Postcard Exchange : Time to split into groups?

[Nige]

Time to discuss for Round 7. Have already several new people for Round 7 so if almost everyone in Round 6 continues we'll be looking at around 35-40 cards. Some have expressed their desire to have a more managable number, others still want to trade with everyone. Not sure how we can organise it so we can accomodate all wishes... please post any suggestions and general discussion.

 

[gr82bart]

Nige,

I think it's simple:

1. Find out who want to split and who doesn't.
2. Split the folks who want to split into two or three groups.
3. Add in the rest.

I think the number of people that want to be in all groups is low. My guess, but I could be wrong.

Regards, Art.

 

[Nicole]

My cards may be slow getting out there, but they do get there.
I really love the postcards from everyone and would like to be in all groups. You learn a lot from the cards and I really appreciate everyone's effort.

 

[Nige]

Art, that was my initial thought, but is falls in a hole if the number wanting in to all groups is a good portion of the group. Those in multiple groups would just send one card to each person, not multiples.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think we need a programmer to write some software so that each person can put their name, address, and how many postcards they are willing to print into a database and the software puts out an individual list for each participant where everyone who sends a postcard is paired up with with someone who will send one in return and so the partial-list printers are randomly distributed among the full-list printers.

 

[Nicole]

Instead of designing a programme, how about pulling a name out of a hat?
Sorry David, couldn't help myself.

 

[gr82bart]

Instead of designing a programme, how about pulling a name out of a hat?

That would be the Blind Postacrd Exchange versus the Group Postcard Exchange! Soon we'll have an Alternative Process Postcard Exchange. When do we start limiting them to subscribers only? Nige is prolly shaking his head now....

Regards, Art.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Nige, the way I perceive it, is that if you are in two (or more) groups, then you would have to send a postcard to each member of each group.

I would also assume, one would have a different postcard picture for each group that you are in.

Perhaps this different picture for each group, could be a requirement of being in multiple groups in a round.

An alternate way, could be to restrict the rounds to a set number, say 30. When the set number is reached, all later starters would go into the next round, which doesn't get underway until the set maximum is reached.

I'm already printing postcards, for the next round!

Mick.

 

[Bob F.]

My approach is that the whole idea is to exchange postcards with everyone else. I do not see anything under 50 as being difficult to manage; at least, not for people using RC silver paper - anyone using fibre or Alt Proc would obviously spend a much longer time in the darkroom.

Cost to me is about 3 hours in the darkroom (I don't see that as an negative BTW!) and about 30 quid once every 3 months on paper, chemicals and postage. I consider both to be time and money well spent.

Some 46 people were happy to proceed on that basis in the last round. See what happens in the next round - I suspect we will get a similar number as some drop out and others drop in.

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Buster6X6]

Hi Nige
I got my paper last week. Count me in into next round.I'll wait and see what you guy's are going to decide.

Greg

 

[pandino]

My approach is that the whole idea is to exchange postcards with everyone else. I do not see anything under 50 as being difficult to manage; at least, not for people using RC silver paper - anyone using fibre or Alt Proc would obviously spend a much longer time in the darkroom.

Cost to me is about 3 hours in the darkroom (I don't see that as an negative BTW!) and about 30 quid once every 3 months on paper, chemicals and postage. I consider both to be time and money well spent.

Some 46 people were happy to proceed on that basis in the last round. See what happens in the next round - I suspect we will get a similar number as some drop out and others drop in.

Cheers, Bob.

Though Round 7 will be my first time participating, I agree with Bob's assessment. I have no problem with up to 50 participants a round. Even if it took two or three printing sessions, the time and expense seem a very small price to pay for having 50 original works of art show up at my doorstep.

 

[BWGirl]

Yeah, I'm with Bob, too, that it should just be the "Postcard Exchange" and not do the group thing. It's like Nicole & pandino said... it's worth the effort!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

I was in round 6... making the prints was fine. I would keep it open right now. It's still a manageable number. If it gets too large then I would just take the first 40 people to sign up. Then cut it off.

Rob Skeoch
BigCameraWorkshops.com

 

[Tom Kershaw]

I've just come to this after taking more of an active interest in APUG recently. I might like to participate in the next post card exchange, is there a thread or post that I should read to learn more about how it works?

I guess your using the ILFORD post card paper. Hopefully I can get hold of some from Silverprint with my next order.

 

[tommy5c]

After just joining APUG this year I have watched the postcard extange and would love to be a part of the next one. I think that it is one of the special things that makes APUG what it is. I think the more the better but I understand that it takes a lot of work. I hope the however the decision is made that noone is left out. -Thanks-

 

[Paul Sorensen]

I've just come to this after taking more of an active interest in APUG recently. I might like to participate in the next post card exchange, is there a thread or post that I should read to learn more about how it works?

I guess your using the ILFORD post card paper. Hopefully I can get hold of some from Silverprint with my next order.

Many of us (perhaps most) use the Ilford paper, but there are those who use 5X7, color paper, or even alt processes for their postcards. The Ilford paper does seem to be the simplest for a lot of us (myself included).

The way it has worked in the past is that everyone gets a list of everyone in the exchange and sends out postcards to everyone! It is great to get tons of wonderful images in your mailbox and the cost and time are relatively minor in exchange for what you get.

In response to the original post, I would prefer to send to the whole group at this time. If it gets truly huge (75 or more) I might no longer feel that way, but 50 is quite managable for me. I did some thinking on the math and it seems that either you should go with one group again or split the groups with no one allowed to be in both. If you have folks in both groups then the groups will quickly get too big and the point of splitting them will be lost. Again, my vote is for one big exchange as we have done in the past.

 

[leeturner]

35 cards wasn't a problem, in fact it gave me much needed practice with my printing. As Bob says it's one night or so in the darkroom so I vote for one group for now. I'm definitely in for the next round.

 

[gr82bart]

Couple things now that I have read all this again.

1. We still are in the midst of the current exchange and about 2/3 of the folks have sent there postcards. So we're still awaiting some more. So, this means that as the numbers grow, the waiting grows too as particpants finish their card making and posting.

2. I'm not sure I like the idea of 'cutting off' the sign up to a limited number of people. I'd rather have two or three groups than limit the number of people.

So all that being said, maybe this question is premature. Let's wait until this round is 'substantially complete' - that is when say 90% of the particpants have sent their postcards.

Then, let's sign up people and see how many we. Seems like if we have 50 sign ups, people are willing to send postcards to everyone. If we get more, then let's ask this question amongst the particpants to see if we need to split into two groups.

Regards, Art.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

Have I got it right? For example, I would produce 50 prints of the same photograph and send each one out to the 50 people on the list, and then I would receive a print from each of the other 49 people on the list?

Tom.

 

[Aggie]

Have I got it right? For example, I would produce 50 prints of the same photograph and send each one out to the 50 people on the list, and then I would receive a print from each of the other 49 people on the list?

Tom.

YES

Before the next round would start, there is a month when those wishing to join in the next round are asked to either join, or reconfirm being on the list. It is a blast. I absolutely love this exchange.

My next one I'm planning on color. I know I have to have a lab print them for me since I haven't figure out my jobo yet.

 

[gr82bart]

My next one I'm planning on color. I know I have to have a lab print them for me since I haven't figure out my jobo yet.

That's what I did this round. My Jobo works fine, I was just lazy this round!

Regards, Art.

 

[Nige]

1. We still are in the midst of the current exchange and about 2/3 of the folks have sent there postcards. So we're still awaiting some more. So, this means that as the numbers grow, the waiting grows too as particpants finish their card making and posting.

2. I'm not sure I like the idea of 'cutting off' the sign up to a limited number of people. I'd rather have two or three groups than limit the number of people.

So all that being said, maybe this question is premature. Let's wait until this round is 'substantially complete' - that is when say 90% of the particpants have sent their postcards.

Replies to Art's good points...

1. We are not far away from the Round 7 sign-up and I'd like to get this hashed out before then so people know what they are getting themselves into. Maybe we're talking about Round 8 and beyond.

2. Agree. Might be hard for new people to get on the list! We already have 3 new people for Rnd 7 and 2 current members are signed up for life or until their SUBSTANTIAL stocks are depleted (and it looks like one is not going to be using hers next round!!!!)

3. See point 1.

I would like to accomodate people who find 35+ cards too many so I might have a go at what David suggested early in the thread of having everyone specifiy how many cards they would like to send and they all get an individual list. I've did a name matching program for the initial blind exchange (which didn't get used) so I probably can modify/ expand that.

Lot's of people on the list haven't said anything here so I'll send an email direct to stir them up a bit, and then no-one will be able to say they didn't get a chance to have a say!

Regards, Nige

 

[Tom Kershaw]

What will I have to do to sign up?

 

[Nige]

Hi Tom,

One of the other threads (eg. Round 6 Postcard Exchange) explains it all, but you need to send me your snail mail details and an email address.

Cheers, Nige.

P.S. One day soon I'll copy Art's nice intro pages..

 

[simulatordan]

Hello All,

The current Postcard exchange was my first ever attempt at sending my work to others. I have been very pleasently surprised by the encouragement and favourable critiques I've had. I would be quite happy to send images to a group of similar size, or up to 50ish. If the group is split then perhaps 'shuffling the pack' would enable each participant to correspond with all the others over say two or three rounds.

By the way I'll be in for the next round - 7 ? what ever the outcome.

Regards Daniel