost perfect cloud looms over the town.
I am going two weeks in Ireland myself this June and I am immensely looking forward to it. Still debating internally whether to bring the Pentax 645 or the Bronica S2 I am trying these days.

@ARS "Indian Mount reserve" is a very nice woodland scene. There is a nice balance with the two waterfalls and the sense is that the exposure is just right so the water does not take over the scene. The image is very crisp, one feels like he could count the leaves, and this gives a tridimensional feel to the image. Thanks a lot.

@Simon I sent "Olympia-2". A lith print on fomatone paper. The tone is very nice and I like textures, hence the pavement has a nice, pleasant look. The contrast between the signs and the (presumably) abandoned bike is nice, too.

Btw, , I tried lith just this week with the same paper and Moersch easy lith - it was my first time and I did not achieve a result that is remotely close to this, I need to study indeed.

I got many more, I'll get round to comment them. Thanks everyone!

 

[Don_ih]

I also received the excellent French Beer Bottles from @krnow. The paper, the tone, the finish, and the image itself are all excellent. I think it might be the darkest cyanotype I've ever seen. It's very impressive.

 

[krnow]

Todd Barlow - Landscape truck - Great abstract shot

MattiS - Snow covered trees - Lovely muted tonal winter shot

Ansel Mortensen - No Swimming - Works for me (I can’t swim!)

Ajven - DX - Again another great abstract shot

Kyle Mika - The Dam - Good shot of municipal signage


Simon I - Olympia - Fascinating colour with the lith process

Don Heisz - Waiting for Summer - Aren’t we all? Good shot of Adirondack chairs

Adam Stritenberger - Waterfall - Lovely long exposure woodland shot

MSHCHEM - Mr. Zeus - We are all just living in the cat’s world

Drpsilver - Cloud Drama - Dramatic shot with a great tone

Howard Earl - Sunny Florida - The chair theme cont’d, this time in summer

James O’Gara - Grandchild - Evening shot of new baby

Ben P - Higgins House Gardens - Sun dappled old building - I had to check it wasn’t England

Mfohl - Patriotic Pickup - Great shot of traditional Americana



I love getting all these cards from around the world, they are all displayed in the kitchen.

Without exception they are all technically excellent and beautifully printed to a level that I have never been able to emulate in the darkroom. I came to photography while doing Fine Art at college (until I got expelled but that’s another story) and have ended up exploring the cyanotype process. Thank you for the compliments regarding the beer bottles - I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about sending them out as they are a long way from traditional photography. The contact negative for this was made on a cheap laser printer which I use at home to get an idea of how things might look before using a local print firm to make a final more detailed negative. I tone my prints with tea, coffee, onion skins, avocado skins and in this instance eucalyptus bark (I have a tree in the garden) to get different colours (and yes, it does smell very healthy when boiling up!)

The Japanese paper is usually used for book conservation purposes but even though it is light (45gsm) it is strong and able to withstand the prints being developed in water and then the toning process although after that they are quite battered which I like.

Anyway - long may this continue and thank you all for your work.

 

[bedrof]

Ah, I got my mail from Uzbekistan and from my parents home, comments will follow soon.
And look what a beauty I got ready for making a third batch of my '61 cards. That easel has been made from scratch by a friend of mine.

 

[drpsilver]

07 Apr 2024

I have finally "carved out some time" to comment on the many wonderful cards I have received. In no particular order ...

"2 weeks old ..." from jvo is such a gentle photo of mother and child. I like how you used b/w for the background but color for your daughter (-in-law) and granddaughter. Well done.
"Higgins House Gardens" from Ben_P give the viewer lots of detail to examine.
The lith print from Simon I is well done. I generally see with as too contrasty, but his print contains all tones. I also like the gold/brown tone.
"Indian Mound Reserve" from ARS of flowing water at a very peaceful place. I like how you kept the foreground sharp, and used the rocks to lead the viewer into the photo.
"Peace" from Daniela has a big story to tell.
"Reflection" from Ajven prompts the me to ask what the rest of the building looks like. The brown tone adds to the "oldness" of the subject. Well done.
"winter" from MattiS is quite sharp from such a small negative (Minox).
"Sunny Florida" from Howard Earl is an interesting perspective on Florida (poolside vs. beach).
"Mr. Zeus @ Sunset" from mshchem portrays the Mr. Zeus in rapt attention. I like the mix of dark background and front lighting. This photo draw the viewer directly to the subject.
"Harding Memorial" from mfohl shows a wide ranges of tones, keeping detail in all of them. The tree framing the photo's upper-right corner makes the image "work".
"Landscape Truck Detail" from Todd Barlow has stories to tell. There does not seem to be much of the truck left.
"French Beer Bottles" from krnow is the most unusual "card" I have ever received. A wonderful toned cyanotype. The shadowy images of the bottles lend a lot of mystery to the image. Two questions: (1) was this print made from a digital negative, and (2) is Kozuke Paper a form of rice paper?

Thank you to all for some really intriguing images.

Regards,
Darwin

Edit: Spelling and punctuation.

 

[Jim Christie]

Have received many nice cards this round:

• First, congratulations to JVO on his new grand daughter (titled 2 weeks old…)! Since this is the sixth, I imagine things get quite lively from time to time. The color/mono treatment is really quite effective for this shot.
• Winter from MattiS: A fleeting (I think) winter scene taken with a Minox A camera. The Foma paper renders this scene nicely.
• Mr. Zeus @ Sunset from mshchem: Nice low-key cat portrait. The lighting is really perfect. Interesting markings on that one.
• No Swimming by AnselMortensen: The bullet holes kind of drive home the message for sure! Interesting contrast with the shed in the background.
• Landscape Truck Detail from Todd Barlow: Nice abstract image featuring a corroded portion of a truck. The rust taking over the name tells the story.
• Cloud Drama by drpsilver: Definitely conveys a sense of playfulness, and the toning really adds depth. The Post Office put two small nicks over the small cloud near the center, making it appear to have bright white eyes — adding to the drama!
• Indian Mound Reserve from ARS: Second card I received this round taken with a Bronica SQ-Ai — starting to think I’m missing out. Beautiful shot of Cedar Cliff Falls — really like how the trees in the foreground frame the falls and also how the ‘greenery’ seems to glow. Nicely done.
• The Watchman from mfohl: It does indeed look like someone standing guard. I especially like how the dark shadows along the edge frame this. Great that you spotted this on your trip to Germany.
• Olympia-2 by Simon I: A lith print of some kind of structure. I found it curious that the processing affected darker shadows but not the bike and some other elements closer to pure black. I’ve read that lith can be challenging, so always nice to see one of these arrive in the mail.

Thanks to everyone!

-Jim

 

[negativefunk]

Another few I received in the last few months:
@mfohl 's harding memorial - I really liked the finish that I think suits the aptly framed subject well. I think also white marble is invariably a treat in well-printed B&W photos, thanks for this.

@MattiS "winter" is a nice snowy scene, something I miss dearly since I moved here. That's an impressive result for a small frame, I have been toying recently with smaller formats too.

I like the drama in @drpsilver 's "cloud drama". I always like B&W skies, and the black sky (color filter?) adds depth and interest.

@Todd Barlow 's "landscape truck detail": I found it puzzling for a bit, the bottom seeming to be closer to the observer for the particular texture. It's an interesting detail that's not easy to print, thanks for sharing.

@Ajven "DX" from the train station is a nice abstract shot that could also look like a graffiti. I like the deprivation of context that makes it more engaging.

@Howard Earl "sunny florida" depicted... some of my stereotypes of Florida, not having been there ever. Chairs in front of a pool, with a [insert sport] court behind - all ready for the season or the guests to arrive. I also find kind of funny to imagine the photographer setting up the Chamonix in front of the chairs under the eyes of the perplexed staff . The picture was a bit mangled by the post office but it's still appreciable.

@Don_ih "Across the pond" is a goggy, snowy landscape. In the distance some shapes are veiled and indistinguishable, in the foreground some shrubs are the only dark elements. I really like this picture, an experiment whilst testing a camera being repaired, and this one was among the ones snatched from the pile and put on display so I am not the only one liking it here.

@jvo 's "two weeks old" is a very personal document - congratulations! The picture will surely be a treasured memory for anyone involved

 

[Daniela]

Just received @jvo 's sweet "2 week's old". I can't really describe the quality of the light...just beautiful! Thank you!

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#61 cards received as of April 5, 2024:
Apr 5 - KRNW - French Beer Bottles - Wow! This is only my third PCX and I love the beautiful original photographic works of art that come right to my door and in cases like this new and different processes as well!
Apr 5 - mcarmo - Metal Rollers - I love this, abstract, repeating lines, repeating objects, right in my wheelhouse, nicely seen and executed!
Apr 5 - JVO - 2 Weeks Old - Beautiful just beautiful!
Apr 2 - ARS - Indian Mound Reserve - Great shot! Always like waterfall photographs with longer exposures and blurred water.
Mar 13 - mfohl - Harding Memorial - Beautiful photograph, exposure, composition, tones, nicely done!
Mar 12 - MSHCHEM - Mr. Zeus @ Sunset - Lovely light highlighting a cat with a great name, you can feel Mr. Zeus is plotting something or taking a break from reading The Art of War!
Mar 5 - Howard Earl - Sunny Florida - Nicely seen! I like both the symmetrical and asymmetrical elements.
Mar 4 - drpsilver - Cloud Drama - Nicely done! Reminiscent of Equivalents by Alfred Stieglitz.
Feb 28 - MattiS - Winter - Looks like a hiking trailhead, nice representation of what a typical winter day is like.
Feb 26 - Ansel Mortensen - No Swimming - Post office scraped some of the emulsion off but still able to make out the long shadows and ask where is the pool / swimming hole?
Feb 26 - Jim Christie - Yin and Yang - Post Office mangled bottom but still able to see a great capture, it's like a treasure hunt full of details and questions.
Feb 21 - BHuij - Waypoint - Great exposure and printing, the snow looks like snow! Also like the composition with the 3 bands of texture in foreground, mid and background, nicely done.
Feb 16 - Thorsten - Sudden Light - Great photograph printed to a nice size card (~7"x10") with a great back story! I really like the shadows and the detail.
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]

Received a nice lith postcard from @Simon I entitled Olympia-3. The Foma paper gets a very nice colour in the lith. It's a nice shot of a pretzel cart (big sign saying Brezel) with lots of people around, but none buying any pretzels.
Thanks!

 

[Ajven]

Well, I received "French Beer Botles" from @krnow (although there is "KRNW" printed on the back side). The brown cover and the size confused me at first and I was convinced that it is post from BPX (which I also participate in). Luckily there is PCX61 on the back printed in large letters....
Again, something completely new for me - Cyanotype image toned with liquid from boiled eucalyptus bark!
I really like to participate there in PCX for surprises like this. Thank you very much!

 

[mcarmo]

Received @jvo 's "Two weeks old" today. - So beautiful! Best wishes for the newborn!

 

[Don_ih]

at first and I was convinced that it is post from BPX

I thought exactly the same thing.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi Folks,

PCX#61 cards received here so far:

-Sunny Florida Howard Earl - Must have been shot close to Noon given the detail on the deck chair shadows and I wonder where all the people are.
-Cloud Drama - drpsilver - Nice clouds formation assume with R filter - The selenium toning really gives depth to the sky
-Cedar Cliff Falls #1 - ARS - Lovely motion on the nicely framed waterfall and pond
-No Swimming - Ansel Mortensen - I think that someone's angry at that sign
-Winter - Mattis - I wonder whether the people are the there for a picnic under the snow covered tree
-Landscape Truck Detail - Todd Barlow - Nice tonal control with the printing.
-Patriotic Pickup - mfohl - The truck looks like it is basking in the sun and enjoying retirement
-Olympia-2 - SimonI - Great Depth of Field control and nicely positioned bicycle in the sports arena. Very Interesting Lith.
-French Beer Bottles - KRNW - Nicely controlled tonality - and I really like the eucalyptus toning

Apologies, I've been a little slow and my cards were only posted earlier this week. I'm a long way from everywhere so give them a couple of weeks.

 

[Don_ih]

Received Pilon from @negativefunk - a photo of a windmill in La Mancha (which seems apt). It's a very nice print - and I like the door, too. And I agree, that paper is very flimsy - but I like Foma paper, too.

 

[Michael Howard]

Sorry for the delays on getting mine out this round. I've been WAY too busy to get the darkroom set up. Everything is printed now after a long weekend session, and they will go out this week.

 

[mfohl]

I'm a little behind on my comments. I received two nice cards/prints in the mail. First is a river or water scene from soysos. The water takes a nice pictorial S-curve to the right of the scene. Water seems high, was this after some of the heavy rains that we had here? And next is Pilon from negativefunk. It's a very minimal door and window, very much my kind of shot. Good shadows in the openings too. And it could be a windmill, appropriately in La Mancha.

Thanks Kevin and Andrea!

 

[Don_ih]

Received "2 weeks old" from @jvo. That baby is well-travelled! You can now also say she has gone to however many countries you've sent the card