Photo practice

cloudy · Post by **cloudy** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:30 pm

I have been practicing my photo "skills". How about some constructive criticizum.

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:56 pm

Well you asked for comments so here goes. Positive things first. Clear on the knives, you can see detail. That is great!

Negative, change background color. Any dark color is usually BAD. Use lighter colors. Fabric, wood, paper, but stay lighter.

Typically us knife nuts like to see the blades and/or the tang stamp. Just a thought.

Adding something small to the photo for interest can be good too, but be careful on this. the question needed to be asked is the photo to be for a collections review and education or is the photo to be a work of art. The two are different.

Just my thoughts, hope this helps. PLEASE keep up the great work. You are doing very well.

Please post more.

cloudy · Post by **cloudy** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:18 pm

Here are some shots of the blades but I was still using the same background.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:22 pm

i agree with pa on all he said. additionally, you are blocking your knives too closely, cutting off the tips of your blades. you'd do better cropping excess background with a photo program. kepp it up!

cloudy · Post by **cloudy** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:44 pm

I shot this one with a lighter background and more shots of the tang stamps, but I still see the cameras reflection in the blades.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:47 pm

a lightbox can eliminate unwanted reflections and distribute the light more evenly on you subject.

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:05 pm

Hey cloudy that is a great looking Case Zipper, thanks for sharing...

Sunburst

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:08 pm

just to help you I would try a trypod.

I see your not useing one.

I think your photos are just fine now.

needbucks · Post by **needbucks** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:13 am

Hi Cloudy.

Great knives and great pics too.

Only thing I can mention is that a couple of them seem slightly out of focus. Were you using the macro setting of the camera? As to the reflections, outside of building a light box, they are hard to get rid of. I personally don't mind seeing a reflection in the bolster. It really helps me gauge how "minty" it is. Reflections are the blades a a bit different but still give a good idea as to condition.

Keep on posting.

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:16 am

Do not worry about reflection in the bolsters. Clean clear blades and handles are far more important. Yes use a tri pod, yes use a light box. Use a piece of gummy materail "like used for hanging pictures" to get the knife to stay in the correct position. I like to tilt the knife while watching screen until I get just the right light. Keep trying, your doing far better than the first 1000 tries I did. Thanks to Mark Z at KW for teaching me. I still have a lot to learn but doing much better.

thebuzzardsloft · Post by **thebuzzardsloft** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:02 am

Okay, Let me ask the question?

How do you go about building a light box, and once I have it built how do I use it.

Getting the right light for color and without refection always seems to be a struggle for me. More miss than hit!

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:33 am

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... t=lightbox

here's one i made. very simple. have a new one now made of styrofoam.
there is a great article on knife photography and lightboxes in KNIFE WORLD - dec., 2006. back issues might be available. i think there other post with examples.

singin46 · Post by **singin46** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:12 am

Fine examples there Cloudy, I can see myself in the pearl Whittler, in fact,
I see you giving me that knife and letting me keep it.

Just kidding.

Singin46

thebuzzardsloft · Post by **thebuzzardsloft** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:11 pm

Thanks for the forum link to the light box thread. I should be able to pull something together to make that happen.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:19 pm

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:27 pm

singin46 wrote:Fine examples there Cloudy, I can see myself in the pearl Whittler, in fact,
I see you giving me that knife and letting me keep it.
Just kidding.

Singin46

Now that's one of the best lines I've heard lately. That cracked me up.

Thanks for the laugh Perry.

singin46 · Post by **singin46** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:16 pm

Thanks Hukk, its hard to know whats funny anymore at 46.

Hey Cloudy, actually if you're tryin to take a pic of the tang stampings I think you've done an excellent job.

maybe even superb.

Singin46

redferd · Post by **redferd** » Tue May 22, 2007 6:27 pm

This is what I came up with for photos. I used 2 small flourescent lights and tissue wrapping paper. The lights sit on two old speaker boxes on a typewriter table. I am going to add a Reveal light bulb in a flex arm lamp. The camera is an old HP digital on a good tripod.

That's a Buck Quest that is worn but sharp.