Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #159: Postcards

04Aug
by Oh, the Places We See
Robert Morris Inn, Oxford MD

For the last challenge of July, Ana Campo of Anvica’s Gallery invites us to consider the theme of Postcards. And, in her post, she mentions that some of us may do as she does — collect postcards or send them to folks back home or just appreciate them as a memory of places visited. (Like the one at the top of this post of a special place we stayed in Oxford, Maryland: the Robert Morris Inn.)

Well, we’ve done all of what Ana mentions . . . and more. Even with the immediacy of sending photos via our cell phones or posting on social media, we still look for postcards wherever we travel so we can share special buildings, places, and “we-were-there” moments. Then we hunt for post offices, buy stamps in that country’s currency, and mail to friends, relatives, and, of course, our granddaughter! We’ve even been known to mail one to ourselves just so we can have the fancy stamp!

Shakespeare Houses and Gardens
A postcard of homes and gardens where William Shakespeare lived. (We didn’t see them all, but . . . maybe next time?)

We must admit, however, that we do have one bad habit: we seem to buy more postcards than we ever mail, and the cards pile up in a desk drawer. But there’s a good side to that: going through the stack of unmailed postcards brings back fond memories every time we look at them.

Postcards from Sams travels
Unmailed postcards that we’ve brought home with us. (Well, we had good intentions.)

We’ve even been known to donate a stack of postcards and stamps to a favorite third-grade teacher. She uses them as a learning experience — kids address them to themselves and write a note about the location that they’ve looked up online.

Lately, we’ve been taking some postcard-like photos of places we’ve read about or found via recommendations of friends. Although these don’t compete with those on cards in gift shops, they still have special places in our traveler hearts!

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Bristol, Maine
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol, Maine when lupines are in full bloom.
Fountain in Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA
The elegant fountain in Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia
Sundown in St. Michaels, Maryland

Thanks to Ana for this interesting challenge. For one thing, it made us look through our postcards again and smile when we saw places we had forgotten about. Of course, there’s a hazard in all of this: We’re ready to travel again and make more postcard-worthy memories!

If you want to see more entries in Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #159: Postcards, click on Ana’s post and follow along.

In the meantime, take a look at your own postcards. They may make you smile!

Travel in a postcard world,

Rusha & Bert

38 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #159: Postcards”

  1. Julie

    I have a stack of postcards that I never mailed from my travels. I recently started doing Postcrossing again — since it’s been a LONG time since ANYBODY has traveled I thought to send them to other people and share some of my favorite memories there.

    Reply

  7. Ana

    Gorgeous response to the challenge!!!
    I find it wonderful that you continue buying postcards, I have to admit that I have not bought them for a long time, although, after this challenge, I’m thinking of doing it again.
    I think it’s great how you use postcards, send them, keep them as a souvenir, even share them with a teacher.
    By the way, lovely postcards and photographs.

    Reply

  8. Tina Schell

    Terrific take on the challenge this week Rusha – loved it from start to finish. Especially loved the idea of donating to a teacher who is cleverly interesting her students in travel and learning about other places. We need more teachers just like that!

    Reply

    1. Oh, the Places We See

      I’ve done this twice, and I have enough to treat another class. Not sure what it says about me that I bring more postcards home than I mail. But I love to buying and looking at postcards after the trip. Nice challenge topic.

      Reply

  11. Amy

    How the teacher uses them as a learning experience is a great idea! Love it. Your photos of Shakespeare lived are precious. The lighthouse, fountain, and sundown are so beautifully captured!

    Reply

  12. Wandering Dawgs

    I like your stack of postcards that never got mailed. And all of your photos would make beautiful cards! Great capture on the Forsyth Park Fountain in Savannah! That one would definitely sell on River Street!

    Reply

  14. Toonsarah

    We have quite a few postcards bought as holiday mementos too, especially of places where photography wasn’t permitted. Nowadays if I want to send a card I use Touchnote to send one of my own photos. The downside is that the recipient doesn’t get a local stamp, but on the plus side I can be sure my card will arrive and quite quickly 😀

    Reply

  16. Pit

    “we still look for postcards wherever we travel ”
    So do Mary and I. She LOVES sending postcards she buys when we are travelling. I prefer to create my own: I print them from phots I take. That’s a lot of fun, too.

    Reply

  17. thehungrytravellers.blog

    Postcards seem to bite the dust years ago: most people never send them but they’re still on sale everywhere – maybe there’s lots of people who, like you, buy them and keep them. Funnily enough, we’ve readopted the idea on this Greece trip and we’re sending postcards to my granddaughters from each location.

    Reply

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