Taking/Submitting Knife Photos
- This topic has 16 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 05/20/2017 at 6:32 am by
.
-
I was hoping some of our forum members who submit their photos of inspiring sharp knives, the result of using our “Wicked Edge Precision Knife Sharpeners” could share with me and the rest of us, how you take these impressive photos. I’m referring to those bright, beautifully focused, reflective bevel shots! I can put a decent polished edge on my knives but haven’t figured out how to photograph them, yet. Any help and tips are appreciated.
Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)1 user thanked author for this post.
Josh of Razor Edge really has this down to a science it seems.
1 user thanked author for this post.
You can subscribe yourself to #wickededge on twitter. Clay often posts links there to photographs of knives sharpened with the Wicked Edge on Instagram and Facebook. Some time ago I also posted copies of those photographs here on this forum, but there was little interest and it did cost me some time, so I stopped it.
I’ve made a lot of photographs for my blog with Japanese knife reviews (https://japaneseknifereviews.wordpress.com/). Quite often I use a lightbox with lights from both sides (for as even lighting as possible) but on good days I also use daylight.
Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Hi guys, I do a lot of photography but haven’t actually photographed a knife yet, but the principles for most objects are the same.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I’d use a lightbox with at least one off camera flash, probably two. I realise that isn’t for everyone so you can buy a cheap lightbox off ebay and shine a lamp through one side. A lightbox is basically a white tent and gives you nice even, bright lighting.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>another option is to shine a lamp through thin paper like baking paper to try and even out the lighting a bit.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>another option is natural lighting, just go to a bright room in your house, photograph the knife near the window. A good zoom won’t hurt and a cheap tripod, even a very small one is good and just a few dollars, although a lot of point and shoot cameras these days have a decent macro function.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>One drama is that some knives are just so damn pretty and shiney, so flash photography can be tricky, just remember that if the flash is bouncing off the blade badly or the lamp light or whatever, change the angle of the knife or the angle you are photographing from.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I plan on doing my first knife pics soon when I have a decent mirror edge to show off. If you like any of my photos feel free to ask me how I did them. Note my some photo on here was a quick mobile phone shot. Zero lighting concern/effort at that time, so ignore that one haha.</p>I can’t figure out how to get that bright mirror reflection shot off the bevel of one of my chef knives. I don’t know how to place the knife relative to the newsprint or picture being using to give the reflection or how to position the knife where I can focus on the reflection. Is it a close-up or macro shot? I under stand good lighting is essential. Are there any videos out there for “Sharpened Knife Photos 1.0”? Nicko, your post does help me. You did provide some answers to my questions and helped to point me in the right direction. Thanks.
you’re welcome. If you have a point and shoot camera i’d be starting with macro shots, turn off any inbuilt flash, it will be overpowering and from the wrong angle so it would be hard not to get it reflecting badly off the knife.
A lot of cameras these days will let you choose the area or areas you wish to focus on (usually red dots, boxes or green boxes), grab the manual and learn how to select a focus point that is the right part of the frame where the knife edge is, that’s probably half the battle, hope that makes sense.
1 user thanked author for this post.
This is explains the autofocus points etc.
https://www.thespruce.com/what-are-autofocus-points-on-a-camera-2688052
1 user thanked author for this post.
What a light box does is illuminate your subject from three sides eliminating any shadows and then you add the object you want reflected in your bevel (Playing card, news print or other colorful object). Here are two examples of light boxes (See Below). One is a custom made ‘”Box” and the other is a commercial light cube/tent. Both work equally well with the correct light bulbs. If you want to hold the blade at a specific angle I use green (Or any odd color) “Play Dough” and then clone your photo over the the green in post production. The Knife will appear to float in space, have little or no shadow and your bevel reflection will be clean and bright. Watch this video if you want to see a example (Click here). Creativity is the key.
Eddie Kinlen
M1rror Edge Sharpening Service, LLC
+1(682)777-16224 users thanked author for this post.
What a light box does is illuminate your subject from three sides eliminating any shadows and then you add the object you want reflected in your bevel (Playing card, news print or other colorful object). Here are two examples of light boxes (See Below). One is a custom made ‘”Box” and the other is a commercial light cube/tent. Both work equally well with the correct light bulbs. If you want to hold the blade at a specific angle I use green (Or any odd color) “Play Dough” and then clone your photo over the the green in post production. The Knife will appear to float in space, have little or no shadow and your bevel reflection will be clean and bright. Watch this video if you want to see a example (Click here). Creativity is the key.
Great post!
1 user thanked author for this post.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.