a little help with knife photos

Michael J. Spangler

Michael J. Spangler

Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
2,181
Can anyone give me some ideas on how to set up the lighting for taking pictures of knives, or links to pages with tutorials. Thanks a lot.
 
Hey Mike. I've got an inexpensive Wal-mart digital camera and a plywood photo box lined with poster board and with flourecent light diffuser and an old t-shirt on top. Two shop lamps are my light source. Make sure you use a tri-pod. Move the lights or the knife to improve the photo, not the camera. And remember to turn the flash off. My whole photo box cost about $30.00 and I get alot of compliments on my photos. I use scrap wallpaper samples from Home Depot as my backdrops.

photo%20box.JPG


If I can help out any, just drop me a note.
 
An interesting thread. I was just thinking about it today while I was snapping some pictures of a knife. Some of the info was really helpful.
 
Great idea, J! I like the idea for a diffuser.

Hmmmm, I suppose I'll have to break down and make one of those $30 wonders.

I'm been taking mine next to a window that is NOT getting direct sun. Works ok, but I think yours is better.

And folks are right, your photos are very good. In fact I thought you had them done.

Steve
 
Thanks Steve, I gotta give Coop (Jim Cooper, aka Coop747) the credit for my pix. He gave me alot of help putting the photo box and picture taking together. I used to take 40-60 pictures to get one good one, now I usually only take about 3-5 for a keeper.
 
Do you use ordinary flood lights ? We tried a set up close to the one pictured and used a digital camera but got somewhat orange pictures. We ended up behind our building out of direct sun light and every thing was fine.
We need to set up a working light box as the snow will soon be to deep to get out the back door.
Thanks to every one posting on this board -- it is like getting an education without having to go to school.
 
----------------
Originally posted by Pete Allan:
Do you use ordinary flood lights ? We tried a set up close to the one pictured and used a digital camera but got somewhat orange pictures. We ended up behind our building out of direct sun light and every thing was fine.
----------------

Getting color shift tints in your pics is often due to a mismatch between your film (that'd be ccd or circuitry in digital-camera) and the light source.

Try using a different light source. Go from incandescent lightbulbs in table lamps to a halogen light to reduce yellowish tint. Shut off flourescent lights to reduce that bluish-green color in your shots. There are true-color flourescent light tubes (C-50 IIRC) that are the same "color" as sunlight and don't give you color-shift. Experiment to see which light source works best with your camera.

BE CAREFUL WITH HOT LIGHTS! Don't wanna burn down the house trying to get a picture taken.

(edited to add) Light-box tutorial over at CKD: http://www.customknifedirectory.com/CKD_tut_light_box.htm
 
RE: color temperature of the lights.

GE has those new Reveal bulbs. I love 'em for reading. In any case they are supposed to be better balanced - more like sunlight. I'm gonna try those with my J Neilson light box.

Pete, see if your digital camera has a white balance setting - most do. If there is manual - you're home free, follow the directions. If not, then try the photos with each of the choices and see what works.

Steve


-----------------------------------
formerly "itrade"
 
Sorry Pete, I forgot to mention that. I use the "natural" light bulbs. They look like coiled light bulbs. I got mine at Wal-Mart. They cut out about 90% of the yellowing problem. Let me know how it works out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top