Spyderco Forums

I have been trying to take some photo's of my Spydie's to post on my website.



I just I'm not happy with how they are turning out.



I have seen others post some preaty nice looking photo's of there knives.



Do you have any tips for me on how to take good photo's of my knives?



I'm using a 1.3 meg olympus digital camera.



Thanks,



John
Spydie.com

At first you should tell what you want to achive.

Then I can advise a bit more. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
Does the original look the way you like? If not, the picture won't work...
Try to take pictures as close as you can, then you alway have enough quality in spare for zoomings and also you concentrate on what you want to show.

Also I would suggest to use a tripod and no flash, except for additional light, the flash might produce effects you don't want to have.

Flashlighst in cameras are to near to the lense to avoid useless refelections most times.

Background for the knife is also important. Use a background that supports the knife. If don't want this, take a clear, simple one.
You can use two lights, doesn't matter what light temperature these have, you can correct web pics easily.

If you have a specific question you can mail me a picture ifyou want. I worked for our newspaper some time, perhaps I see what is missing.

I have found that light is the most important thing.I have had best results useing natual daylight.

I learn something new everyday,even though I don't want to. Jeff

Don't use direct lighting, the blade will catch it and toss it back at you. Glare results. The best way is to use natural light, or subdued indirect lighting. Turn your flash off, as that will do more ahrm than good.

A gray/blue felt background is hlepful, as it is totally non-reflective.

Never underestimate the impossible.

What I would like to achive are clear crisp photo's without unwanted reflections or shadows.

I know from taking other photo's with my digital camera that the outside ones always look better then any that were taken inside.

The problem with taking them outside this time of year is it's very cold out.
-14 F. today <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

I have tried to take them inside next to a window to use the outside light, but the sun is low in the sky this time of year and I still have a problem with shadows.

You can see from these photo's I took what I mean about the shadows.

http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/spydie/navreview.html

<a href="http://www.angelfire.com/sd2/spydie/nav ... photo's</a>

If I could some how hold the knife up and away from any back ground maybe that would take care for getting the shadow's in the photo's.




John
Spydie.com

They still look good.I dont know how much they are but you could get a photo light,you know the umbrella thing with a light in it.

I learn something new everyday,even though I don't want to. Jeff

Photoshop might be able to help you some. But...it can cost quite a bit :-

Here's what I was able to do for them.

Here's the last one. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Here's a link to a tutorial on photographing knives. Maybe it will help some.

David

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... did=220345

When I peeked into one of the makeshift offices at the 2002 Blade show, I saw an interesting photograph setup:
A small white tent, with bright lights shining on it from the outside. The knife would be placed inside and then photographed.

Knife Knut on a shoestring budget. RKBA

Take a look at www.clouddome.com for a reasonable setup that works. I saw my friend "Whiskers" Allen demonstrate this at the Las Vegas Custom Classic Knife Show last month and was very impressed. So much so I bought one for its simplicity, ease of use and consistent acceptable results.

If you do buy from CloudDome, tell Cindy that I or Whiskers referred you and she will include a 54.00 12" ring and free shipping on the 360.00 setup.

Lighting is what it is all about and it is very difficult to photo a polished blade with out some hotspot or refelection. With CloudDome you can!

John Jensen, 619-475-3633, www.johnfjensen.com

i dont think, that you need some special equipment, or camera, etc..,its game with camera, lights and your hands only, i think <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>)))


Simona V. :::: joyful girl from the Prague, Czech ::: WebSite : www.myspyderco.tk OR My Spyderco Forum at www.spydercoknifeforum.tk

Thanks for the tips and the links.
Clouddome looks like it would work great, but its out of my price range <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

I got some new idea's to try now thanks to all your post.

Thanks!

John<br>Spydie.com

Edited by - spydie.com on 2/2/2003 8:22:06 AM

Send some to me and I'll try to adjust them. Maybe we'll get something <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Most of the times I don't have enough light to shoot from my hands, so I place the camera on a tripod and use the 2 sec. self-timer. Works great, even in dimmed light.
The key is too get indirect light.

(Canon S330 - 2mp)

Ted

I have the same problem with taking winter pictures, where the extreme cold just makes outdoor work impossible. Here's what I do during the wintertime.

I empty a single shelf from a tall bookshelf in my office. The bookshelf is one of those cheapo particle board things, with the peg inserts for raising and lowering shelves. The key here is that the shelf is white. I take my digital camera and set it to macro mode (short focal length). While taking a picture, I shine a rechargeable floodlight (powerful dear jacker) upward in the shelf cubicle, so that the light is not directed at the knife. It works beautifully.

Hi Buzzbait,

Great close up photo!
Thats what I'm want to be able to do.
Very clear and sharp. What kind of camera are you using?

Thanks for the tip


John
Spydie.com

Thanks for the compliment. I used an Olympus D-510 2.1 megapixel camera. The actual camera doesn’t matter that much though, as long as it is capable of a short focal length. I just threw out a 3 year old Fuji, with an even shorter focal length, that actual took better close-up shots. Too bad it finally died. I loved that camera.

John, I made a tent out of tissue paper, to photograph this Allen knife... Love his work! It ain't the best photo, but I'm beginning to get the idea! :-)

Edited by - Windwalker on 2/3/2003 3:43:39 PM

Edited by - Windwalker on 2/3/2003 3:44:57 PM