Taking pictures of knives...

Crayola

Crayola

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
3,831
How do you guys take such great pictures of knives!!!! I tried taking some pics with a digital camera, and I tried scanning a knife with poor results. PLEASE HELP!!!
 
I am not all that great at taking knife pics, but I do try to experiment alot with it. Im not sure what specific problem you are having, but here are a few general things I have figured out. I probably wouldnt have figured them out all that quick, but a few people here have givin me good advice, so I am mainly just passing it on.

On knives with shiney blades, dont let the camera flash directly at it. Without special lighting equipment, I have found the best way is to shoot the knife at a fairly extreme angle. Here is a shot of a satin finish blade. Only had about a minute to set it up, but I used a tooth pick to keep the knife resting at about a 45 degree lean. I kept the camera at an angle, and tried to keep the flash aimed above the knife, so it would not hit directly on the blade, which would cause it to look veryu dark in the picture. Again, this was no access to special lighting equip.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=110070&a=805643&p=18059230

Bead blasted knives seem much easier to do. I still try to not let the flash hit dead on, but you still dont have to be to picky about it. Here is another quick shot of a knife. The wood I had it on was more reflective than I though, and im not good enough with the software to fix it.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=110070&a=805643&p=18101046

Here are some of my other knife pics, not great, but I am learning, as are you. Hopefully this can give you a few ideas and even help a little
smile.gif

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=805643

You also might ask James Mattis, he does great scans.

Also, as I said, people here have given me a few tips and hints on what to work on, so im sure you will get plenty of good advice. Keep practicing. Trying to get better is half the fun
smile.gif


Richard
 
My camera is an Olympus D340R digital camera.

Richard
 
Lets see if this works. I scan all my knives with a HP 4100c scanner and use Adobe Photo Deluxe to enhance if needed then store on a iomega zip disc.The scanner cost a little more but is still cheaper than a digital camera.

View

Take Care
TJ
The background is the reverse side of some fabric samples.Upholstery i think

[This message has been edited by TJ Smith (edited 04-08-2000).]
 
Thankyou very much for the great info! This has been very helpful. I think I'll try messing around with my scanner again for a while tonight and see what I can come up with...

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"Come What May..."
 
Hey TJ
Is that foil behind your scan - or an enhanced background - or both???



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Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
http://www.col.ca/rridley
 
I get lots of compliments on this picture! I am not a good photographer, just a lucky one. Lucky that I get one like this out of 100 shots
smile.gif

cr1tant.jpg

The knives are sitting on a plastic pool chair that is on top of a white plastic patio table. Light is reflecting off the table and up through the background. Overhead I have a cotton sheet filtering most of the light, draped over the corner of our pool cabana! I have been told that the secret of photographing steel or knives is filtered light. NO direct light should be used at all. The leaves are a wild vine (weed) growing on our privacy fence.
My camera is good proof that you don't need an expensive set up for good pictures! It's a 25 year old, fully manual Pentax with a cross polarizing filer. I use 100 speed print film and have them scanned to disk by our local camera shop for $12 per role including single prints. My next major investment is a 42" gold tone light reflector. I borrowed one and it gave my pictures that sunset light look to them, very cool!
Neil
EDIT: OOPS I thought that was the pic with two knives! Anyway, if anyone would like to see a higher resolution pic that is similar to this one, please Email me!!

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Blackwood Knives
Talonite knives in stock!!
http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Meeting/5520/index.html

[This message has been edited by Dr.Lathe (edited 04-08-2000).]
 
Like Dr. Lathe, I also use a manual Pentax to take pictures; I use Fuji Reala film (100 ASA). Lessons I've learned--do not put the knife under incandescent light, because the steel will look gold; do not put it under fluorescent light, because it will look green. Try indirect natural light.
 
the MOST IMPORTANT THING about taking knife pictures is not the camera, the backdrop, the props...but THE LIGHTING...I have a bunch of friends who are pros, including two guys who own a photo lab...and YOU HAVE TO USE A TENT!!!!! that is some sort of structurer to diffuse the light...under my house I have a very simple set up with three cheapo floodlamps with blue photo floodlights in them...aimed at a big rectangular frame with drafting vellum stapled across it.....and a nice piece of marble on the stand, with the frame set at a 45 degree angle....the really pro way is to make a tent shaped like a four sided teepee with a hole in the top for the camera, and four lights around the sides... friend in la who takes pics -fitzgerald, has a strobe and hits it until his light meter comes up to what he wants...but we are starting to get technical now.....diffused light is what you need....Bud Lang takes his tent with him where ever he goes....part of his equipment. When I got a website and got serious about it I went out and bought a sony mav 91..about $900/ not cheap..but I could have spent a LOT more...but had to update my site regularly...
talontnt.jpg


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http://www.mayoknives.com


[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by tom mayo (edited 04-11-2000).]
 
Lighting is definitely the most important part of the photography. I have a setup that I use.

StPt.jpg


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Gene Osborn
Center Cross Metal Works
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword...
Hewbrews 4:12

[This message has been edited by CenterCross (edited 04-10-2000).]
 
I still think that Knifemakers are the greatest people in the world. So much sharing. I wish it existed in other professions. You should all give yourselves a pat on the back. You have all been so free with your advice. THANKS.

Marcel

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Ok guys, you're going to make me start making knives to earn a living if all of you start doing your on photographs.
Just kidding,
smile.gif

But the best I can add is that the advice you have been getting is good. If you don't have the proper lighting, work with sunlight. Just remember that you don't want the light bouncing back to the lens of the camera. Before you switch to digital from film remember, you can always scan a print but if you want to output a print from digital cameras you need big bucks for the top of the line printer. If you come up with any problems, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do for you.
Remember guys, I'm a photographer that is also a knife collector. Polite way of saying I work for blades.
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Since no one else said it, sweet knife Gene! I like the pattern on the bolster.

Regards,
Glenn
 
double post

[This message has been edited by BladeMan (edited 04-12-2000).]
 
i try to explain this in english as good as i can... you can easy make you own little knife studio... you need a stiff black sheeth, paper or anything will work, make a hole in the middle as big as your objective of the camera... place the knife under this black sheet... the black stuff is for the shiny thing, especially for mirror polished knives, the black dont reflect the light at least not as much as white walls or something do... now the lightning, you need 2 light sources and two white umbrellas... 2 500 watt lights work fine... i made this little illustration... the indirect produces a diffused light which is important.. also a polarisation filter would be very very useful for shiny blade... well i hope this helps someone somehow... experiment around a bit.

picture.gif


Ray
 
I'm fortunate to have Terrill (or "Terry" as this month's Tactical Knives calls him!
biggrin.gif
)live about 5 minutes from me. Here are some pics that he took of a few of my knives:
http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/Carson_M4_Buckeye.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/Etzler_folder.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/RJ_Martin_Q30.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/Denning_hunter.jpg
http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/Polkowski_Ruvo.jpg


These are just the proofs. The final prints should be even better. They really turned out great.

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
Thanks Glenn.
smile.gif
That was a fluke. I put the bolsters in the etching solution and my wife called me in for lunch. I forgot them for about 45 minutes.


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Gene Osborn
Center Cross Metal Works
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword...
Hewbrews 4:12
 
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