Hamon/Temperline pics, any tricks? (pics)

[RMLamey]

Just trying to figure out how to take good pics of hamon/temperlines. It seems to be difficult, as it is a battle against glare from the Sun versus visibility of the hamon. Any suggestions from those of you that seem to always take awesome photos??

Here is one i am finishing up this week (still needing a home). Steel is 1084, took about 4 or 5 good soaks in the etch before it was deep enough for my liking. Looks much better in person, but at least this pics worked a bit.

 

[Danbo]

Can't wait to see the finished product, Matt. Maybe some of that Koa wood?

 

[RogerP]

Lookin' good Matt. Whatcha got in mind for the guard and handle? Getting a good shot of a hamon or hardening line is not easy, and for me involves mostly trial and error until I fluke into a shot that looks decent. I don't really have a system, but then again it is not something I have attempted very often. Probably shooting in direct sunlight is not your best bet, though.

Roger

 

[RokJok]

Matt, Great lookin' blade...just like the rest of your work I've admired for so long.

The goal in photographing hamon & other materials with directionally-dependent reaction to light is to get massive amounts of indirect light on the object. That means:
1. don't shoot in direct sunlight, use on-camera flash, or illuminate your setup with other "point sources" of light that aren't diffused
2. shoot in shadow or inside a building (north-facing window is best)
3. add reflectors around the object as needed, likely several of them, to even out the distribution of light on the subject

There are some pics on the web of relatively cheap light tent setups made of wood/PVC pipe and white fabric. Another one was made of just a translucent Rubbermaid type tub tipped upside down with GE Reveal lights (you get natural sunlight temperature light from them) shining through the diffusing translucence of the tub sides. I found natural sunlight-temp light bulbs at Home Depot, so they are easily located.

After setting up the lights, you find the best position (angle relative to the object) for the camera that highlights whichever area/part of the object is the most necessary to emphasize. There may well be compromises that have to be made to get that area of the object maximized in the shot.

Technically, this link is the best explaining how to set up lighting for photographing hamon/swords:
http://www.nkb.ca/articles/photography/

Another link to some info on photographing hamon/swords:
http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=16875&s=

 

[Jason Cutter]

I really should have checked RokJok's links first... I also find it difficult to get good hamon shots. The most consistent way I find is to use artifical light as mentioned. I use 2 or 3 separate light sources, in a self-made light tent, no flash and try to angle it so the blade is reflecting something DARK in the background. I find the dark background shows up the more "darker" hard area at the edge and gives it contrast. Another way to try is to prop the knife up so it is sitting on its lower guard with the top guard pointed up to the sky and take the shot from the side. Not sure if this makes sense to you.

I did notice that a lot of shots of swords and Don Fogg's knife shots are done "dark." Jason.

 

[RMLamey]

Im also hamstrung by a crappy digital camera, but i am very thankfull for all the info. and comments. Will give some of the mentioned methods a try. Have another blade i will photo tommorow.