Print Exchange Revisited

[bmac]

Hey everyone,

There has been quite a bit of talk about doing a print exvchange in the past, I'd like to gauge interest now, in this dedicated thread, to see if it is something we would like to do as a group.

The way I see it, is that we can set up a special gallery that will be dedicated to the exchange. Members can post a scan of their print that they want to trade. Other members can check it out, and post their own, and offer up trades through PM, email, etc.

Potential hickups I see with this type of system:

Not everyone has access to a scanner
Members may all want the same image
differing print qualities

what do you think?

 

[Nige]

I'll be in it.

To save you having to print the same image 20 times maybe optionaly limit exchange prints to an edition of 5 or so. When you posted the image you could say there's 5 of these images avaiable, and as you send them out, you update the page (new comment) saying 4 left.. 3 left... etc, then remove that image when your done. If you're happy to print it anytime, don't use the 'editions'

Do we set up another page like the portfolio/postcards pages to hold the list of willing participants, which you'd contact to setup an exchange or, if you post into the gallery (no picture really required?) then you're stating that you'd like to do a swap.

My last print swap turned a little sour when I didn't get any prints returned (I sent 4 in one go) but I've since found out the reciepient passed away! I wonder what they did with my prints.. someone might have inherieted them,.. bet that would be a mystery!

 

[Les McLean]

Count me in too. I think Nige's idea of limiting the number and posting how many are left is a sensible way to limit the amount of prints traded.

 

[lee]

ok I am in. I have been in print swaps before and sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. The trick is to do the work. I will have to go to a computer that has a scanner and make a cd and then bring it back to the house but I can do that I think.

lee\c

 

[frank]

me too
Frank

 

[Jorge]

Count me in..I will ask Sean to set a print exchange gallery which will be used solely for the purpose of exchanging prints.

 

[Donald Miller]

Count me in. Sounds like a good idea.

 

[Jeremy]

I'd love to join this, too.

And Lee maybe I could talk you into teaching me about the presentation end of photography and I can do some digital (AHHH, blasphemy on APUG!) work for you--I've got a 1200dpi flatbed w/ an 8x10 transparancy lid which can give some nice scans of larger film.

 

[bmac]

Wow, sounds like we have a good response already! For those who have been in these things before, what were the good and bad points? Also, I've got a microtek scanner at work that can scan up to 8X14 prints and 8X10 film, although 4x5 turns out much better. I'd be willing to do some scans for those who need them as long as it doesn't turn in to a full time job Just contact me offlist.

Brian

 

[Aggie]

..

 

[lee]

All of the print exchanges I have been in via the internet, have had a moderator that would select a date for mailing the prints. We had about 10 members at most and generally only around 8 or so. We would then make a 7 prints of our choosing and mail them off to the other members. The rub would be that most people did not mail the print on time. This looks a little different for me. Do we exchange prints with those that want something we have? How is the presentation handled? Are they to be unmounted and unmatted? What size prints do we have to make? Just some issues that crossed my mind. Something else, should we give a critique via the APUG.ORG forum?

lee\c

 

[lee]

I'd love to join this, too.

And Lee maybe I could talk you into teaching me about the presentation end of photography and I can do some digital (AHHH, blasphemy on APUG!) work for you--I've got a 1200dpi flatbed w/ an 8x10 transparancy lid which can give some nice scans of larger film.

Jeremy, thank you, lets talk. I will be glad to teach you what I know and I will take you up on the scans.

lee\c

 

[Nige]

lee, in my view, print size and presentation would be discussed and agreed between the two swapping (via email most likely)

 

[lee]

ok what if the other party did not have anything the other party wanted?

lee\c

 

[bmac]

Then you don't need to swap. I see your point though. I was thinking of something a little les formal than having set dates, but majority rules here on apug. I am happy to do it either way.

 

[Jim Chinn]

I like the idea of a print exchange. Let me give you my idea of one and you can discuss it and give me some feedback.

I think an exchange should be an opportunity to experience a variety of work and provide an opportunity for the participants to discuss the work with each other and get more into the depth of our interests and motivations towards photography.

Say you have 50 people decide to participate. Someone takes the names, shuffles them put them in two columns. Every pair exchange a print. If you want to show it to the other person ahead of time, post it in the standard gallery. Discuss presentation, size all that if you wish privately. Once you exchange the prints I think the participants should discuss them via Email.

Every week or couple weeks you take the lists of participants rotate by one person and two new people are paried for the exchange.
If someone wants to opt out for a session you just bypass them untill the next time. Set a specific time that anyone needs to contact the organizer to be skipped over.

I like this approach because in ensures that we are exposed to the maximum number of different photographers and hopefully different styles, formats, genres etc. It also provides an opportunity to put an image with the name of a lot of people. Finally it provides an avenue to get to understand and appreciate our love for the medium through discussions.

I think if you organize it to be a regularly scheduled event once a week or every other week, you will find greater interest and participation. As I stated before, if someone is under other obligations, on vacation etc they just skip that time and join in the next round. Also very easy to add individuals at any time.

Enough rambling, what do you think?

 

[bmac]

Jim, what you are discussing is basically the traveling portfolio project on overdrive. I like the idea of a permanent print exchance. It is a way to basically swap your print for anothers, adding to both of your collections. I think this is the way others are invisioning this project, but I may be wrong. guys???

 

[Nige]

I was thinking like Brian, but I think Jim's idea of a "sweepstakes" matching who you're going to exchange with could be fun! I'd also go for 'mystery' prints rather than things you've selected from a gallery. Maybe could do that in addition to informal swaps. It would just have to be on a less frequent basis... monthly or less I'd think. I can tell you my postcards take about 10 days to get anywhere, so anything more frequent than monthly I'm going to struggle!

 

[Jorge]

I like the original idea better. We can choose from a gallery, it does not require some to actively organize things, set dates, pair people, etc, etc.....I think it should be a fun thing, not one more responsibility. If we have paring and set dates etc, if one does not follow through or gets sick etc, etc..then the hole thing falls apart. The original way if you like something you see, ask for it. If you don't feel like participating or want to take a break, remove the image.

Sizes should be set by the photographer, the prints should be sent unmounted. There are many reasons for this:
1.- it will avoid having to accommodate requests, if the print is 5x7 and someone wants it in 16x20, that might not be feasible.
2.- mailing is much easier if unmounted.
3.- there are many ways to mount a print and some people have preferences, dry mounting, corners, t hinges, etc. Since this has now become the your print I think it should be up to people how it should be mounted, framed etc.
4.- good rag board is not cheap, making the exchange more expensive would turn some people off, or they might be afraid to try and mount a print, or they might simply not know how. If it is going to be dry mounted it has to be done well, so now we are talking a board, mounting tissue, a heat press...it gets too complicated.

Of course all this can be discussed by the member if they both wish to do it differently, but lets leave the requirements simple and let the individuals make their own arrangements.

 

[Les McLean]

Like Jorge, I prefer the original idea. It's simple, does not commit anyone to potentialy strict deadlines and allows us all to choose only those images we really wish to have on the wall.

 

[Ailsa]

I'm with Jorge and Les on this one. I'd love to participate, so please count me in, but my opportunities to get to the darkroom are limited. If the exchange was run with very strict deadlines, I wouldn't be able to commit to them (after all, I have enough of those to cope with at work!).

 

[Joe Lipka]

Yeah, count me in on this, too. It looks like it could be interesting. A gallery with a limited number of prints would be the best thing. Shipping unmounted prints with generous borders sounds like a winner.

 

[lee]

I go for the original idea. I was just explaining what it was like for me in the last print exchange that I was a part of. Now that Jeremy has solved my scan issues that will work for me.

lee\c

 

[Jim Chinn]

If you post a photo to the gallery are you obligated to trade with anyone who wants your print or do you pick just those who have work you like.

I think you need to set a parameter that if someone joins the group and posts an image they must agree to trade with anyone who requests a trade. Maybe this is assumed to be the case. I would like some clarification on this point or how others see see the actual process of selecting prints and setting up a trade.

 

[c6h6o3]

If you post a photo to the gallery are you obligated to trade with anyone who wants your print or do you pick just those who have work you like.

I'm fine with that either way, but does it mean that I have to post to the gallery in order to participate? My prints don't scan well. You need to hold my prints in your hand in order for the tones to come across. My interest is strictly in the exchange of physical prints, not displaying my photography online. As long as whoever I'm exchanging with understands that he won't really be seeing the work until he gets the print, and that the gallery entry is merely a hint of what it will look like, I'm game.

Let's not put any restrictions on format, size or presentation, however. I don't consider a print finished until it's mounted. I won't send out any unmounted Azo prints, which are single weight and damaged if you so much as look at them wrong. If someone wants to send me an unmounted one, that's fine, but don't ask me to reciprocate in that regard.

Jim