Help: Art knives recommendation and photos needed.

simonxm

simonxm

Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
211
Had been struggling on several art knives from few markers for a long time.

Can any friend here give some suggestions or photos on art folders from Owen Wood, Ken Steigerwalt and Ron Best?

Anyone has photos of Ron Best's Bailisong? I like this one very much.

Are knives from them all with top fit and finish?

Thank you.
 
Many examples of all on my Gallery in sticky post above, and certainly my website. Do a search.

Great choices. :)
 
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Thank you, Jim.

I looked all the photos you shot and liked very much. They are so beautiful in your camera. That's the reason I wanted some help from collectors here. Wanted to see these knives from normal camera or phone camera if possible.

And reviews on any of these knives would be great.
 
Simon -- the camera has very little to do with the image. Coop could create stunning images from anything you would place in his hands. The skill involves the use of light and composition. The camera is simply the tool to record the vision of the photographer. Thus, his camera is totally NORMAL!! In fact, with today's technology, the camera's in a phone whether Android or IOS have better capabilities than a camera that Jim would have used a dozen years ago and many of the images on his site, I am sure are from those times.
 
^^^ As usual, Murray's wisdom is spot on. :thumbup:

I could dumb down my images with poor lighting, but that's prevalent on dozens of other's sites. ;)

Any Google image search of these makers offer a variety of poses--some right out of a cell phone, others are 'boudoir' shots like I create.

Of the makers you've presented, NONE of them will leave you wishing for more. Those are the top of the crop in Art Knives.
 
Murray, Thank you for your Technical explain. Totally agreed your point.

Jim, I didn't mean dis-respect to you or your work. I like all your photos. They are just too beautifully to me. One just can not believe it if he never see it or have it in hand.
 
Simonxm: therein lies the dilemma. It's not the perceived enhancement of the photos which determine quality, but, rather holding it in person. To that point I am in complete agreement.

ALL I can do is to bring a two dimensional image to the viewer. Let's face it, showing a poorly lit, blurry, or otherwise unflattering photograph does neither the maker and the viewer no good. Especially the maker.

You are not the first to bring up the point about potentially 'overflattering images'. There are two wincing comments which come to mind which I hear often:

"The photos don't do this piece justice." No matter how good the image LOOKS, the knife is even better in hand.

"It looks like a drawing or unreal. I want to see what it REALLY looks like." This is where the viewer feels the piece is unfairly represented through enhancement.

In the end what the person wants is what YOU want: I want to know how good it is beyond the 2D images.

Well, there we are. At an impasse on the internet. Unless someone offers first-hand input, all I can do is present the maker's work in the most positive method on a screen. After all, THEY have paid me to do so. A lesser quality image doesn't bring you closer to tactile impressions.

Long live actual Knife Shows!

To that end, I have handled extensively EVERY one of these makers and many more. All I can say is it's a matter of taste. Each one's build quality is among the highest of levels.

This said, go back and look at any photo, including MY extensively enhanced versions. ;) They won't disappoint. Not from Best, Steigerwalt, or Wood.

Smart points made by you. I understand

Good thread.
 
I find that there are many a time when the image does more to the knife than is justified. Unfortunately, no image can give a sense of how the knife actually feels. Nor can it say how it fits in the hand of the person handling it as each person may feel the knife differently. The major concern is to determine the purpose of the knife. Is it a collectible based upon the collectors desires? Is it a knife to be used. Of the over 230 custom knives I currently own and who knows how many hundred I have owned at one time or another, I know I have some that just don't fit my hand perfectly and some may be heavier than others etc. However, I collect knives, not as usable cutlery but rather as works of visual art much like the rest of what I collect whether it be Native, Asian, Sculpture, Glass, paintings etc. The photograph is done as a record and a means to share with others something my wife and I have enjoyed doing for 36 years -- collecting knives.

The wonderful thing about the Sticky that Coop has is that we can all spend as much time as we like viewing the knives that he has both handled and photographed. He has first hand knowledge of the abilities of hundreds of makers and is a great source of information based upon his career as a professional photographer of knives. I know that I have a great time just looking at his images of knives I will never own but the sheer thrill of the view is worth more than words can express.
 
Thank you Jim.

I know you few can do what you do on reflecting the real or actual look using certain amount of the light. The look changed by the directions you handled because of the light reflection on different part.

Totally understand. So I know now I just need to see them to believe them by attending the shows.
 
Murray White said:
I find that there are many a time when the image does more to the knife than is justified. Unfortunately, no image can give a sense of how the knife actually feels. Nor can it say how it fits in the hand of the person handling it as each person may feel the knife differently. The major concern is to determine the purpose of the knife. Is it a collectible based upon the collectors desires? Is it a knife to be used. Of the over 230 custom knives I currently own and who knows how many hundred I have owned at one time or another, I know I have some that just don't fit my hand perfectly and some may be heavier than others etc. However, I collect knives, not as usable cutlery but rather as works of visual art much like the rest of what I collect whether it be Native, Asian, Sculpture, Glass, paintings etc. The photograph is done as a record and a means to share with others something my wife and I have enjoyed doing for 36 years -- collecting knives.

The wonderful thing about the Sticky that Coop has is that we can all spend as much time as we like viewing the knives that he has both handled and photographed. He has first hand knowledge of the abilities of hundreds of makers and is a great source of information based upon his career as a professional photographer of knives. I know that I have a great time just looking at his images of knives I will never own but the sheer thrill of the view is worth more than words can express.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Photo will never tell you 100% of what's the knife real look. Only by seeing it through your eyes, handle it with your hand, will you know what's it looks like. But Jim did bring us the information that we will probably never see them in our own eyes. And Jim did his best to record the best part or true feel of the knives. Special thanks to him.

Thank you for your time though explain what you feel. I hope I can meet you one day at a knife show so we can exchange some thoughts.

Best regards
 
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