Emulsive Secret Santa 2020

FishyFish

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Registration is open for anyone wanting to participate in this year's Emulsive Secret Santa gift swap.

emulsive.org

EMULSIVE Secret Santa 2020: registration open until October 31st | EMULSIVE

A huge thank you to the nearly 1100 players in over 50 countries came together to participate in 2019's fifth annual EMULSIVE Santa. It's that time of the
emulsive.org emulsive.org

There's a difference this year in that it's about sending a gift that will fit through someone's letterbox, so no sending film, cameras, or anything bulky. Instead it's about sending prints, letters, postcards and similar.
 
I'll be giving it a miss. Once bitten etc. Or is it "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me".
 
A couple of points of order; Firstly, if I had a letterbox that was so small that a roll of film in a padded envelope wouldn't fit through it, then I'd make it a priority to fit a new letterbox that was up to the task. Secondly, anyone who starts actively promoting Christmas before we've even had Hallow'een needs to be physically force fed stale chocolate Xmas tree decorations until they vomit! :grumpy:
 
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Don’t take my quick précis too literally. Here’s an extract from the site:

We don’t want you to send parcels. In fact, we don’t want you to send gifts that cannot fit through someone’s letterbox. A flat envelope is ideal and humble simplicity is the name of the game.

People are stressed, people have financial constraints and worries, postal systems are under immense burden worldwide, and post is getting lost, misdirected and simply stolen. With that in mind, we’d like 2020’s players to focus on connecting with their match and sending them a little love in a world which needs us to remember more about what connects us and less about what divides us. What to send?

  • A postcard
  • A print or set of prints
  • A letter
Every year for the past 5 years, I have written, “EMULSIVE Santa is about giving (and receiving) the gift of film photography.” I have also spoken at length about how the event is an opportunity to expand our connections with the community at large and bring people together.

This year, the second statement still stands but I’d like to change the first:

“EMULSIVE Santa is about giving (and receiving) the gift of love and support with a fellow human.“

With that in mind, we are asking that if you decide to participate in this year’s even, you do not send a camera, film, local sweets and delicacies, handmade scarves or bottles of alcohol.

Send a print, send a postcard, send a letter. Send all three. Send 12 prints on a theme. Send a letter – 9 pages, BOTH SIDES. Send Love.

If you absolutely must send film, a camera or something else, please feel free to do so AFTER the event in a personal capacity.
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Unfortunately, while most people, myself included, don’t want to start celebrating Christmas just yet, for an international gift-swap that attracts thousands of participants, you need to start the ball rolling early or run out of time.

I quite like the idea that it will be some sort of global print / zine swap type affair this time. It’ll be Interesting to receive other people’s photographs or correspondence in this way.
 
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Whilst I don't want to play Scrooge, I think this has probably shot its bolt? With the way things are, why not just have an Emulsive web page where people from all over the world can wish each other love, warmth, kindness and good health this Christmas via a short message; and, in return for doing so, people can perhaps send the postage and gift money they'd otherwise have spent via a donation to a good cause that's dear to their hearts instead?
 
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Mr Badger said:
Whilst I don't want to play Scrooge, I think this has probably shot its bolt? With the way things are, why not just have an Emulsive web page where people from all over the world can wish each other love, warmth, kindness and good health this Christmas via a short message; and, in return for doing so, people can perhaps send the postage and gift money they'd otherwise have spent via a donation to a good cause that's dear to their hearts instead?
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While I do love getting stuff... I got paper for xmas last year and have loved using it, I do think given the circumstances this year, I think your idea is right on the button... maybe instead of a wishlist we could name a charity, as you say.
 
Given that this year's gift-swap has now been launched for people to register, it's unlikely the format will be changed - the Emulsive website is, I believe, mostly a one-person operation.

Sending a letter, a zine, or a few prints / postcards this year will be much more cost effective than sending bulkier items like film or cameras, especially if you choose to only send to someone in your own country. Sending a few 6x4 prints and a letter in the UK will only cost a couple of quid (maybe a bit more if you need to make the prints beforehand).

It's a nice thing to take part in and doesn't preclude anyone from making a donation to charity if they wish - it doesn't have to be an either/or thing. Similarly, there's no pressure for anyone to take part if they don't want to.
 
Retune said:
What happened last time?
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I got a 72mm yellow filter. Direct from the manufacturer. I think it met the "around £20" suggestion if you counted P&P and actually thought it was anything more than a rebadged chinese knock off.

It was completely my own expectation, and I know some people got nothing. But I put quite a bit of effort into my present, with some research on my recipient, a hand written Chritmas card, giftwrap etc. All the hype around it implied that people were really getting into the spirit of it and so did I. However I really felt as though my Santa didn't give a crap. And when my recipient couldn't manage a thankyou, that was me done. (To be fair, I didn't thank my Santa, so maybe my recipient was brassed off too. But at least you can use rolls of film.)
 
I took part, Christmas 2018.

Received a lovely looking parcel from the U.S. and popped it under the tree until Christmas Day. I knew the spending suggestion so was very suprised with what I opened.

A gorillapod.
A dark room print made by my Secret Santa
A lovely book called Retro Cameras that I often see in Waterstones
A box of chocolate covered potato chips which were delicious and I am grateful we don't sell them in this country as I would be very fat.
A pro pack of Ektar 100 in 120 format.

I also keep in touch with him now and again on Instagram.
 
I didn't have a great experience last time, and the postage of my parcel to Canada would have pretty much taken up the suggested spend. No thank you. I did eventually get my own parcel, I think maybe in March, after half a dozen reminders. I did manage to thank him. There were a couple of darkroom prints included, which was nice, although, what to do with them?
 
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