Photographing Knives

Fire Horse

Fire Horse

Joined
Mar 8, 2001
Messages
614
I using a digital camera with the built in flash. This method causes hot spots on the knives. What cheap table top lighting setup can I use to take better pictures? Window lighting is out of the question. What are you using?

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Ed Woo
 
First turn the flash off if you can. If not put black electical tape over it and FORCE the camera to choose a good exposure setting by placing the knife on a neutral or dark background.

Do not use any lights if you can help it. Take the pic outdoors with good sunlight but take the actual picture in the shade. I use a large white benfang foam board to block out the sunlight. Either use black or white foam boards to act as light diffusers. If you use any other color or any other color is present in the pic you will notice the color on the blade.

Play with the angle you are taking the picture to get better results on the blade. A movement of only a few degrees may mean the difference in a good or great shot.

I normally take at least five pictures from various angles and then choose the best one.

If you have Adobe PhotoShop or similar program you will be able to do wonderful things
smile.gif


Those are the basics and I am sure more tips are coming your way.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber

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Almost all digital cameras perform better with natural lighting. Try going outside in low angle morning light. Place the knife so glare is reduced and the blade upright to catch the low angle sunlight. stand a bit to the side so as not to cast your shadow across the subject and click away. Lots of warm highlights.

Opps! my Photographer side is slipping out...

Hope this helps.

Seth
 
What Mike said. I had to take mine outside and let my shadow fall over them while I took photos. Alot of digital cameras won't take a picture if the flash is blocked, they have a sensing mechanism, I think. So try covering the flash, but it might not work.
 
I use a digital as well. Not sure about the flash being covered, mine is removable. But I use heavy lighting outside of a light tent.

A light tent is nothing more than a thin white sheet set up like a tent over your subject. Shine your lights onto the outside of the sheet. The sheet will defuse the lighting and help reduce hotspots. Just make a hole in the material big enough for the lense to fit through.

Best of luck.

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R.W.Clark

Proud Member : California Knifemakers Association
 
You can't turn off the built-in flash? (I can even do THAT with my POS Sony Mavica FD-75!.
biggrin.gif
.).

If you can't turn-off your flash, try taping a small piece of wax-paper over it. However, taking your shots outside (when the Sun isn't too bright, like as in cloud-cover), will yield the best results.

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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
What we want here is nondirectional, diffused light.

If you don't want to invest in an elaborate setup, then use what nature gives you. You get nondirectional, diffused light for free outside between about 10am and 2pm on an overcast day.


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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
In commercial studios most knives are photographed under a light tent. This is a white fabric setup that completely surrounds the product and provides a hole for the lens to view the product. This produces diffuse lighting. Even a single flashgun will provide pretty good results with a tent. You can make one from an old sheet. Good shooting.



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Fred
Knife Outlet
http://www.knifeoutlet.com
 
I use natural light. Usually, it is early evening when the sun has hit a certian point on the horizon. I will use a cloudy day when I can get one.

Here is an example:
vorpal03a.jpg


Here is a link to the high resolution original:
http://www.doggettcustomknives.com/images/vorpal03.jpg

My camera is a Nikon CoolPix 990.

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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
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Flashes don't bother beadblasted knives being that the finish is not very reflective. The pic below was taken in a poorly lit room with the flash on high.
View


I still prefer sunlight for really good pics. The 'Hawk pics below were taken in direct blazing sunlight.
View

View



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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
 
I do almost all of my photos outside. Sunny days are good in the shade, and overcast days are good anywhere. Sometimes staying in the shade can cause the photo to turn out a bit dark, however photodeluxe or photoshop and fix that. Also, when you learn how to use the software, you can use it to adjust just specific parts of the knife, alter backgrounds and all sorts of stuff. It gets to be addictive after a while
smile.gif


Using a digital also has the advantage of being able to shoot as many pics as you want until you get what you want without the expense of film and developing.


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Richard Todd - Digital knife photography
icq 61363141
My WebSite
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OK, I admit it, I cheat! I have my whole studio to use. But most of the advice posted here is great. I use a box I made which acts similar to a light tent. I just bounce my lights into it.
View


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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography photopoint
My Services
 
Thanks for your inputs. They were very helpful. I guess I need to sell my condo & get a house with a private yard.

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Ed Woo
 
Wow, everyone here has some really awesome pictures, I especially like the one of the fixed blade on the suit coat. When getting pictures developed, is it good to have them put on a CD? It sounds good to me, especially for putting on the internet.

Thanks.

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Cameron

"And shepards we shall be, for thee my Lord for thee, power hath descended forth from thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out thy command, so we shall flow a river forth to thee, and teeming with souls shall it ever be, En Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti"
A few of my balisongs
My ClubPhoto albums
 
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