01/L6 Twist Ziricote Hunter

[Lamey]

Trying to figure out how to get good pics of damascus, whole different ball game then pics of carbon steel knives.  So far the only pic I got that was even close to showing the pattern is from my cell phone!!  Seems my regular camera has an aversion to good damascus pics.

So if anyone has photo tricks for showing the pattern in damascus please feel free to help out!

Here is the one from my cell phone.  Steel is 01/L6 with a fairly "lazy" twist.  Handle is Ziricote.  Thanks for looking!

 

[D.Ellis]

Looks very nice. How many layers in the billet before you twisted it? It looks like a fairly tight twist to me.......but I am no expert.
 
Darcy  

[Lamey]

howdy, 160 layer, twist was about 6 per inch, varying a bit on each end of the billet.  Here are a few more pics, still with cell camera, damn regular camer just not capturing.  

Even with these cell pics it makes the steel look "washed" out, in person the pattern is much more crisp and "shimmery".

 

 

[BowHuntingFool]

Nice one brother, I'm waiting on pics of another knife you're workin on! LOL!        

[BowHuntingFool]

Have you tried the macro setting on your camera, I get some great pics with this setting on my camera!

[Lamey]

yeah i tried the macro and several other settings on my "good" camera, just doenst seem to work on damascus... not sure why.  Cell phone pics for now!

[Lamey]

oh yeah,  i also learned on "twist" damascus that once you have the billet forged, it actually shows the "twist" better if you grind more then forge to shape.  This one was forged to shape, and I lost alot of the pattern.  Hindsight.

[BowHuntingFool]

My guess then its all in the way you have it lit, have you tried it in daylight or full sunlight, I think the latter would be worse, a cloudy or slightly overcast day might be better.

[Lamey]

yep tried different ambient lighting, but I dont have a light box, thats next!

[Lin Rhea]

I think the pattern looks good. It all a matter of taste. You did a good job on it.

[Lamey]

thanks Lin, appreciate it. Going to start making alot more damascus, have to change a few things in the shop to make it effeciently though.

[amar911]

I'm with Lin on this one (and most of the rest of the time too).

Allan

[Montauks]

Nice Knife Lamey! I think your damascus pattern does look good but if you want to "detail" it more a light box would help as you can move the lights were you like, I would also suggest a "non" pattern background. If your so inclined I happen to have a light box with lights I wouldn't mind trying to take a few pics of your knife, it would only cost you the shipping to me...thats it! I'll ship it back to you as a "thank you" for all the info I've learned from you and others. My reputation here is good, the last dealings I had on TG were with "Mudd" I bought a "Big 5" from him, so feel free to check with him concerning me.

Gene

[D.Ellis]

I never used to like damascus because all the pics I had seen of it looked flat and boring. That was before I saw it in "the flesh". It is tough to show that shimmer that you get.......almost like the depth in a nice piece of curly maple......a still pic does not do it justice. It shows the pattern but not the chatoyance(may have spelled that wrong).
Try a video clip with the blade moving to show it off better.
Thanks for the info on the twist and layer count.
Again very nice blade.
Darcy  

[Ray Hammond]

Nice pattern.  

If you want to pick up chatoyance and really snap Damascus you gotta use a light box

 

Taken with an iPhone in a LB made of a t shirt and coat hangers bent into a frame

[manitou1]

Would somebody please describe a light box and how to use it.  I struggle with getting good pictures of my knives too.
Thanks,
Rick

[Lamey]

yeah i gotta make a light box!!!  this knife is headed to its new owner, so no more pic experiments. Going to make some Bowie/Chopper sized billets and will figure this photo issue out!! thanks for all the help.

[Montauks]

It's basically a white box with the front open so you can move your item around with lights positioned to the side and or topThere's plenty of info out there regarding DIYs

[Bladepeek]

I'm still using a Roy Rogers pin hole camera so I can't help you with the photography.

Just wanted to say I love that damascus steel combo. I bought a bar of Kevin Cashen's 01/L6 years ago. The resulting knife held an edge like a miser would hold a gold coin. Nice contrast too.

[Ray Hammond]

Now that's descriptive- "held an edge like a miser holds a gold coin" !!! I bet it did too!

Interesting pattern sir!! Just a little different