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  #1  
Old 10-05-2002, 12:53 PM
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mrsjoan mrsjoan is offline
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Lighting

Ok, here goes from the most uncreative, single focused, unartistic soul on the face of the earth.

I want to TRY to take some knife pictures for John. I always get glare and reflections. People say use a tent. People say build a "light box". People say go to a south window and put a sheet over it.

Is there a simpleton place I can go and find out how to do all of this? Or can some of you guys tell me about tents and boxes and south windows (will southeast do)? I have a Nikon Coolpix 995. My Sony Mavica is out on loan.

I like small words and lots of patience.

Thanks
Joan


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  #2  
Old 10-05-2002, 02:38 PM
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Mike Hull Mike Hull is offline
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I made a 40"X50" rectangle out of 1/2" PVC pipe. Over that I stretched white ripstop nylon, I just stapled it together at one end. Attached some jack chain using an eye screw, about 3' of light jack chain. using this on my dining room table, at a 45 degree angle(the jack chain is tied to a hanging lamp), I shine two, 500watt photo floods through the back, about one foot above the bottom.
I am using a 35mm SLR film camera, but it should work for you.
Just check with the local camera shop, or someone here, for the proper color floods for your camera.
Hope this helps a little.


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Old 10-05-2002, 04:25 PM
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SharpByCoop SharpByCoop is offline
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Re: Lighting

Quote:
Originally posted by mrsjoan
I want to TRY to take some knife pictures for John.
Who's John???

Quote:
Is there a simpleton place I can go and find out how to do all of this? Or can some of you guys tell me about tents and boxes and south windows (will southeast do)? I have a Nikon Coolpix 995. My Sony Mavica is out on loan.

I like small words and lots of patience.

Thanks
Joan
Well, you've started out wonderful. That Sony is all the camera you need.


Here's a link to a search of 'light boxes': Click me for light box info What Mike explained and more is covered in there. In our 'tutorial section' (look at the buttons on the top of the page) there is a specific on how to build a light box. I use a posterboard three sided foldup unit that I shine a couple of quartz lamps into with a semi-clear flourescent overhead light diffuser laying on top. The posterboard I picked up at a stationary outlet, and the diffuser you can get at Home Depot or Loews. The dual quartz lights as well. Total cost--about $60.

I have a number of shots posted in our Photography contest forum done with this setup.

Your easiest choice? Go outside on an overcast day and take your shots. Make sure your blades only have a white reflection. It takes positioning and sometimes extra props (White paper or sheets, but the results are well worth it.

Let us know if any of this is clear!

Coop


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Old 10-05-2002, 07:57 PM
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mrsjoan mrsjoan is offline
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Thanks guys for the suggestions. I will use them to see which one work best for me. I have no "eye" for this but thought I would give it a try.

By the way, John is www.poythresscustomknives.com

mrsjoan


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Old 10-06-2002, 10:46 AM
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Terrill Hoffman Terrill Hoffman is offline
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Unhappy

Now Joan, you spent a whole weekend at the show and didn't even come by once! I had the tent all set up for you.
Try a NORTH light.
Just playing.
I'll give you a call at the end of the week.


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  #6  
Old 10-06-2002, 03:20 PM
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mrsjoan mrsjoan is offline
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Here is my 105th attempt just using south light filtered through a white sheet. Small town Georgia has no place to find "stuff" to make a light box. But Savannah will next weekend. I will try again then.

Thanks for all the advice everyone gave me. I know I will be in excellent hands when the best knife photographer on 2 continents calls me the end of this week. (I know you are best Terrill, just look at John's website.)

I hope the link below works so ya'll can see what your advice rendered.

mrsjoan
http://www.poythresscustomknives.com...s/Pearl285.jpg


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Old 10-06-2002, 05:29 PM
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Mike Hull Mike Hull is offline
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Pretty good photo. That is an excellent knife also.

Edited to add; A number of years ago, I was talking to a professional photographer, he said that taking good photos of knives, was harder than doing the same with gemstones.
^^Just so you don't get discouraged.


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Last edited by Mike Hull; 10-06-2002 at 05:35 PM.
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  #8  
Old 10-29-2002, 11:19 AM
murrphy murrphy is offline
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Joan--do a search for the topic "Light Tent". Scroll thru the messages and you will find my response with images (just updated them again as Yahoo seems to kill the links after awhile) and there is info about how to build the tent.

Just attended the CKG show in Mississauga this past weekend and there is a full write up about the show on BF>custom with lots of images done with the Nikon 995 and this exact lighting setup.

I'm including an image of an art folder which is direct from camera but reduced in size in editing software and then again by Yahoo.



more images can also be seen by pointing to

http://photos.yahoo.com/murr_eh

then go to knife collection and knife shows and to CKG Oct 2002
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