Feedback Requested... which pics are better (Pearl Knife content)

J

Jason Cutter

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
Messages
1,419
I just made this knife just in time for my wife's birthday, finally got it completed after many months of harassment about it. Its a variant of one of my Personal models with a 2.75inch blade in RWL34 stainless, satin hand rubbed, tapered tang, 416SS bolsters and pins, Exhibition grade white MOP.

I've figured out some new tricks with my photo editing software. I wanted to ask the following questions :-

On such a knife, are the smaller pictures better, or the larger ones ? I personally thought the larger pics show more detail but are a bit overpowering as the knife itself is actually quite small.

And do the background faded pictures make the photo look too busy. I thought they would enhance the pearl, but I could be wrong.

Anyfeedback or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks. Jason.

Large photos
http://fototime.com/FC132D2306D59AE/orig.jpg
http://fototime.com/1B68EE0AA6AFFD9/orig.jpg


orig.jpg

orig.jpg
 
First: Bloody nice knife!

Second: I prefer the bottom picture, (with the more faded background), but I'd also like to see a picture of the spine like in the top picture.
 
I like biottom picture mroe (if it showed the knife from the other perspective as well, like the top one). In generali prefer knife pictures not to have distracting background - either completely blank or some pattern that is easy to mentally block out - wooden table, marble (polished stone), smooth shiny velvet cloth (wrinkled/rippled or straightened), perhaps even something like cloth used for poker/pool/roulette table (green), as long as it's not distracting - stuff that "pros" use when making presentation shots of just about anything. Your top picture's background is still distracting. DOn't use faded knife in background either - background is IMHO irrelevant, focus is on the knife, everything else is merely a distraction.

Anyway, great looking knife you made !!!
 
Hi Jason,

Composition is a subjective thing. You won't get consensus on on that. I like your bold approach and your willingness to try new things.

But, your photos lack some basic display qualities that, I feel, need addressing before moving forward to complicated display formats.

You have uneven lighting on the blade and the bolster. 'Hot spots' if you will. Whatever diffuser you are using is not good enough. What I strive for is consistent bright lighting on the blade, with enough shadow to show the grind. My eye is drawn to the overall poor lighting well before any comparisons on composition or size.

Now, going further, I'll bet what you did was to hold some form of panel over the lighting, to shadow the pearl, which really draws out the color and depth. But, you are 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' on this. (I have to do the same thing and then paste one pearl inlay over another on rare occasion.) The pearl is the best portion of this whole set--at the expense of everything else.

For an even sharper outline around the knife, use the polygonal tracing tool in PS. If you aren't using PS then you will have to make do. Those fuzzy edges don't add to the overall effect. Then you would need to add in a 'dropped shadow'. Now it will look plausible, but unreal. Choose your poison. ;)

Personally, I like the overall composition with the knife extending beyond the borders and a subtle dim background. It just needs to be pulled off cleaner. Back up a few steps.

I don't find one size or another as a preference. If you have flaws, then the larger size will point them out. I can see some. Sorry, you asked.

Hope this helps and is taken in the right spirit! :)

Coop
 
Hey, I'm never sorry I asked !!! :D

I can only suffer some learning, right ? ;) :D

I am very appreciative of all the responses, frank opinions and ideas. All taken into account for planning some new photo / editing techniques with whatever tools I have at my disposal.

I hope everyone had a merry, safe and outstanding XMas ... Jason.
 
I prefer the smaller pictures. To get the detail required, the larger ones would require too long to load.
 
Jason, I don't know about the pictures but I do know that I really like this knife and I'm sure your wife loves it. IMHO that bolster is yelling to be engraved.

Dave
 
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