OK, so let's have a print exchange!
I've organized these exchanges on several other sites, so I thought, it would be another great way to interact with each other on this site. Here's how it works....
The basic process is: 1. Sign up by posting a message in this thread that you are interested in participating.
The sign up period will end December 31, 2006.2. After the sign up deadline, I will organize everyone into groups of 4 or 5 participants. I will post the groups in another thread called "Print Exchange Groups and Status".
3. Send a Private Message (PM) to all the other members of your group your real name and postal address.
4. Make enough prints to send to only the other members of your group. This should be no more than 3 to 4 prints.
5. Mail your prints to the other members of your group. Post a message that you have sent your print in the "Print Exchange Groups and Status" thread.
The deadline to make and mail your print will be February 28, 2007.6. Enjoy the prints you receive, post a message thanking the other member for sending a print, provide feedback if you wish.
Some FAQs: -
Make the best print you can with the best materials you can afford. It does not have to be museum quality, but there shouldn't be spilled coffee on it too!
- Although you don't need to mount/mat your print, a lot of people do. It's up to you. I highly recommend it.
- Your print can be any size, but a decent 8x10 is the most common size.
- Say something about your print. I'd encourage everyone to add a note with some basic information about the print:
* Camera
* Exposure settings
* If film, which one, what paper and developer, etc...
* If digital, which printer, which paper, any PS techniques used, etc...
* Location
* Other pertinent info
- Inkjet or traditional prints are acceptable
- Any subject is acceptable, but this a 'landscape' site so let's try to stick to landscapes, street scenes, architecture, places, nature, etc...
What will the organizer do? 1. Establish the rules and deadline dates (via opinions, etc...)
2. Call for participants.
3. Organize the participants into groups.
4. Publish updates regularly.
5. Send reminder PMs up to 3 months after the due dates have passed.
What about packaging? Here are some known methods that people have been sending their prints:
1. flat, sandwiched in between two stiff cardboards, in a flat cardboard mailer or a soft bubble wrap mailer <--very good for unmounted prints, OK for mounted prints
2. flat, loose with popcorn, bubble wrap, newspaper or other soft materail in a cardboard box mailer <--good for mounted prints
3. rolled in a cardboard tube <--very not good for mounted prints
4. hand delivered <--now that's dedication!
International Nature of Print Exchanges Just a note that since the folks who participate in this exchange are international, please be prepared, if you want to participate, to mail your print internationally since you may get someone overseas.
Sending goods internationally requires some extra thought. Do not set the cost of your images over $25USD when declaring the cost as the receiver may have to pay duty.
Postage? Most people in the US send their prints using the good old US Postal Service using Priority Service. Cost is about $4-5USD per shipment. The box packaging if free and USPS will deliver the packaging to your door for free too. Goto
http://www.usps.com/ and order the boxes online.
In other exchanges I have participated in, most people outside the US sent their packages via their regular international mail service.
Cost of Participation This is a high end estimate based on the following assumptions:
- 4 sheets of 8x10 HP Premium Plus Photo Paper - $5USD
- 11x14 pre-cut matt and board with 8x10 window from Neilson Bainbridge - $40USD
- USPS Priority postage assuming 3 domestics and 1 international (box packaging is free) - $25SD
- Miscellaneous labels, ink, tape etc... - $5USD
TOTAL: $75USD
And here is a low/mid end estimate:
- 4 sheets of 8x10 Epson Advanced Glossy Paper - $2USD
- 11x14 pre-cut matt and board with 8x10 window from Pearl art supplies - $12USD
- Packaging materials and labels from Staples - $6USD
- USPS regular airmail postage assuming 3 domestics and 1 international - $20USD
TOTAL: $40USD
Remember that YMMV, but do make an effort to make the best prints you can with the best materials you can afford.
Deadbeats I hate to bring this up, but it's experience from other exchanges that approximately 5% of participants will fail to honour their commitment without a reasonable explanation after they have signed up and received prints from others. Whether a group will have a deadbeat in their midst is crap shoot. There is no prediction who will not honour their commitment - it ranges from well known active posters/subscribers to lurking newbies.
So as the organizer, I will make every effort to contact senders via PM after the deadlines have passed. But, after 3 months past the deadline without a reasonable explanation from the sender, there isn't more I can do. So, if you participate, you may have a deadbeat in your group and there's nothing more that can be done about it.
Therefore it is important that participants post a message that they have sent/received their prints. It is also important for anyone that cannot honour their commitment to PM the organizer and the rest their group.
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now. I hope we can get a lot of people participating in this print exchange. If it's popular, we can do this several times a year!
Regards, Art.