Why do so few people take part in the member organized functions?

Don_ih · Oct 19, 2021

faberryman said:
Unfortunately, most film enthusiasts do not have darkrooms so they can't make prints, postcard size or otherwise, to exchange. Nothing left to do but share scans in the gallery. Personally, I just don't have much interest in making and mailing around postcard prints, so I don't participate in the exchange. However, I am glad the exchange has been organized for those who would like to participate. If exchanging postcard prints is something you think you would like like to do, I'd say give it a go and see how it turns out.

I've done it once, I'm doing it again. I did it elsewhere before, also. As for darkrooms - Walmart makes 4x6 prints, which can be made from scans. You know, if someone's in a bind.
If you're not interested, you're not interested. Hard to argue against that.

Dali said:
Years ago, I registered for 2 consecutives lith print exchange rounds. Still waiting for the prints... The second time, the organizer sent me a couple of print as a compensation. It is not supposed to work this way.

Yes - that's an unfortunate risk. I'd imagine it's something that would commonly happen, the more people are involved. It was very nice of the organizer to send you prints.

Don_ih · Oct 19, 2021

Duceman said:
???

Exactly.

Don_ih · Oct 19, 2021

I'm not condemning anyone for not doing it. Lack of interest is a good enough reason. I'm wondering why more people are not interested, though. I had the same experience the last exchange I was in (it was on Facebook). A group with 40000 people, a dozen signed up for the exchange, and 5 followed through on it (at least by the count of cards I received).

cramej · Oct 19, 2021

The follow through with the postcard exchange has been very good in the short time I've been involved with it. Getting ready to process a bunch of film to find my next postcard. Participation this round is lower, but that probably comes with the time of year.

Duceman · Oct 19, 2021

Don Heisz said:
Exactly.

Alrighty then.

Enjoy 'ignore' status.

Alan Edward Klein · Oct 19, 2021

What happens after you send them around? Do people assess them, comment on them, critique?? Do they get posted electronically on the web here? (Where?) Have you thought of creating a tabletop photo book selecting a few photos from each photographer? That might be interesting. Offer it for sale - even more interesting.

Sirius Glass · Oct 19, 2021

Don Heisz said:
We all know you don't actually use the cameras - unless caressing them counts

I do like to argue....

Dali said:
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

Years ago, I registered for 2 consecutives lith print exchange rounds. Still waiting for the prints... The second time, the organizer sent me a couple of print as a compensation. It is not supposed to work this way.

As I posted before "Compelling lack of interest"

I participated in a pinhole exchange on APUG, there were over twenty people signed up. I make about eight or ten 8"x10" color pin hole prints. Mailed them all over the world and only received photos back from three others. There is just no follow through or interest on this website so keep your snotty remarks to yourself from now on, Don.

Down Under · Oct 19, 2021

Original post deleted.

I will reconsider what I originally wrote and repost.

Cheers, ciao!!

MattKing · Oct 19, 2021

Woa!
The postcard exchange is smaller than it has been in the past, but I still usually get close to 100% of the cards I'm expecting. I have been involved almost continuously since Round 7, I think and we are now up to Round 54.
It is fun to make the postcards, fun to send them, and fun to receive them - at least I have fun.
When was the last time you looked at your mail and there was something interesting there from one or more of Russia, the USA, Canada, the UK, Japan, Germany or ???? (those are some of the places I'm expecting to see cards from this round).
The postage stamps alone are often worth participating.
And yes, some people do comment and share their thoughts here about the cards received.
The previous round 53 was a fairly small one. Covid has had an effect. But here is the 80 post thread about how people react to the cards they received in that Round:
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/postcard-exchange-round-53-comments-and-feedback.184498/

unwantedfocus · Oct 19, 2021

I'm eyeing the print exchange for a while now but haven't had the courage to participate because lack of quality of my prints, overall most people here doing prints longer than I'm alive, I don't want to disappoint them.

MattKing · Oct 19, 2021

The postcard exchange is a great first step. Dive in!

removed account4 · Oct 19, 2021

I've been involved with the post card exchange and the cameras that go around the world, they are a lot of fun. last fall I was involved with an alt process post card exchange, it was a lot of fun. a few years ago the camera was missing'ed and we even sacrificed a chicken to get it back, it didn't help.
thanks for reminding me, don, I might get involved again.

pentaxuser · Oct 19, 2021

Don Heisz said:
Line a birdcage? Make paper airplanes? What does it matter?

The two examples you give may be the key in that these are people's hobbies or worthwhile distractions. Such hobbies have an opportunity cost as does everything we do with our limited time but in the birdcage liners or paper airplanes makers both the costs and benefits to them do not outweigh the foregone opportunity to do other things. In the case of postcard/negative exchanges or other member organised events too few people feel that the benefits for them outweigh the opportunity cost of doing other things

It's as simple as that, isn't it?

pentaxuser

mooseontheloose · Oct 19, 2021

I've never really thought about why I participate in the exchanges, especially the postcard exchange (like Matt I've been doing it for quite a few rounds now - I think since 2008). However, in retrospect, I guess I like the community it provides - I get to send out my work to other photographers, and in turn get to see theirs. I've received some truly outstanding prints as part of this (and other) exchanges, and/or been exposed to a new technique or camera which sometimes inspired me to try it myself. As someone who is really isolated photographically-speaking, it's nice to be part of exchanges like this. The postcard exchange has had a lower signup rate in recent years (often not more than 20 participants a round) but I remember the days when it would be 50+ people and I'd have to do my printing sessions over 2 days since I didn't have the time or space to make and dry that many prints in one go.

Besides lack of interest (or not knowing they exist at all), another reason why people may not participate is the cost. Since a lot of people shoot film and scan (but not necessarily print), the costs associated with printing and sending out prints internationally can be a bit pricey.

mooseontheloose · Oct 19, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
I exhibit whenever I feel the urge to do so. I had an upcoming show in Osaka for summer 2020, but was cancelled because of Covid. It's in the works for summer, '22. The last show I had was in southern Japan in 2014/15. I admit lots of my stuff goes in little boxes, but it does gets out there.

WTH Andrew?!?!?! Every time you have a a show in Japan, it seems that I am (or will be) out of the country! I guess it depends when the dates will be but hopefully I'll be able to see it when you are here.

MattKing · Oct 19, 2021

Just so it is clear, the mechanism used for the Postcard Exchange allows you to limit how many people you exchange cards with.

removed account4 · Oct 19, 2021

MattKing said:
Just so it is clear, the mechanism used for the Postcard Exchange allows you to limit how many people you exchange cards with.

that was a good move!
when I did it back in the day, it must have cost me 60 or 70$ in postage, it was as ole used to say a lesson in postage...

Don_ih · Oct 19, 2021

cramej said:
The follow through with the postcard exchange has been very good in the short time I've been involved with it.

MattKing said:
The postcard exchange is smaller than it has been in the past, but I still usually get close to 100% of the cards I'm expecting.

The last round, I believe I got 100% of the cards I expected. And it was great fun. It's also very nice to get actual darkroom prints - I really don't have much opportunity to see any other than my own.

unwantedfocus said:
I'm eyeing the print exchange for a while now but haven't had the courage to participate because lack of quality of my prints

I don't think anyone should expect a masterpiece or even a masterfully-printed enlargement. You put in the effort you think you should (for some, they will only do their very best all the time - and some people will be truly excellent - but some people just aren't as skilled). While no one wants to be embarrassed by their piece, I don't think a serious effort will be embarrassing. You pick a good negative, make a relatively straight print, no one has a right to complain. You get the experience of doing it and quite possibly receive a print that teaches you something in return.

pentaxuser said:
both the costs and benefits to them do not outweigh the foregone opportunity to do other things. In the case of postcard/negative exchanges or other member organised events too few people feel that the benefits for them outweigh the opportunity cost of doing other things

I doubt many people are viewing it in terms of a cost/benefit analysis. In general, I don't think about anything in those terms.

The birdcage liner remark was a joke. But the fact is, once you send your print to someone, you don't know what they'll do with it. So, you shouldn't concern yourself with it.

jnantz said:
thanks for reminding me, don, I might get involved again.

I, for one, would be very pleased to receive a postcard from you. I find your photography very imaginative.

Sirius Glass said:
There is just no follow through or interest on this website so keep your snotty remarks to yourself from now on, Don.

Lighten up, don't be so Serious. Snotty remarks are funny.

Duceman said:
Enjoy 'ignore' status.

I'm pretty sure I was already being ignored.

Don_ih · Oct 19, 2021

ozmoose said:
my photography isn't to impress other photographers, but for myself and (in the past) for my clients, in the days when I was an practicing architect and selling stock. Now past - I hope, temporarily, to be resumed post-Covid. I don't need validation for the photography I do, nor do I particularly want critiques

I don't think there's much reason to expect you'd impress anybody by sending a postcard. I wouldn't expect to be overly praised for it, either. I think it's just a way to have some contact or interchange between people who are engaged in similar enterprise, have similar interests, but live in different parts of the world, have different circumstances - see things in different ways. See @mooseontheloose 's response or @MattKing 's responses for actual motivation. I don't think either of them are particularly interested in validation. I'm not, either, although I am interested in seeing what other people produce.

mohmad khatab · Oct 19, 2021

I don't have a darkroom, and I don't have the costs of owning a darkroom.
And I can't buy printing paper.
Some peoples are very poor and I am one of them.

Andrew O'Neill · Oct 19, 2021

mooseontheloose said:
WTH Andrew?!?!?! Every time you have a a show in Japan, it seems that I am (or will be) out of the country! I guess it depends when the dates will be but hopefully I'll be able to see it when you are here.

It will only happen if this gaijin is allowed in the country

MattKing · Oct 19, 2021

Don Heisz said:
I don't think there's much reason to expect you'd impress anybody by sending a postcard.

I've been extraordinarily impressed by quite a few over the years, but mostly I just enjoy them.
We moved and downsized right before the beginning of the Covid 19 lock down. One of the toughest decisions was viciously editing out a few hundred postcards from the exchange.

Raghu Kuvempunagar · Oct 19, 2021

mohmad khatab said:
I don't have a darkroom, and I don't have the costs of owning a darkroom.
And I can't buy printing paper.
Some peoples are very poor and I am one of them.

You can consider exploring alternative printing techniques like Cyanotype.

mooseontheloose · Oct 20, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
It will only happen if this gaijin is allowed in the country

Well, that remains to be seen, doesn't it? Even though Japan went from being one of the worst countries to vaccinating its population to one of the best, borders still remain closed to everyone, and even fully vaccinated nationals/residents need to quarantine for 2 weeks upon return. For that reason alone, I'm still stuck here, although barring another pandemic I'll be in Canada for most of the summer (late July to mid-Sept) next year, quarantines be damned. I'm hoping that the country will open up by late spring/early summer at the latest, because I don't know how much longer certain industries can survive without tourists, international students, and business people, to name but a few.

mohmad khatab · Oct 20, 2021

Raghu Kuvempunagar said:
You can consider exploring alternative printing techniques like Cyanotype.

I did not like this process.

Why do so few people take part in the member organized functions?

Don_ih

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Why do so few people take part in the member organized functions?

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