Coops Photo setup and first pic Adams 6th

adammichael

adammichael

Joined
Sep 13, 2004
Messages
1,553
I just finished making Coops $75 photo setup and here is my first pic. It is Adams 6th Birthday knife.

I have the power for the Flourex lamps running inside the PVC with a switch attached to the cord coming out the end. I will add an outlet next to the switch to plug in some front lighting. I will add white poster board to the sides and velum to the top for the diffuser. The top lights are two 65 watt Flourex halogens.

What do you think of the knife and the pic?

the knife is Damasteel rose damascus. Carbon fiber bolster with lapis inlay, anodized titainium and mother of pearl handle.

Thanks
Michael


www.AdamMichaelKnives.com
 
I think you did real good, all around.

I might like to see a little higher angle on the knife and the bolster seperate from the background a little better, but that's just being picky.

Good work!
 
PhilL said:
I think you did real good, all around.

I might like to see a little higher angle on the knife and the bolster seperate from the background a little better, but that's just being picky.

Good work!
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "bolster seperate from the background a little better"
Thanks
Michael
 
Seperate, meaning more of a tone difference between the top of the bolster and background. Once again I'm just being picky there's nothing wrong with the pic.
 
PhilL said:
Seperate, meaning more of a tone difference between the top of the bolster and background. Once again I'm just being picky there's nothing wrong with the pic.
Click to expand...

I appreciate any suggestions to improve. Please be as picky as you want.

I thought you want a darker background on a dark knife?
What color background would you suggest for this particular knife?

Thanks again for the comments
 
I want to mention that i saw a big improvement on this photo when i added an additional front light as opposed to letting the overhead lights reflect off the front. I have know idea what the hell im doing tho.

Michael
 
adammichael said:
I thought you want a darker background on a dark knife?
What color background would you suggest for this particular knife?
Click to expand...

I personally don't want a dark background with a dark handle I want seperation or contrast between the two. Dark on dark can be used to create some drama, but to show off a knife I think I prefer to see a clear outline of the shape of the knife. I think the color and tone of the leather at the top of the pic would work well.

I never was partial to using a front light, I much prefer to use reflectors. A plain white card, or covered with aluminum foil, or even a small mirror gives me a lot more control than a light. This is my standard lighting setup and how I compose my pics. My reflectors are just a large and small white envelope.

60046209.jpg


This is from a thread I did last year called "No Frills Lighting"

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2620380#post2620380
 
Hi Michael,

Congratulations on creating a great setup.

Allow me to add in on Phil's savvy comments...

I have used a front light as a fill and you can work it as you need. I mostly use mirrors, but don't be afraid to experiment. I am certain those 1000 watts coming from behind trump the frontlight so there isn't much of an issue. If you saw good results then go for it.

I like the internal wiring. If you can, you may want to back those powerful lights away from the diffuser some. When you have a hi-polished blade you may see some hot spots. Those give off plenty of clean light, though!

Your photo is VERY clear and has a lot of light for an inside photo. Thats the intention. Your background is miserable, but the knife is clear in spite of that... :p Try something less busy and random textured. Use props only AFTER you have learned to balance all the lighting aspects. I know we'd all like to be Jim Weyer, but even I don't have those talents or props to pull it off. So I don't.

In this particular situation, gradient backgrounds would be perfect for this, as it would outline the white handle against a darker background and then the darker bolster and blade against a lighter background. As a best bet simply get a mid-tone background. K.I.S.S. :)

Good luck, keep us posted!

Coop
 
That truly is a beautiful knife. Please adopt me! (But you'll have some catching up to do, I'm getting up there. ;))

What Coop means about gradient background (correct me if I'm wrong Coop) is done in your photo editing software.

I can never pull this off though because I just can't get good selections of the knife. Maybe it's a totally manual process? Is that how it's done Coop and Phil? If so, maybe I can do it but just using the regular selection tools, no matter how even a background I took the picture on, I just cannot get a clean selection of the knife...

One thing I've done is buy a bunch of different sheets of decorative paper at the local art store. I can usually find something complimentary to the knife that gives reasonable contrast all around. But there's still no substitute for being able to take the knife out of its environment to show details like Phil did.

Good work all around Michael! Taking pictures will set you off on a whole other discipline...
 
SharpByCoop said:
Your background is miserable, ..... I know we'd all like to be Jim Weyer ....
Click to expand...
Hey Coop, I bet Jim Weyer looks at your pics and says " I would like to be Coop"

Dont be bashful, what do you really think of the background?;) You are right about the background and I see what you and Phil are saying.

Here is a pic of the completed switch. The outlets are for front lights if i need them in the future. I have to install the foam board and the vellum diffuser and i am done.
 
ddavelarsen said:
I can never pull this off though because I just can't get good selections of the knife. Maybe it's a totally manual process? Is that how it's done Coop and Phil? If so, maybe I can do it but just using the regular selection tools, no matter how even a background I took the picture on, I just cannot get a clean selection of the knife...
Click to expand...

Yeah Dave for me it is a manual process to get a clean selection of a knife. I prefer to use the Pen Tool in Photoshop to draw a Path around the knife. It gives me a lot of control and a clean selectin. I did a tutorial way back when on "How to design a knife" using the Pen Tool. You can still view the tutorial on Dan Grey's site here.
http://www.knivesby.com/phill.html
The first part I use the Pen Tool to draw the shape of a knife, that will give you the basics. If you scroll down you can see how I use the same tool to make a selection of the stag I use for the handle.

Of course Photoshop gives you a dozen ways to do anything. I used to duplicate the Layer the knife was on and just using the Eraser Tool, start with a big eraser and erase the background. Zooming in and using a smaller and smaller eraser as I got closer to the subject. It was a PIA but I got to be pretty fast with it. Like anything, you live and you learn.
 
First assumption: No, I was referring to an ACTUAL gradient background. Here is a shot of me giving a knife photography seminar in Tennessee last week, and you can see the gradient background on the table behind me.

You can find them at http://www.tallyns.com/. Look for 'Varitone' backgrounds.

45996640-39e6-02060185-.jpg


(Photo courtesy of Dennis Greenbaum)

Yes, you CAN remove the knife and make a gradient background. I can do it, and then you need to place a shadow to make it look plausible. It's not how I do those type of images unless asked. I prefer a real shadow when I can.

That aside, using the polygonal tracing tool by hand in Photoshop is far and away the most effective method to cut out and select/paste from the background. Enlarge up to 300% and connect the dots....

Phil, thanks for pointing that tutorial back to me. I've been wanting to take a second look at that! :)

Michael, you're hired! That is the cleanest light tent with wiring I've ever seen. Cool! :D


Coop
 
The foam is installed, vellum is installed for a diffuser and i have it sitting on a motorized drafting table. There is a foot switch that raises and lowers the table.

what do you think?
 
I think that's about the coolest setup I've seen yet. I hope you know how lucky/smart you are to have a dedicated photo space! I sure wish I could find a place to set up permanently.

Your son's knives are so cool I can hardly stand it. That's some of the cleanest work I've ever seen. Did you do the scrim?

You should know, or at least I gotta tell you, your knives are the only ones my wife thinks are as good as mine. :D She's so heavily biased almost no one else can "measure up" - except you. She's as boggled by your beautiful knives as I am.

PhilL and Coop, thanks for the selection pointers. I'm using PS Elements and don't have quite the same selection methods but will see what I can come up with. There's something called Magnetic Wand that tries to do what the polygonal tracing tool would do (I think) but it misses a lot of edge. Maybe I can enlarge and tweak the selection; I'll give that a shot.

Meanwhile Coop, I'm going to see if the local art place has the Varitone backgrounds; if not I'll look into ordering some. Now I'm doubly amazed at your fantastic work! I like all the light in your light tent at the seminar, that is suggestiive for me in my own application.

Thanks for all the help!
 
Very nice setup and beautiful work on those knives.

Now for me personally I couldn't work with those two front lights. They'd be in my way and make the set too hot. Coop is right on those back lights, much too close to your vellum. Back them off and you'll have a lot more even light. Finally, there's no light hitting the grind on the blade, it's dead. I would have to adjust it to pickup at least some highlight.
 
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