Postcard Exchange Round 64 Comments and Feedback

[mfohl]

I received a very nice card from Dunga today, “Winter Story”. It is an abstractish photo of a small house in the forest. In the winter, with trees, fog, and sun. It really does look like a fairy tale. And there is an interesting backstory: Taken on a very cold morning with a Mamiya TLR. Definite style points for that. And style points for the C220, one of my all time favorite cameras. Thanks Claudiu, this is a keeper.

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I have received Dunga's "Winter Story" this week. Such a dreamy photo and a nice story to go with it.

 

[rduraoc]

I received a number of postcards in the past weeks, so here goes a quick update in random order:

@Dunga 's "Winter story", and I can also relate to the shoot-develop-archive-discover many years later mechanic.

@darinwc 's photo from Point Cabrillo - now that you have your darkroom set up, it will become addictive!

@mshchem 's "F'Elon Felon", a cheeky image of a cheeky sign.

Thank you all for these!

 

[rduraoc]

And I forgot @jvo 's "apparition, Rodin seated". You don't mention it, but I guess this is digitally printed (although coming from a 45-year old negative)?

 

[BHuij]

I've been remiss in thanking people for the postcards that have been trickling in. In no particular order:

@mshchem "Felon Felon" - A rather amusing yard sign. I can't wait until the day people finally stop talking about these two particular public figures.
@Ajven "The Hole" - The texture of the hoarfrost on the chain link fence (?) and the way the background centers most darkly inside of the foreground hole is really cool work. Great photo.
@Todd Barlow "Bronte Creek Driftwood" - I have tried and failed to photograph driftwood near me. I find it such a compelling subject, and can't seem to get a composition that works. Really fantastic shot, great form and textures.
@mfohl "Urban Mailbox" - I love the way you've taken a scene that is essentially two-dimensional, and added a huge amount of depth with shadow and texture. Got all your lines straight, too, a sign that this composition wasn't haphazard or sloppy.
@drpsilver "Tag, You're It" - Having never lived in a city that had creative or interesting graffiti, I can appreciate this one
@Michael Howard "Ghost Town Cafe" - I have to ask if you know what an "all day egg café" is, because I certainly don't. Was there any good food at this place?
@rduraoc Found 6x9 Negative - What a fascinating tidbit of history. Makes you think about whether the mom or dad of this random French family vacationing in the Mediterranean ever imagined that, some ~70 years from that day, a guy in Brussels would print that photo in his darkroom and mail it to another guy in Utah!
@jvo Untitled Photo from the NY/DC area - Really like the softness of this print, and the subtle "lith-like" look it gives off.
@Rob Skeoch "Grand Teton" - I haven't been to Grand Teton NP in upwards of 20 years, but I remember seeing this peak. Beautiful shot.
@darinwc Lighthouse in Point Cabrillo - Amazing what you can accomplish with a 75 year old camera. That home overlooking the lighthouse seems like a really lovely place to settle down.

Thank you all!

 

[Michael Howard]

Ghost Town Cafe and the Pioneer Saloon next door are legendary for their Ghost Burger, omelettes, and over 1000 whiskeys. You can even have your own barrel stored there in racks. The also have ghost tours and astronomy nights there. Ugh, now I want me a ghost burger, with a wee dram to wash it down.
Used to be they were promoting their Fallout: New Vegas collection. They served Nuka Cola and Sunset Sarsaparilla. I think Bethesda kinda shut some of that down, though. Interesting to see on my next trip whether they bring it back, given the success of the Fallout series and the second season being mainly in New Vegas...

 

[mshchem]

I received a very nice print today from @Dunga

The Mamiya tlr freezing to your fingers, I can relate to this

Thanks so much!

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Sign up for Round 65 is up. https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/postcard-exchange-round-65-sign-up.213485/

George

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I received JVO's apparition.... That's a great photo and a fun story.

 

[Todd Barlow]

PCX#64 Cards Received as of May 3, 2025:
Apr 24 - Dunga - Winter story - Cool, (literately). Really conveys the cold environment. Having a C330 I can relate to the difficlty in loading and making sure your breath does not fog the viewfinder of the two lens!
Apr 1 - mshchem - F'elon Felon - It took me a minute to find the apostrophe! It unlocked the photograph.
Apr 1 - darinwc -Point Cabrillo CA - I like this! Subject, composition and the different lines. I agree a bump up in contrast filters would make it pop!
Apr 1 - jvo - Apparition, rodin seated - Well seen! Expanded my vocabulary as well.
Mar 20 - gbroadbridge - Path to Lizard Rock - Great lighting and captured detail, very three dimensional!
Mar 11 - Michael Howard - Troll Under Liberty Bridge - I like the composition - randomness of he branches and people against the curve of the bridge, am I missing the troll somewhere?
Mar 10 - Jim Christie - Pick a Door - Nice shot, I really like the overall symmetry and then the non symmetry of the doors at different openings.
Mar 6 - rduraoc - French Family Vacation - Nicely printed family snap shot. Great background story. Lost family memories or just was it decluttering the negatives while maintaining prints in albums at home?
Mar 6 - DRPSILVER - Tag, You're It! - Nice street art, part of a series? I have often thought of doing a small series of those painted rocks on hiking trails you see with inspirational messages.
Mar 5 - Ajven - The Hole - Nicely seen and executed! Really like the capture of the texture.
Mar 5 - MFohl - Barn Window - Well seen, well photographed and well printed! Really like all parts of this tones, textures and composition. Nicely done!
Mar 5 - Rob Skeoch - Grand Teton - Great shot with a nice range of tones!
Feb 28 - BHuij - Fall Tenant - Great photograph and story! Nicely printed, with nice composition, and tones. Well Done!
Feb 26 - Don_ih - Fence 1 - Very nice photograph of the bleak midwinter! Love the white, the contrast and the distance band of grey!
Feb 26 - Ansel Mortensen - Winter - Same comments as for Don's Fence 1! Nice exposure in camera and darkroom to bring out the tones in the snow! Well done!


PCX #64 Receipt Confirmation of my cards as of May 3, 2025:
April 26 - @Bhuij - Thanks Bhuij. I really like driftwood as well, it changes with light, season (snow), wet v dry, as the subject or part of an overall photograph.
Mar 16 - @Drpsilver - Thanks Drpsilver. Cool observation about the print working in several orientations.
Mar 12 - @rduraoc -Thanks rduraoc. Even though I do not know the storage condition before it came into my darkroom, I was really surprised and happy how the Ilford paper held up.
Mar 9 - @Gbroadbridge - Thanks Gbroadbridge. Yes, it is a nice tranquil spot overall.
Mar 6 - @mshchem - Thanks mshchem. I like the classic subjects of wood, rock and water, lots of texture and tone options.
Mar 6 - @Jim Christie - Thanks Jim. The tree became a trash can after it settled on the gravel bar. Before the area was chained off you would find quite a few bottles and even a leather comfy chair for some clandestine drinking!
Mar 1 - @Martie W - Thanks Martie. I use a Mamiya C330 and bracket most shots since the shutter speeds are slower than marked. I had a couple of negatives to choose from and the grade 3 paper seemed to bring out some nice tones.
Feb 25 - @Ajven - Thanks Ajven. Glad you enjoyed the background as well.
Feb 21 - @Daniela - Thanks Daniela. Glad you enjoyed the background to the travel of the subject.
Feb 17 - @Don_ih - Thanks Don. Between you Rob Skeoch and myself we are all about an hour from each other! Will have to meet up in Terra Cotta for some photography!
Feb 16 - @Rob Skeoch - Thanks Rob. "Good old days when you could get graded paper" - I agree but must admit I am enjoying the convenience of Multigrade!

 

[Jim Christie]

Catching up on a few more cards I’ve received recently. I received apparition, rodin seated from jvo, a very interesting play of light and shadow. mshchem sent Felon Felon. Haven’t seen that sign around here — funny! Dunga sent Winter Story. This is a really nice photo taken as morning fog started to lift off a pond. -13C is indeed cold, but I think this one was worth it!

Thanks everyone.

-Jim

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I received bedrof's The Building Decoration this week.
Such a great angle on this shot, nice print as well. Thanks.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I just received bedrof 's "Manhattan at Night".
Beautifully exposed & printed.
Thank you, Ilya!

 

[drpsilver]

22 June 2025

"Winter Story" from Dunga really has a story. I share you joy of just photographing, sometimes without any "end goal" in mind. Just the joy of capturing memories on film.
"Felon Felon" from mshchem brought a smile to my face, and the comment "I love it". Absolutely captures my thoughts.
"apparition, rodin seated" by JVO is nicely done. The glow around the shadow really makes the Rodin stand-out. The olive toning adds the "old print" look.
"Point Cabrillo, CA" from darinwc is classic California Lighthouse. I like how you kept the shadow detail for the front door to the "Keeper's House".

Thank you to all for sharing your photography.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[jvo]

I put 25 cards (card in envelope) in the mail today. 15 international 10 usa.

starting with pcx65 I've decided to use envelopes, as well... I used to like the post office "contributions" - though this round I liked the look of the more pristine images. Maybe the post office is becoming less considerate?

 

[jvo]

And I forgot @jvo 's "apparition, Rodin seated". You don't mention it, but I guess this is digitally printed (although coming from a 45-year old negative)?

I scanned the negative and printed that....

 

[jvo]

From....
mfohl, urban mailbox, i'm always a fan of shadows, peeling paint on wood and metal, icing on the cake!
todd barlow, bronte creek driftwood, hmmm, reminiscent of racetrack plaza's moving rocks. sans the long necks. nicely printed.
martie w, durer's flowers, colorful and printed on wonderful and textured paper.
drpsilver, T ag, You are it, humor and juxtaposition - the heart chasing... nice contrast with the wood.
don heisz, fence 2, i like the missed horizon lineas wll as the trees and building placement! asymmetrical works better!
ansel mortensen, winter, the view with shadows of the others trees adds interest within thin black border, very nice.
bazamat, haytor rocks, wonderful balanced composition, kudos on you 1st PCX!
mschem, felon, felon, questionable election campaign? nice image
BHuji, upper falls at distance, i can see the attraction to getting up close, and hard to imagine disappointment.
ajven, the hole, but the frost on the wire is most attractive!
michael howard, ghost town cafe,the distaff half of a better known neighbor, perfectly exposed and printed.
rduroc, french family , intriguing, makes you want to see the other 299!
robb skeoch, grand teton, a great view, i've never seen it this close... wonderful.
dunga, winter story, a memorable picture and a magnificent story
gbroadbridge, path to lizard rock, appealing, a welcome walk through the woods.
darinwc, point cabrillo lighthouse, the counter-intuitive shot and well-done.

Thank you.... I marvel at each postcard exchange and the quality of work and images.

 

[drpsilver]

27 Jul 2025

"Old bridge, Catalunya" by bedrof of a once spacious(?) resort, now abandoned. I like how the image draws the viewer into the photo via the wall. The sepia/brown toning gives the photo a softness that complements the harshness of the deteriorating buildings.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[BHuij]

I think it's been quite some time since I received it, but wanted to call out thanks to @AnselMortensen for his card "Winter" with what looks like a juniper tree silhouetted against snow, with other trees out of frame, but nevertheless casting long shadows on the white snow. It's been a hot, dry summer here. Photos like this almost make me excited to get snow again. Here's to a long, colorful autumn first though