Photo Postcards - A Recommendable Hobby

photo postcards
@MALUSE (69390)
Germany
April 10, 2019 10:33am CST
The famous American photographer Garry Winogrand (1928 - 1984) said, "I photograph to see what things look like photographed." This may sound silly, but it's really profound. No photo shows reality objectively. What you see is always the interpretation of the photographer. If you choose the vertical or the horizontal format, a detail or a long shot alters the statement of the photo. You may not shoot as many photos as Winogrand who could walk through New York and come home at the end of the day with 500 photos, but you may have more than you need for an album or the shoe box if you're not an album maker. What to do with them? Some years ago I started making picture postcards of the surrounding landscape through all seasons. I'm not a renowned photo artist but I have a good eye. People like my photos. I sold them privately and gave them to the reception of a hotel and also a stationer's shop for many years. I earned well but got a bit tired of it in the end. Recently I've started again with photos of flowers. I've got a digital camera now. Printing photos has become so cheap, it's ridiculous. A printer makes folded photo cards for me which are also cheap because I buy a great number. It doesn't make sense if I tell you which size I use. Each country has its own measurements. You have to check the size of envelopes. The cards must be a bit smaller. You can also order folded cards online, of course. If you do, you'll be responsible, however, for the ruin of more craftsmen. In our town two printers have already packed it in. I glue the photos onto the cards. When I made landscape photos, I used to write the name of the village or mountain or whatever I had photographed and my initials on the card. I don't do this with the flower photos. I would look too much like botanical information. I rarely sell my cards now. I use them as presents and I can tell you that they're always welcome. In case I give them away for a birthday, I tell the presentee (?) to use them all in one year so that I know the following year what to bring. I mostly hear, "Oh no, I'm going to keep them all." This is counterproductive, of course. If I say, "Use them!", I mean 'Write on them and send them away' or 'use them as presents if you visit someone'. Three or five of these cards are a nice present it you're invited to a, say, kaffeeklatsch. Have I given you an idea?
19 people like this
19 responses
@LindaOHio (158924)
• United States
10 Apr 19
I take a lot of photos too; but I have never had anything made of them; and we don't have anyone to give presents to anymore.
4 people like this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
You can also make them for yourself and use them when you have to write a letter. People will be pleased to receive a photo postcard.
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (158924)
• United States
10 Apr 19
@MALUSE Good idea.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
29 May 21
@sharon6345 I sold my cards in a stationer's shop and also to colleagues of mine. I have another series with landscape photos. They also sold well. I offered them in a hotel, too.
@marguicha (216552)
• Chile
10 Apr 19
It´s a nice idea, but I would not know who to sell them to.
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
Use them as presents! People will like them.
2 people like this
@marguicha (216552)
• Chile
10 Apr 19
@MALUSE That could be an idea!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207607)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 Feb 22
Sounds like a good thing. I fancy that I have a good eye as well. I don't take that many photos, but I try to "compose" them so I can edit them when I get home. What kind of glue do you use when you attach the photos to the cards?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
13 Apr 19
Wonderful idea!
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
13 Apr 19
I'm glad to hear this!
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
13 Apr 19
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
10 Apr 19
How very creative of you to have come up with this idea. It is a wonderful idea for memories and beauty.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
I'm glad you like it.
1 person likes this
• Sonora, California
10 Apr 19
I think you have, I’ve actually made photo cards before using my printer, I need to make more!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
Go for it! You will always have a nice present ready when you are invited.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
31 May 19
I'm afraid I'm one of those people who sells her photos on products made by Zazzle and sold online. I don't want to have anything to do with the physical product. There are better photographers than I locally who sell their cards in the local shops. I think they do get them printed locally.
@jstory07 (135229)
• Roseburg, Oregon
29 Apr 20
Those are really nice photo postcards.
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
29 Apr 20
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@marlina (154165)
• Canada
30 Jan 20
Good advice.
@maggs224 (2320)
• Alicante, Spain
27 Apr 20
Plumbago
What a simple yet beautiful idea, your photographs are idea for for this and I think anyone would feel blessed to get these as a present. Though I can identify with those who said they wanted to keep the for themselves, but like you I feel to use them as intended would actual spread the joy and delight the postcard could give. I love taking photographs and since having digital cameras the number I take at any one time has increased dramatically. If I go on a walk with my camera providing the weather isn't too hot the number of photos I take may well be in the hundreds. I find that I see so much more through the lense especially when I do close ups. Plumbago is something I never get tired of photographing Thanks for sharing this.
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
27 Apr 20
You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12512)
• Ireland
10 Apr 19
@maluse Yes - I'm going to look up Kaffeeklatsch. I have a friend who makes cards from her photographs that she takes of flowers and birds - www,laganlove.com
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
Pretty photos! Kaffeeklatsch --- Definition from Collins Dictionary The term came to the USA with German emigrants.
Kaffeeklatsch definition: an informal gathering over coffee cups to chat or gossip | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples
1 person likes this
@just4him (308955)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Apr 19
That's great you have the talent to do that. Those are lovely cards.
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
13 Apr 19
Thank you for your friendly words!
1 person likes this
@just4him (308955)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Apr 19
@MALUSE You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76532)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
Yes, you have. That is a nice hobby. I take a lot of photos and I have already more than thousands of flower photos. Mostly tropical flowers.
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
You could make loads of pretty picture postcards with them.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76532)
• Germany
10 Apr 19
@MALUSE yes, I could. Thanks for the ideas.
@nela13 (55821)
• Portugal
11 Apr 19
yes, that is a great idea the cards on the picture are very good
@MALUSE (69390)
• Germany
11 Apr 19
Thank you!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (45648)
• India
10 Apr 19
A good idea, and a creative mind to go with it. I am planning to foray more into photography but need to figure out time for it.
@LadyDuck (460665)
• Switzerland
11 Apr 19
Your photos of flowers are beautiful. I did the same as you, printed and glued some photos on a card that I have sent to friends and family. I did not print many, just some that I was sure would have pleased those who received them.
@Tampa_girl7 (49309)
• United States
10 Apr 19
Yes, a lovely and creative idea
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Apr 19
It is a good idea to share your photos with others especially if there is a story attached to them!
@DocAndersen (54407)
• United States
10 Apr 19
My father collected postcards for many years. Thank you for the wonderful reminder!