MOP/Pearl photography

[QTCut5]

Thought I'd reawaken this thread and revisit the issue of capturing the fire in pearl handled knives in photographs. Seems to be a general consensus that even if the fire is obvious to see when holding a knife in hand, it's not necessarily easy to get the fire to show up as well (or at all) in photos. Some folks have figured out how to get pearl fire to show up very nicely in their photos, I'm not necessarily one of them. However, in my experience, light and angle are the keys to capturing pearl fire in pictures.

Here are some photos I took of my Lone Wolf Paul Executive with Black Lip Pearl handle. There definitely is some nice fire in the smoky pearl, but it only shows up in the photos when the light and angle are just right.

[Mumbleypeg]

Q, you did a good job capturing the fiery highlights in that one. All around beautiful knife!

Since most of my pile is older cutlery it’s interesting to see how pearl retains its color even after decades. Here’s a few I have. Unfortunately I haven’t yet mastered the photography technique to get the best color to show- I’m usually dissatisfied with the results. Not sure if it counts but I threw in a modern Case/Bose abalone too - I think it’s similar to pearl in many ways, especially the real stuff. The others are over, or pushing around 100 years old.

Ken

[Dinadan]

Here are some photos I took of my Lone Wolf Paul Executive with Black Lip Pearl handle. There definitely is some nice fire in the smoky pearl, but it only shows up in the photos when the light and angle are just right.

Nice to see this thread come back to life after six years, Q. You really captured the fire in that Lone Wolf! I have not done much photography with MOP lately, I guess it is time to try again.

Since most of my pile is older cutlery it’s interesting to see how pearl retains its color even after decades.
Ken

That is a good point, Ken. Very nice photos of those old knives: the Brantford looks extra fiery. I do not have any abalone, but I can imagine that it is difficult to photograph.

[woodwalker]

Here is a Robeson barlow that I managed to get a fairly good photo of.

[stockman]

Ken I like your Wichita knife. I’ve had a couple. Hard to find here in Kansas. Harold

[chickenman62]

Taylor Eyewitness and an AG Russel.

[Mumbleypeg]

Ken I like your Wichita knife. I’ve had a couple. Hard to find here in Kansas. Harold

Thank you Harold. I think they are hard to find anywhere. By my best estimate it's somewhere around 125 years old.

Woodwalker and chickenman.

Ken

[woodwalker]

Ken I like your Wichita knife. I’ve had a couple. Hard to find here in Kansas. Harold

Thank you Harold. I think they are hard to find anywhere. By my best estimate it's somewhere around 125 years old.

Woodwalker and chickenman.

Ken

Thank you Ken!

[Fingers]

Rough Ryder Cub lockback

[1967redrider]

Lots of great shots capturing the fire and ice in those sweet pearl scales.

[chickenman62]

A couple more. Joseph Rogers pen knife and a Fighting Rooster muskrat. It is hard to capture the colors, gotta keep trying.

[QTCut5]

Mahalo Ken & Mel

More experimental shots of black pearl on a customized Case 107W

[doglegg]

Mahalo Ken & Mel

More experimental shots of black pearl on a customized Case 107W

I almost lost an eye on that one Q . Both of them actually. They just about popped out!

[knifeaddict1965]

Great Pearls being posted here. You have really been stepping up your photography game lately, Q! Great job bringing out the vibrant colors in those Black Pearls. Here are a couple backup Wharncliffe Wed. entries I was saving for when I run out of Wharnnies to post in 8-10 years.

[Dinadan]

Here is a Robeson barlow that I managed to get a fairly good photo of.

There is some really nice fire in that MOP, Woodwalker.

A couple more. Joseph Rogers pen knife and a Fighting Rooster muskrat. It is hard to capture the colors, gotta keep trying.

Great photos. Capturing the structure and the color is tricky, and when I do accomplish that, then I notice that I forgot to dust, or wipe the prints off the bolsters.

More experimental shots of black pearl on a customized Case 107W

Looking good, Q. I think shot number three really shows the beauty of that MOP.

Here are a couple backup Wharncliffe Wed. entries I was saving for when I run out of Wharnnies to post in 8-10 years.

Just how many Wharncliffes do Q and you own? Nice photo!

______________________________________________________

Okay, here is my first attempt to get back into the game. Not too successful, I need to work on the lighting and try again.

Platts' Sons

[knifeaddict1965]

Here are a couple backup Wharncliffe Wed. entries I was saving for when I run out of Wharnnies to post in 8-10 years.

Just how many Wharncliffes do Q and you own? Nice photo!

Thanks Mel! Uhhh, lets just say I have X-1 (X=the amount I need) as I always need just one more.
In all honesty, my Hawaiian connection is probably responsible for half of my Wharnnies, yet he still keeps rolling them out. I don't expect either of us will run out of WW ammo any time in the foreseeable future.

[woodwalker]

Here is a Robeson barlow that I managed to get a fairly good photo of.

There is some really nice fire in that MOP, Woodwalker.

A couple more. Joseph Rogers pen knife and a Fighting Rooster muskrat. It is hard to capture the colors, gotta keep trying.

Great photos. Capturing the structure and the color is tricky, and when I do accomplish that, then I notice that I forgot to dust, or wipe the prints off the bolsters.

More experimental shots of black pearl on a customized Case 107W

Looking good, Q. I think shot number three really shows the beauty of that MOP.

Here are a couple backup Wharncliffe Wed. entries I was saving for when I run out of Wharnnies to post in 8-10 years.

Just how many Wharncliffes do Q and you own? Nice photo!
Thanks Mel! Yout shot looks great!!
______________________________________________________

Okay, here is my first attempt to get back into the game. Not too successful, I need to work on the lighting and try again.
Platts12.jpg

[chickenman62]

I finally got some color. Maybe the black pearls bring it out better and I used natural sunlight outside.

[Dinadan]

I finally got some color. Maybe the black pearls bring it out better and I used natural sunlight outside.

Very nicely photographed A G Russell. I do not know if black pearl photographs easier than others, but you certainly captured the color in that knife.

Here is a little Queen, also black MOP. I did get unwanted reflections on the bolsters, after being careful to not get them on the blade!

Queen

Queen

I used late afternoon natural light, but not direct sunlight.

[QTCut5]

More experiments with light: direct vs indirect sunlight on black pearl and abalone.

[Clark23]

Here's a few of my best.