Knife Photography

[Dinadan]

I am continually fascinated by the challenges of photographing translucent materials like MOP. Here is another effort. I really need to increase my stock of MOP knives for photography purposes, maybe add some abalone.

[philco]

Mel you did a nice job capturing some of the fire in that pearl, not an easy thing to do.

[Sasquach]

Great pic Mel!

I've been trying to catch that fire in MOP knives too, here are some of my attempts.

[Sasquach]

Here's a shot of an abalone (paua) that turned out pretty good.

[terryl308]

Great pic Mel!

I've been trying to catch that fire in MOP knives too, here are some of my attempts.

Sasquach, I think you have it figured out! Nice job, knives can be a challenge to say the least and capturing the mop likewise. Terry

[Dinadan]

Thanks for the kind words, fellows. Charlie, those are some good photos. I find it quite difficult getting the light just right to illuminate the pearl and also leave the remainder of the knife visible; you have done a good job with that.

[Sasquach]

Thanks Mel.

Your last shot is a dandy!!!

My problem is none of my shots look as good as the knife does in your hand. I plan to try some different lighting ideas I have and see what happens when I have time to play with it. I have a high intensity LED light that can be focused and the intensity can be increased or decreased. I haven't tried using it for photography yet so I don't know what I can do with it. I plan to find out though!

[Sasquach]

Great pic Mel!

I've been trying to catch that fire in MOP knives too, here are some of my attempts.

Sasquach, I think you have it figured out! Nice job, knives can be a challenge to say the least and capturing the mop likewise. Terry

Thanks Terry. As you can see in my post to Mel......I'm still figurin'. I want to be able to get shots of MOP and abalone that look as good as the knife does when viewed in person. I've come close a couple of times but reproducing the same effect in the next shoot has eluded me. For instance, I came really close to what I'm looking for in the shot of the Case MOP canoe while the shot of the Hen & Rooster does the knife little justice. I need to perfect my method and be able to reproduce it at will, then I'll be happy.

This Tidioute has handle scales that are made by covering a thin layer of abalone with clear yellow acrylic. When you look at it in your hand it is stunningly beautiful. However, as you can see in the pic below, I have failed thus far to catch that beauty and fire in my photo of it.

[Dinadan]

Thanks Mel.
My problem is none of my shots look as good as the knife does in your hand. I plan to try some different lighting ideas I have and see what happens when I have time to play with it. I have a high intensity LED light that can be focused and the intensity can be increased or decreased. I haven't tried using it for photography yet so I don't know what I can do with it. I plan to find out though!

I seem to have my best success with natural light. Sometimes it is hard getting the sun where I want it though ... I have a pair of mirrors that I can use to redirect the light. I agree that getting a photo that looks as good as the knife is not easy. What I like is a photo of an old used knife that makes it look more desireable than a shiny new knife.

[Sasquach]

Well here ya go, Mel. This one is very old (James Boden Sheffield Eng. 1841 - 1876) and much used......but I'm not going to claim that my photo does it any justice. I took this photo a while back and I'm going to have to shoot this knife again when I get a chance, I'm not satisfied with this shot.

[Ivoryman]

Sasquach, love the spread there, especially that MOP Buck, the Abalone Case and the Tidioute. Great collection.
Dinadan, love that knife.
H&R Coffin Jack in the bottom of the wheelbarrow

[bighomer]

Great fotos fellers, greater knives imho.

[Sasquach]

Thanks Bighomer!

That's a fine looking jackknife ya got there Ivoryman!

Is that one of their offerings from Toledo, Spain? H&R does some fine looking stag. Here's a fixed blade with stag slab scales from their Toledo operation. The photos turned out pretty good.

[TripleF]

Amazing how well you've gotten Charlie! Knice work!!

[Sasquach]

Thanks Scott.

Every time I get the camera out I try not to make any of my previous mistakes twice. I figure sooner or later I've got to run out of mistakes.

[TripleF]

Thanks Scott.

Every time I get the camera out I try not to make any of my previous mistakes twice. I figure sooner or later I've got to run out of mistakes.

Nothing personal......but it'll definitely be later Charlie. ROFL At least that's been my claim to fame!!

[Sasquach]

Thanks Scott.

Every time I get the camera out I try not to make any of my previous mistakes twice. I figure sooner or later I've got to run out of mistakes.

Nothing personal......but it'll definitely be later Charlie. ROFL At least that's been my claim to fame!!

I would ask how many mistakes can I possibly make? But after thinking about it......I already know the answer......and it's embarrassing!

I'll keep tryin' though.

[Rookie]

You guys have some impressive photos of MOB knives. In my opinion, capturing the depth of pearl is one of the hardest parts of knife photography. No 2 are the same or react the same way under same conditions.

[Ivoryman]

Thanks Squach, the base of the blade just off the tang says SPAIN, but the glare makes it invisible in the pic. Traded a stag Fight'n Rooster for it.

[Sasquach]

Ivoryman, as I understand it H&R manufactures their blades in Germany then finishes the knives in Spain. I don't know when they started doing it that way but the few H&R products I have with the Toledo, Spain stamp are pretty high quality knives.

I got the camera out last night and did a little experimenting. Seems LED lighting has some potential. I just need to figure out how to get the benefits without the glare. The pic below is the best of the batch I shot but as you can see, I wasn't able to completely avoid the glare of the intense but diffuse light. It did bring out the fire in the abalone beneath the acrylic on this GEC Tidioute.

[Ivoryman]

I only have two, one tang says Germany, one says Spain.
Great job on the Tidioute. It looks like opal now, very cool, don't see many handles that look like opal.

[Sasquach]

Now that you mention it, it does resemble opal. Looking at the abalone through about 1/8" of clear yellow acrylic gives it that effect I guess. But at least you can see some of the "in hand" beauty in that photo, more than you could in the first pic I posted of it.

[Ivoryman]

Moss Green 92 Talon in burgandy

[Sasquach]

Nice shot Ivoryman, very colorful!

One of my all time favorite patterns...

[bighomer]

Absolutely gorgeous photos of absolutely beautiful knives fellers,keep up the good work.