Brian, once you're happy with your photos I hope you'll try my Image Editing tutorial before you tackle your 7 DVD PS set. It will take you an hour or so rather than months to learn. I think I am going to add an Illustrations tutorial starting with how I do Selections.
Next, I want to thank Juggler for allowing us to look at the progression of his work. I hope some of the folks that are interested in taking photos of their knives are learning something right a long with him. Its a valuable lesson. Im a firm believer that everything is difficult before it is easy. Once you learns what to look for when taking pictures of your knives, its something youll never forget.
Lets see how this evolves.
Top left, was the first pic Juggler showed. Its off color, probably shot with tungsten lights. I cant tell what the actual color of the fabric is, if its yellow its just adding to the off color look. The blade and bolsters have no light reflected into them.
Top right, hes moved to the window and the color looks a lot better. The window is off to the left and he still isnt geting any reflections on blade or bolsters.
Middle photos, in both of these hes getting direct sunlight on the knife, which you can see by the strong shadow. We want diffused lighting not direct. The photo on the right is getting some reflected light on the blade and the front bolster.
Bottom left, hes now got the diffused lighting were looking for. The blade and front bolster are looking good, but hes not getting much on the rear bolster. The background appears to be overlapped sheets of paper, start with a background that's big enough for the subject.
Finally , my shot. The lighting covers the whole knife, no hot spots, or strong shadows. Juggler isnt there yet, but I think we can agree hes getting close.
I said before that theres a difference between looking and seeing. Hes not seeing the reflections...yet.
I say yet because Juggler has been so close to having the
right angle for days. I think once he finally
SEEs what he needs to see hes going to have one of thoe DOH!
moments.