I shoot knives (and love it) - photos from The Premier Knife Auction, Vegas 1/20/12

prairiedigital

prairiedigital

Joined
Apr 1, 2008
Messages
287
Hello all and Happy New Year.

Wanted to share a small selection of the 100 or so knives that I shot for Ed Wormser's upcoming Premier Knife Auction in Vegas. It was a thrill to handle (or should I say fondle) such a huge variety of knives from a vast array of makers.

My all time favorite has to be the Loveless NY Special. If I had an extra $8000+ hanging around I buy it and carry it. On the other end of the spectrum is Gus Cecchini's .50GTC tactical folder which is surprisingly as comfortable a hand fit as the Loveless and oh so contemporary in style.

From the photography side, my biggest challenge is not the lighting but finding suitable background that complements or adds to the visual language of the knife and it's materials. I'll test a knife on different backgrounds over and over again until it feels right. Consequently, I am always in the hunt to find and build an inventory of interesting surfaces. Please enjoy the posted pictures. I am open to criticism and comments, all are appreciated.

Again, Happy New Year.

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Welcome Mitch!

Such beautiful subjects COMPLETELY befitting the diverse backdrops (not backgrounds, which I use), and vice-versa. Mastery of lighting and pose. I'm humbled and thankful for these newer inspirations.

I'd witnessed your work for the auction site earlier in the year and was stunned at how well they look. ^^^ There you go. :thumbup:

Introduce yourself.

Jim
 
Wish I could get my lighting one-tenth as good as those pictures. Plus, I'm jealous that you got to "fondle" all of those beautiful knives. :D
 
Great shots. Excellent use of lighting / positioning of subjects. Color and contrast look good without being overly boosted. Since you asked for criticism too, will offer a couple comments, please take them in the spirit they are given.

When your background has a large difference in brightness from your subject (bright blades on a black background like the GTC in the second pic and the bowie in the sixth shot) the scene can exceed the dynamic range of your camera making it a challenge to keep from blowing the highlights or erasing the shadow detail. Unless intentionally going for a high key or low key look, don't make it more difficult than it needs to be by using an overly dark or overly bright background. If going for a high key or low key look, set exposure for the subject and don't worry about the background.

My personal style is to add a small border or drop shadow to frame the shot. This makes it stand out more than unframed shots. A border makes it appear matted / framed, I generally bevel it a little for a slightly subdued border. In the interest of critique, took your Bowie shot into PS and adjusted the levels a little (histogram showed it a little underexposed) and put a small border around it. I feel centering photos in posts is more asthetically pleasing and recommend at least a little space between photos for separation, so they don't run together.

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Wish BF would allow pics wider than 800 pixels, especially if they are remotely hosted. Understand the need for some kind of limit, but IMO folks have enough bandwidth to support larger files and run their monitors in at least HD resolution. YMMV
 
advice and critique well taken. I know Coop always has a border around his photos and knifemakers ID plus his sig.Been considering doing that as well. Thanks for all the comments and especially Mr. Jim Cooper's whom I hold in the highest of regards and respect.
 
Chief said:
Great shots. Excellent use of lighting / positioning of subjects. Color and contrast look good without being overly boosted. Since you asked for criticism too, will offer a couple comments, please take them in the spirit they are given.

When your background has a large difference in brightness from your subject (bright blades on a black background like the GTC in the second pic and the bowie in the sixth shot) the scene can exceed the dynamic range of your camera making it a challenge to keep from blowing the highlights or erasing the shadow detail. Unless intentionally going for a high key or low key look, don't make it more difficult than it needs to be by using an overly dark or overly bright background. If going for a high key or low key look, set exposure for the subject and don't worry about the background.

My personal style is to add a small border or drop shadow to frame the shot. This makes it stand out more than unframed shots. A border makes it appear matted / framed, I generally bevel it a little for a slightly subdued border. In the interest of critique, took your Bowie shot into PS and adjusted the levels a little (histogram showed it a little underexposed) and put a small border around it. I feel centering photos in posts is more asthetically pleasing and recommend at least a little space between photos for separation, so they don't run together.

borderadded.jpg

Wish BF would allow pics wider than 800 pixels, especially if they are remotely hosted. Understand the need for some kind of limit, but IMO folks have enough bandwidth to support larger files and run their monitors in at least HD resolution. YMMV
Click to expand...

Nicely explained, John, and well demonstrated too!

If I too may give an opinion with no offense meant, well, the shots taken with the
knives actually on a chosen background do look good, but those (especially the engraved
bowie composite on the blue cloth) look strange. The knives should be "anchored" to the
background by throwing their shadow upon it. In that picture they seem floating in the air.

You can either use the "shadow option" in Ps, or, for a better and more controlled
natural look, create each shadow on a separate layer filling the "feathered" outline
of the knife with black and controlling its "Opacity %" and choosing its "Multiply" option
to blend in with the background colors...

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
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Mitch: While my particular recipes for editing and display differ, I can't offer much critique. That these are compelling AND different from my work pleases me. Truth is, the Hogstrom Bowie is the only one I'd say isn't my fave.

All the rest have me looking in wonderment and attempting to learn. Just great lighting. The dagger shot is surreal in a great way. MAJOR props.

David: There are some shadows in the engraved Bowies, which have me more interested in how it was accomplished, than trying to correct them. LOL!

John: Editing preferences noted. I like a border too, but that one is still too subtle for me. Better than original.

I agree 100% on the BF resizing to 800 or less. Not only is it smaller in size it takes the same amount of time to load, because it uses the original file. Lose/lose. :(

Completely disagree on the centering. That's me. :D

Mitch: One critique: USE the return key and break up your paragraphs. Forums aren't like a book. Spacing gives us breathing room to read. Block of text = skippable.

Coop
 
Thanks all for the great comments. I have attached a few more of my favorite photos from the up coming Vegas auction.

David: Critique appreciated. I actually did shoot the bowie on the blue frabic. I was playing around, you are right, they should be anchored.

The Lozier dagger, like the bowie just mentioned, also defies gravity. The Strider is my only true composited photo in the batch.

Coop: Thanks for your encouragement.

John: Love to get a peek at some of your work. Post a few if you like.

Hope everyone had a great New Years and wishes for a healthy, happy 2012

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Excellent. This last shot ^^^ had me scrambling to find the Premier Auction site to see who it was: Murad Sayen. Ahhhhhh.

There are some EXEMPLARY knives being offered. I'll be watching results.

I'll expect the lots to sell well. Your work will promise this.

Coop
 
Very nice work.... I love your use of textures and moody lighting. And such incredible subjects.
 
Impressing images, Mitchell, thanks for posting one of my work. You just forgot to mention how nice you are!
 
The shot with the miniature SRJohnson knives...
One shot or composite of many?
If that is one shot... I am floored, speechless and amazed.

If it is a composite, damm well done.
 
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