knife photographs - fact or fiction?

[RyanW]

Just to try to answer the black background (Can be any solid black item... Paper, cardboard, Garbage bag) all you need to do is make sure when you are looking through the lens that you are seeing the Black reflecting through the Blade finish. So When the flash fires (Straight ahead) it bounces off the blade up onto the black background then back down onto the blade. If you see the black covering the entire blade reflection and your flash is pointed at the blade you should be able to adjust based on results to get the exposure you like.

On a side note, I own a photography company. In the past I got to travel the world taking photos, only problem was they were all underwater or falling from an airplane . So I have some adjustments to make where it relates to knives.

BTW Erik Your knives are looking great, and your photos are great as well. I like the 3rd one down, I like to underexpose to show more texture!

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Thanks for the explanation, Ryan. I didn't get it until now. One day I will send you my knives to photograph!

 

[logem]

sometimes I just hate the internet, it can make life complicated

so you make an enclosure of black bags, or just a semi wall of them?

Cardboard box with top edges and back cut out, leaving corners as a "Frame". then tape on white trash bag plastic to "mute" shart light and shadows.

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

I don't like the look of the flash straight on look , this is I did using one off camera flash , in a make shift box made from white posterboard. I did use a grey card to set the white balance. The light was fired pointing to the top of the box so the light was bounced and diffused.

Control the way , the amount and the color of the light that falls on the object and you will see your images improve a great bit , you are off to a fine start !