Thread: Photographing blades

Maybe the wrong section and probably covered before (but I couldn't find it!)

How do people here photograph their blades?

I either get nasty reflections or fuzz.

Hoping to get some close ups of a razor I just picked up for peoples opinions.

When photographing a reflective object, you don't get a picture of the object, but a picture of what it reflects. Make sure you're bouncing the reflection of a white surface from the blade to your camera lens.
A lot of people use light-boxes. A Google search for "homemade lightbox" should give you all the info you need to build one for less than a couple of dollars.
For a little more freedom either be creative about what/how you reflect light off the blade (you could for instance set up a still-life for a SOTD and use a white wall in your house for reflection) or you can cheat like I do and get a large white reflector to position exactly as needed to bounce the white light into the camera lens.

you can use a light box, or outdoors with over cast.
You do not want direct light source such as a light bulb/sun on the blade

A good article in the wiki right here:
Lightbox Instructional - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I second the light box idea. You want good strong light but not direct. There are some objects that are really difficult to photograph and require some planning and experience.

Thanks guys, will give it a go on the weekend.

I've read a professional book for forensic investigation and they recommend to make the photo of blades (knives, swords and RAZORS) in water.
Take cuvette.
Put the white colored fabric.
Put the blade in the cuvette.
Make photo
.....
Profit! 8-)