not BA Phot
[15Apr23] The degree course was rather harsh on the chocolate box aspect of postcards and I was driven to write an essay In Defence of Postcards and create a homage to Ed Ruscha, 26 diners and motels in Newport.
As noted in the blog, the RPS Landscape Group is keeping me afloat with projects and I'll be making some postcards of Eltham.
The subjects will be:
1. Eltham Palace
2. the Stephen Lawrence memorial
3. St Barnabas church
Do the winter garden too, if it’s open.
[8Sep23] cards completed this week.
[7 Oct] Postcards submitted on 5th. Susan responded on 6th,
Thanks Nick, they look great.
A couple of things -
Your statement postcard back. You have more than 100 words so could you shorten it a little.
When I look at the cards, I put othem onto a new white document to see how they look on a white background. Could you check whether your keyline is 50% grey - it looks darker.
St Barnabas Church. On a white background the white windows on the bottom edge bleed into the background. A 1 pixel grey line would not be very noticeable on the rest of the card but would make a distinction between the windows and the background. You would need to put the same keyline on the others, please, just for sonsistency although they would not be noticeable.
Incidentally - did you copy the postcard back wording from an existing postcard? We have to be so careful with copyright issues.
Best wishes
Sue
and I replied today,
Hi Sue
Version 2s are on their way.
The back was scanned from a 1910 postcard of Eltham Palace which had some narrative elegance, but I understand your caution. I prefer the new version, so all's well. It is also 100 words.
I have checked the greylines at hex 808080, but the two vertical cards were missing a line at the bottom so I have fixed that. Does this correct the St Barnabas issue?
Cheers, Nick
Here they are - only the back is noticeably different.
Sue 8th Oct
Thanks Nick. I have received V2 and all looks fine now with the keyline.
Thank you for your understanding re the copyright. Would you consider making it look more like a postcard reverse by adding the word postcard at the top. I am attaching a simple example.
I notice that you have kept the red vertical on the reverse which echoes your use of red in the picture cards. My only observation is that it could be a new line - you can still see the indistinct line from the original scan.
Sue
my reply
Hi Sue
Another transfer is on the way, just the reverse.
The red line is a narrow crop of two rows of bricks, one red, one grey with some encroaching green.
You're right, there is also a grey smudge that I hadn't noticed. I have narrowed the line and removed the smudge.
Thanks for taking such great care.
Regards, Nick
Sue 11th Oct
Thanks Nick. All looks good now.
I understand the red/grey/green line which links the four cards. Nice touch.
Sue
[21an24] I thought all was done, then on 14th Jan,
Hi Nick
I am going through the entries I have received so far to make sure I haven't missed anything. In a couple of entries, an issue has arisen.
I was looking at your two portrait format cards which will be going on the same page (the landscape format will be on the same page as your reverse card.
In the section on Designing your postcards (Home page - Creating your postcards) it does say that to unify the panel of the three postcards, each postcard design must be variations on a single template. So any vertical or horizontal lines should be in the same position on each card.
You have one horizontal line on the St Barnabas Church card and then two on the Stephen Lawrence card. Although they were all taken at different times, the middle one is not so different from the bottom one and is much clearer. I think it would have more impact if that one (middle) and the top one with all the flowers were made into a two image card to match the St Barnabas card.
I would be very grateful if you could make these changes .
Best wishes
Sue
My first reaction was to mount my high horse in defense of my artistic sensibilities and freedoms.
But on second thoughts, don't be daft, they're only snaps, so,
[17Jan]Will do.
Nick
[17Jan] Many thanks for your understanding. I don't know how I missed that before.
Sue
[2Feb] Hi Nick
Now that the deadline for the entries has passed, I am looking over the entries again to make sure I haven't missed anything.
Just one minor thing to ask you to do - could you put the name of your town and the county underneath your name and logo, on the address side of the reverse card. Makes the location more immediately obvious and adds an authentic look to the cards.
Sue
[5Feb24] My reply
Hi Sue
I cannot see this as a stated requirement in the original instructions or the July 2023 further instructions, but perhaps I missed it and, in any case, you're in charge.
That it is Eltham , SE London, is clear from the text. All this preamble is because if I literally "put the name of your town and the county underneath your name and logo" this will, to my mind, clash with the aesthetic of the smudgy stamp cancellation effect intended with the logo stamp.
On real postcards, identification on the back is unusual and, if present, usually on one of the four sides - I have just had a quick look on ebay and of more than a dozen checked, the only Eltham postcard I could find with any location information is a recent one, see attached.
This being the case, can I go with an edge description, also attached?
Regards, Nick
[5Feb] Hi Nick
No, it wasn't on the list of requirements, as you point out.
Having received all the entries, I was looking at them as a complete set for making the book. Most had the name of the town and county on the right hand side of the reverse card and not only did it make the location immediately obvious, it looked quite authentic to have that information on the address area of a traditional card which is why I asked for that to be added if it had not already been done. One entry has the location named across the bottom of the card like you suggest which is fine and doesn't interfere with your super logo, but I think it would be better if it was a larger font to be more noticeable - I didn't notice it at first.
Sue
[6Feb] Will do, N
[6Feb] Thank you for your understanding and patience Nick.
Sue
[7Feb] Hi Sue
V5 attached.
Regards, Nick
[7Feb] Thanks very much Nick. More obvious without interfering with the logo.
Sue
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Postcards from Home
Outputs from the Project
The principal outputs from Postcards will be:
A printed book featuring all eligible postcards that are submitted by registered participants. A copy of the book will be provided to each registered participant.
A web gallery on the RPS website featuring all eligible postcards.
“Eligible” means postcards that meet the project criteria and rules – see below.
At its discretion, the landscape group may decide to create an exhibition from all or some of the postcards submitted, feature the work in magazines etc. All work will be fully credited to the author.
How to take Part
1. All images must be photographed within a five-mile radius of your home. Your home is deemed to be the address to which your RPS Journal is posted.
2. All images must be photographed during 2023 and must be submitted by midnight on 31st January 2024.
The principal outputs from Postcards will be:
A printed book featuring all eligible postcards that are submitted by registered participants. A copy of the book will be provided to each registered participant.
A web gallery on the RPS website featuring all eligible postcards.
3. A submission must comprise four postcards.
Three postcard fronts each featuring between TWO and FIVE photographs PLUS
One postcard reverse side featuring a project title, a statement of intent (see no 7, below) and your name as you wish it to appear in any accreditation of your work (include any distinctions if you wish).
4. The four postcards will be distributed across two facing pages in the project book.
The left-hand page will include the reverse side with statement of intent and one picture postcard. Both must be in horizontal format.
The right-hand page will include the other two picture postcards. Both must be EITHER in horizontal OR vertical format. For an illustration of how the book will be laid out, see here
Each finished postcard must be submitted as follows:
14 X 9 aspect ratio (either horizontal or vertical)
1654px x 1063px @ 300PPI
Jpeg (at maximum quality)
sRGB colour space
5. Each postcard front must feature between two and five separate photographs.
6. Brief text may be added to the fronts your postcards to locate or explain the subject as in these examples; one, two, three, four, and final example five.
7. In addition, each entrant must write a brief statement of intent (max. 100 words) explaining their project and why they chose the subject(s). This text must feature on the reverse side postcard.
8. Images must feature landscapes that conform to the definition adopted by the RPS Landscape Group i.e.
“Landscape” photography is defined as the photographic portrayal of all elements of the land, sea and sky whether natural or built or influenced by human endeavour. Examples include mountains, hills, farmland, coasts, bodies of water, forests and populated and industrial areas. Images may be created using traditional or other techniques (including but not limited to infrared, multiple exposures, intentional camera movement, abstraction, minimalism and post-processing).
9. Images may be taken with traditional or creative techniques but the location(s) should be, at least to some extent, recognisable.
10. Images may be processed to a particular style if you wish (e.g. retro, contemporary, pop-art etc). If you choose a particular style, there should be a rationale for this that relates to the content or theme of your postcards. Avoid style over substance!
11. All images and postcards from a single photographer should be photographed, processed and presented in a similar style so as to create a cohesive body of work.
Postcards from Home, RPS Landscape Group
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References
author, (year) Title. Location: Publisher.
author (year) title [online]. website. Available from url [Accessed nn January 2020].
author (year) Title. Location: Publisher.
author, (year) Title. Location: Publisher.
author (year) title [online]. website. Available from url [Accessed nn January 2020].
author, (year) Book Title. Location: Publisher.
author (year) Title. Journal. Vol, pages.
author (year) Title. Newspaper. Date. pages.