What do you think of this image?

Jon Brand

Jon Brand

Joined
May 28, 2007
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I've been playing with this one for a long time. I think it came out ok, but not perfect. Do you think the uneven light reflections in the handle really screw it up? Also I know the blade has a blue hugh. I had trouble balancing that with out changing the background.

hancock-wedge-hunter-web.jpg


This is Coops. I re-did it because I wanted to show the difference of the steel on the back side. Its not a bad image but I don't think its his best since it was a quick set up at Josh's Hammer-in. No insult to you Coop, you know I love you and your work. Just being critical and I think we'd both agree its not your 100% best. Its a bit older.

Coop do you think I would benefit from having this one professionally redone? I'm really not fully happy with my version either. Maybe I need to get them all redone as a set.

thtdh.jpg
 
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I think your image is really good.

I think Coop's image is really good.

There is no problem, they are just different ways of presenting a subject.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven, its definitely in the eye of the beholder. I think both images are good too.. but always want the extra push.
 
I think your image is fine, other than the odd blue tinge that you mentioned. And like you, I would also want an image that shows both sides because that is a bit unusual and . . . nice. Anyway, you know I love that knife.

When you lay the knife down next to both images under good light, which image looks closer to the way the knife really looks?
 
Jon,
Instead of laying the knife completely flat try putting something like a q-tip under the handle and propping the knife up at a slight angle, this should get rid of some of your uneven light reflections.
 
Jon, that looks great! I like the lighting break on the handle. It clearly shows the gloss of the finish. (Apple product advertising has a distinct lighting line across the face of their products. Heck, look at my avatar for another example!)

I would shoot that knife differently if I had it now. A little change in lighting, definitely NOT letting that sheath dominate, and how could I allow the tip edge to not have lighting.

You are correct. That was then.

I am glad you are so interested in knife photography. :thumbup:

Coop
 
These images were actually taken three years ago or so. I finally did some editing on them in the last few days.

Chuck I would do my best to prop them up a tiny bit these days... But I haven't had good luck with my shooting recently. I think I need to ignite the flame and start practicing again. I haven't used great cameras but I do have access to a few I could borrow with in the family.

I almost always encounter the problem of steel being different shades from eachother in different insets. Notice the backside is less blue and a bit more accurate. I haven't been shown the right way to do this- or to white balance for that matter.
 
A very nice upper scale Hunter.
I like different aspects of each image. You got talent Jon.
 
Don, its funny you say that.

It does need a darker background. When I shot it I was just trying to get a few straight snapshots of the knife for my site from different angles. Never intended to merge them into a montage. These images are NOT meant to be artistic either but instead to catalog the knife... I guess.

SO anyway there is no background. This is just the table that I laid the knife on to get quick photos with what I considered decent lighting. I don't own any backgrounds. I do all my photos on random tables. :)

Kevin IMO your being modest by saying 'A very nice upper scale Hunter'., you are the original owner of this knife so you deserve the pride of ownership points. Are those things? I merely take your leftovers. You know personally that this knife isn't just a nice up scale hunter, but it has soul. I enjoy buying knives from you.

What am I talking about.... I didn't sleep last night (for the record).
 
BTW this is kind of a makeshift half assed image that was not well planned out. I wasn't looking for praise when I posted it, I was just genuinely curious if it worked for you guys and for my website ultimately. I think its good for what it is.
 
Nice photo Jon. Do you use a light box? How do you control glare? yours look evenly illuminated.

I played around making one based on a thread here called $75 Light box, or something like that. I bought small pieces of fabric at Hobby Lobby and wallpaper for background. Unfortunately, I never get a chance to use it or practice so my photos still look crappy.
 
Hello Jon,

I am enjoying watching your collection grow over the years...

As for the picture, it is good but would look much better if
you got rid of the blueish tint on the steel.... See attached....

It would look even better if you matched the pattern in the
wood when combining the halves of both pictures....

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

hancock-wedge-hunter-web.jpg
 
Hello!

I am posting with Jon's permission to show some tinkering with the image. All the images posted so far are very nice and I really enjoy the discussion! Thanks guys!

Here's what I decided to toy with:

Since Jon allready combined two images, I dared to use a screen copy to show what easy tweaks can be done in post-processing, especially since the image was allready used for a composite.

This is a 5 minute job on my 2009 home netbook with crappy screen, so colours and overall lightness will most probably be off. This is even more true since I don't know what the knife looks in person. When it comes to display on the net, I have found that much depends on the host you use to display as well as in the the colour profiles; this is why I still prefer print, because what you see in a print is what you get, and every time so (this is not how to world works these days though... ;) ).

original.jpg


I quickly redid the cutout from the screen copy, took away the blueish tint and faded some of the reflections Jon was talking about in this original post, allthough I would leave them in since they add contrast to the image. Personally I am not avert to stronger renditions and greater contrast, but that is a very personal choice and can vary from image to image.
The next thing I did was slap in a generic background and a basic as can be shadow. I did not do the montage thing, because I just wanted to give an initial idea. Pro images you see are typically as carefully post-processed as photographed in the first place. Not at all to alter certain aspects of the knife and take away blemishes, but to make it as close and faithful to the original as possible.

Overall, this was the most basic editing that could be done in slightly under 5 minutes (I took the time on my stopwatch). Much more and more precisely can be done. Especially if the knife is shot for post-production finishing in the first place (like plain background, suitable direction etc). It can be taken even further with a pretty contrastless and as evenly lit as possible image.

Looking forward to playing with the original file. Thanks, Jon!

All the best,
Alex
 
Jon Brand said:
Kevin IMO your being modest by saying 'A very nice upper scale Hunter'., you are the original owner of this knife so you deserve the pride of ownership points. Are those things? I merely take your leftovers. You know personally that this knife isn't just a nice up scale hunter, but it has soul. I enjoy buying knives from you.
What am I talking about.... I didn't sleep last night (for the record).
Click to expand...

Jon, I know just what you are talking about. This is one of my favorites of the Hancock "Fancy Hunter" series.
I enjoy finding and/or commissioning what I consider very special knives. I like to keep and enjoy them over the years and then share them with other collectors/friends to enjoy. So I wouldn't consider them leftovers ;) but just another way of the many ways, I get enjoyment out of custom knives. It's been a pleasure passing pieces along to you over the years. Our tastes run very similar.
 
Hey guys. I slept last night finally!

David, I am not sure how I missed that this morning. I'm on my computer now so I caught it. That looks very cool! I wish I had better original images for you to work with :) Yeah the backgrounds are not aligned at all, that WOULD make it much better. It looks worse then I thought now that I look again.

Alex, I absolutely love that! The handle looks a bit dark and too orange on this screen so thats the only thing thats a bit off, however I love the way you shaded the handle texture and sort of gave it a gradient. I am amazed that you made the image look so professional in such a short time, and using what you have.

Kevin, I know what you mean. I don't have the means to commission as many pieces so this works for me.

The problem with a solid ivory handle like this is that there is a little chipping around most of the edges that are against the guard. This area of the knife would not survive a Caleb detail shot.. although the work Tim did is all perfect. Ivory will be ivory unfortunately.
 
Jon Brand said:
Hey guys. I slept last night finally!

David, I am not sure how I missed that this morning. I'm on my computer now so I caught it. That looks very cool! I wish I had better original images for you to work with :) Yeah the backgrounds are not aligned at all, that WOULD make it much better. It looks worse then I thought now that I look again.
Click to expand...

Jon,

Your images are great for me to work with if I decide to do a Hancock page in my next book.
All you have to do is use the highest resolution setting on the camera - I shall gladly do the rest.
My new book, volume III in "The World of Art Knives" series goes to print in 10 days.
It will probably be my best book ever.

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)
 
Funny, I just sent you a PM about knife pics and here is a perfect example how different a the same knife can look in 2 different pictures. I like both images, yea coop as reached the stars now but still a nice pic of an awesome knife. Its amazing the illusion of color change in the ivory, the earlier pic looks like older somewhat aged ivory and your pic look like fresh center cut. The question is, what color is it actually in person? Great knife, great pics. Love that ivory and sculpting on the bolster and guard. You mentioned "chips", was that from during the build? A real beauty non the less.
 
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