SharpByCoop • Gallery of Handmade Knives

[SharpByCoop]

They are hard because they are SO big, the lighting setup I have for my studio and shows is not adequate for coverage.

I actually remove my diffuser tent and shoot the strobes off the ceiling, acting as a white diffuser, too. It works, but only because I have a low white ceiling.

Then there is the challenge of a background this large. I've found I can extract the images, and then create my digital backgrounds and shadows to make it look appealing, if not plausible.

This takes me a LONG time, but it comes out well.

Jot Singh Khalsa:







Doug Campbell, from MT was pleased with his work on this rustic integral Camp Knife / Bowie. As he should be.

The sheath is well-made also, from a sheathmaker I have not heard of.





Coop

[SharpByCoop]

I've sent out a billion emails to BCC clients/recipients. Unapologetic promotion.

We are happy to announce our services will be available to you at the 2012 Blade Show.

The benefit of a professional image will promote you in a number of ways:

• Large clear print for your portfolio
• Crisp website image for email or display
• Record of your work for posterity
• Potential inclusion in publications
• Guaranteed: Thousands of views on the internet Forums and on my website. I ensure this.
• A professional image shows you take pride in your work

Submission information to Editors, and our 3-year unchanged pricing schedule can easily be found in the following SAFE link.

Download a PDF of this sheet here: http://www.sharpbycoop.com/blade12_infosheet.pdf

We MAXIMIZE exposure for every client, giving you the best value for your photography fees.

SharpByCoop Website Gallery or THIS BladeForums Handmade Gallery or the CKCA forums, too.

Look for our lobby posters to set the tone:



I will be assisted by my wife Susan, and my adept and talented friend/professional photographer: Buddy Thomason.

We will be, as usual, located outside of the Show Hall at the far end of the Atrium (next to the seminar rooms) at Boardroom #1 (BR1).

It's a REALLY exciting four days. We will arrive on Thursday midday to set up and will start later in the day.

All work will be photographed in the order the submission sheet was received, and we will pickup and deliver the knives at your table to allow the knives maximum exposure.

Unlike makers who's work is finished at Blade, mine begins there. I will work non-stop for the four days until Sunday afternoon, shooting and capturing the images on my hard drive. I spend a LOT of time on individual lighting for each piece and will not have the time to process prints properly at the show.

Proofs and prints are emailed and mailed out within a week or two. Your patience will be rewarded.

I would love to offer a welcome for a brief handshake, at the very least. My wife will then shoo you away and you may talk to Buddy all you'd like.

The Blade Show resumes about a week and a half after we return, as we display your images proudly on the most popular knife forums, and always through my website.

Thanks for reading this. See you there!

Jim (Coop) & Susan

[SharpByCoop]

Gus Cecchini had sent me these folders a while ago. But.....

...He asked me not hold on posting until just before Blade. Drumroll, please............!











They incorporate his integral pocket clip design. It took me a bit of fiddling to get the hang of it (remember the first time you tried to open a small thumbstud folder?) but it came easily after my practice.

Packing for the show....

Coop

[SharpByCoop]

I'll keep this brief: We've just returned from the Blade Show, and I'm already organizing and editing the shots from there. It's a long process for me, as most of my images are in a 'montage' format, and require construction. It's for this reason I'm not able to process and deliver knives at the show. My constructions take time, so does sending proofs and printing.

We had a GREAT show, as this is measured in makers and collectors delivering us knives to have photographed. As good as we've ever had. From Thurs afternoon, till Sun afternoon I always had a project ready to be captured. I gave it my all and my best.

So did my wife Susan, who ran the sign-up table out of the studio, to help ensure I kept working, and as did my invaluable friend and team player, Buddy Thomason. His insights to the photography aspect, working with the clients, was paramount, as was his advice/hands when I needed extra help.

I promise to start a thread soon with edits. It will be a delight!

To my clients who are waiting patiently: Thank you ALL!

Jim

[SharpByCoop]

As promised, my Knives of the Blade Show 2012 thread ran for many pages and well over 10,000 views.

I've uploaded all the images in one spot on my website:

SharpByCoop.com Gallery of all the Blade Show 2012 images.

BTW: I am well aware that my Gallery on my website cannot be viewed on an iPad or iPhone. It has Adobe Flash as it's core. (You must know Apple/Steve Jobs and Adobe clashed on this one.) That said, the designer of my Gallery (Fotoplayer) has developed a beta of the same format in HTML-5, and it will support these machines. (I own (2) iPads!) It is called Fotoslides.

But... until it is released with a search feature (Version 1.0?), I have opted not to convert. I find the search aspect a highlight. So do my clients. This should come within a few months, and I will post when I do.

I am returning back to my regularly busy schedule in my studio, and because of this Blade project, I am already behind. LOL!

PLEASE be patient if you are waiting, and contact me for a schedule, if you need work. I aim to please, but I can only do so much. My family attention has been shortchanged for the past three weeks.

Thanks.

Jim

[stefanj]

How are the blades from Takach looking? I can't wait to see the pictures!

[SharpByCoop]

Some long overdue postings:













More....

[SharpByCoop]

Fancy, fancy, FANCY!



The actress' likenesses, are SO close. Jon is incredible. (Hint: BB and UA)


This is looking through 3mm of amber!






Just a little bit, ummm, phallic.






This model, his 'pro hunter', has been doing very well for him. No wonder.




Thanks for viewing!

Coop

[Graphorium]

I spent all afternoon admiring this thread; first page to last.

Breathtaking; all: Some; so beautiful I could cry.

It breaks my heart to know that, as a poor man, I shall never own anything so exquisite.

Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy them nonetheless.

[stefanj]

Graph,
I said that before. I've been there and am the proud owner of the Takach blade above, just takes some time.

[stew]

Are those three Lovetts fully integral? They look lovely!

[SharpByCoop]

I've had a good summer: Not too busy. And I needed the break from the mad rush that happens before during and after Blade.

Here are a bunch of images that I'd done, and most have been seen in individual threads, but it's nice to re-look at them in one place.





















Coop

[SharpByCoop]

Vacation time!

We are leaving this thursday Aug 16th from 'Port Liberty' NJ (Bayonne shipyards) with my family on a 9-Day RCL cruise. We haven't had ANY vacation in two+ years.

I will be keeping my iPad onboard and staying in touch, but certainly can't do anything from my home studio. Nor do I want to; it's a vacation, dagnabbit!

We return, ready for more Aug 26th. I can't take on any projects until then.

Here's a few more:









Thanks for viewing!

Jim

[martinr]

Jim, I want to thank you for being such a valuable resource and all that you do for the knife community. Have a great vacation.

[Mike Davis]

I want to second martinr's post. Fantastic pictures of fantastic work!!!

[SharpByCoop]

Just finished up a couple of pieces for JD Smith, MS. His work is always distinctive and very articulate. Witness his engaging steel...

See for yourself:









Coop

[RogerP]

Have a great vacation Coop - well earned! Glad to see some of J.D.'s work - always so sleek and elegant.

Roger

[SharpByCoop]

....What a lineup of delights.

[SharpByCoop]

[SharpByCoop]

Shift to the next page....