Taking pictures of my knives

phil4422 · Mar 20, 2009

Greetings, this is my first thread of many I am sure. I have been looking at some of the great knives on this site and was wondering is there a trick to taking good photos?
The photos I take of my knives don't seem to do them justice.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Phil.

Shawn B. · Mar 20, 2009

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=576654&highlight=taking+good+photos

This may help you out a little, and by the way welcome to Bladeforums.com

rookie4real · Mar 20, 2009

Good lighting and composition is the key. Try to build a lightbox.

babakanoosh45 · Mar 20, 2009

I am no expert and my photos are fair at best. I just use a digital camera (Sony). Lighting and angle are the hardest things for me. The background should enhance the primary object not overcome it. With knives I find sometimes I need photograph in sections if I really want some detail. Can't think of anything else. Some of these other fellas will chime in with some real tech for ya... Have fun, that's what counts!!!

PhilL · Mar 20, 2009

There's several good photography tutorials to help you take better pics of your knives.

I've done a couple of tutorials, one is still a Sticky in Gallery it's title "image Editing Tutorial"
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=455896

At the start of the tutorial there's a link to "How I Photograph Knives" it's a Bare-Minimum approach to knife photography, it's also exactly how I photograph knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452121

Confederate · Mar 20, 2009

I've got a few tips.

Don't use an electronic flash
Set your own white balance indoors
Don't shoot under a full sun (shoot in shadows)
Use fast shutter speeds indoors
Fill the frame
Overexpose the photo by 1 click
For outstanding shots, use a tripod

I don't feel the need to use a tripod. I just clear a place on the sink, set the white balance. If there's plenty of light, set your camera for f/8. Most modern cameras don't require close-up settings unless you're shooting a small part of the knife for detail.

Many people shoot black knives that turn into silhouettes. If you slightly overexpose your pictures, the details will be easier to see. Expose too much and a stainless white blade will overexpose.

Finally, shoot into the blade, not into the handle. For distortion free shots, shoot directly overhead straight down. Most people, however, like to accentuate the blades.

This photo was taken with the auto white balance feature on. As
you can see, it has a pink-orange tint. Not a good photo. If you're
stuck with this type of photo, reduce the color saturation.

Here the white balance is set manually. Just point the camera at
the background (if it's white) and push the accept button.

riffraff · Mar 20, 2009

Move the flash off-camera. Better yet, use two strobes. Use a lightbox or umbrella to soften the shadows. Use a small aperture for greatest depth of field. Use a tripod and switch to manual focus for close-ups. Practice, practice, practice.

Shot with a home-made "photo-box" and a single off-camera strobe and fill reflector:

phil4422 · Mar 21, 2009

Thanks for your help, I will be trying some of the suggestions you made.
Phil

lava_lamp · Mar 22, 2009

Easiest thing you can do to improve your pictures with the equipment you already have is to go outside. Look for a place that is well lit, but without direct sunlight.

phil4422 said:
Greetings, this is my first thread of many I am sure. I have been looking at some of the great knives on this site and was wondering is there a trick to taking good photos?
The photos I take of my knives don't seem to do them justice.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Phil.

tdrussell · Mar 22, 2009

Indeed, there is really no substitute for natural light. You don't really realize it until your camera's histogram tells you so, but it is markedly easier to get good shots outside. My other simple piece of advice would be to pick a background that contrasts with all pieces of the knife. If you must shoot with a flash, i strongly recommend setting your flash exposure as low as it will go, if your camera allows such an adjustment.

al3xd4gr34t · Mar 22, 2009

If you don't have the option of going outside for pictures for some reason, you can set up a small studio in your own home for smaller pictures. I have one of these on my desk.

Knife photo

Studio

I am using a Canon Powershot G5 with flash off and macro setting on, and a generic brand table top tripod.

As you can see, it's nothing more than a piece of large butcher paper. The rubix cube keeps the paper from sliding around, and for a backing, I just used a glass that I was drinking from. When I use my table lamp, I try to keep it as far away from the subject as possible to shoften up the shadows.

bradpierson26 · Mar 22, 2009

you can make a light box for under $75. and u need a good camera. one hobby often leads to another if you catch my drift

jill jackson · Mar 22, 2009

I took this one in the early morning light

jill jackson · Mar 22, 2009

This is in the evening sun behind me and digital macro setting.

Haakon · Mar 22, 2009

bradpierson26 said:
you can make a light box for under $75. and u need a good camera. one hobby often leads to another if you catch my drift

You can buy one for $75 that includes lights and a short tripod.
http://www.adorama.com/VRPSIAB.html

I used it for these shots:

Natural light is best, but since it rains 2 out of 3 days out here shooting outdoors isn't usually an option.

johnu2 · Mar 23, 2009

I used to be really into photographing my knives. Used to spend an insanely long time getting a single photo to look perfect. I used an old 3.2MP point & shoot for about half of these shots and the rest were taken with a more recent P&S Canon. I think lighting is the most important thing. Remember to use the Macro mode

johnu2 · Mar 23, 2009

Rat Finkenstein · Mar 23, 2009

al3xd4gr34t said:
If you don't have the option of going outside for pictures for some reason, you can set up a small studio in your own home for smaller pictures. I have one of these on my desk.

Knife photo

you also must adjust for white balance or fix it later. Cameras usually have settings to adjust for incandescent lighting. You can use Daylight fluorescent bulbs to eliminate color casts when using a light box. I also never use the flash on the camera, and since I don't have any other flash, I use a tripod and longer exposure.

nozh2002 · Mar 23, 2009

Most you should understand - camera is not major issue but lights.

First - to control reflection in the blade - edge. It is like mirror and show whatever reflected in it - and it should be something white lightened screen or filter. al3xd4gr34t provides excellent demonstration of this.

Second - usual mistake, I see in many even in some professional knife photographer pictures. Side of the knife need to be lighten. Handle is rectangular and so if light source is up sides of the handle will be dark. Sides need to be lighted - it is like 40% of handle picture and special light need to be provided.

Thanks, Vassili

P.S. I use three flashes - more then enough.

Here some examples:

You may see that front of the knife is lighted not dark and this is IMHO looks way better then when it dark - as on many pictures of knives.

Here I found same knife with dark side and with lighted side:

You may see difference for yourself.

HikingMano · Mar 23, 2009

I'm a big fan of natural light too. I have yet to set up a proper light box at home, but I agree with others here in that lighting is the most important thing. :thumbup:

Didn't get to adjust levels on these, since I lost Photoshop along with my old computer :grumpy:, but they still turned out ok raw.