Tools as Art

Yep. There's just something about the shot. It's such a mundane item, yet the way it is framed,the contrast of the dullness on the gear teeth with the brightness of the bevel on the one tooth, the slightly visible rings circling the shaft of the key, the way the various circles are juxtapositioned, even the dust between the gear teeth. It takes a certain kind of eye to see that something like this deserves to be captured on film (or memory chip). I may never look at a chuck key the same. Of course, most of the time I can't find the damn thing anyway. Please post more. True art is presenting the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

here is a vote to show other cool photos.
Especially close up details.

Yeah, looks great. Keep them coming!

Love it!
One of many unsung heroes in the workshop...
Black

I definitely like it! By all means, keep 'em coming. Could
they eventually become a calendar or something like that?
(Forgive me if a calendar is a "cheesy-stereotype-faux pas" or
anything in the photography world... But I'd definitely buy a
calendar of interesting/thoughtful/artistic "shop shots"!)

There is kind of a raw beauty to tools, the grit in the teeth, the lines from it's tooling. Makes me think of a photography book I looked at years ago now that focused on pictures of different people's hands. From the hardworking, to the broken, to the pristine. There may be something similar that could be accomplished with tools.
I'd be interested in seeing it at the very least.

I like it, the contrast in metal textures had me staring it
for some time before I read the related post. Keep 'em
coming.

Nice image... I like to see more.

Hi Joel
I like it, years ago I started to catalog all my tools, both photographically and by a short text describing its provenance and history. By now I have a huge collections of pictures and a better idea of what I have, some of it in multiple examples hummmm how did that happened :-)

I would love it if you could give us some pointer on photographying tools, techniques, lighting, equipment used etc. In addition I find it very helpful to zoom in on a faint marking and then manipulate the contrast/brigthness, or even reversing (negative) the image to help deciphering the markings.

The macro aspect of picture taking is indeed very useful to me, and im sure we could all benefit from your expertise

Cheers
Bob

Please do! There's so much to appreciate in this image from the artistic standpoint. It would be great to hear more of your comments about aspects of this image such as angle, lighting, field of focus, etc. Some woodworkers who photograph their work for web sites or brochures could benefit from some explanation and tips.

It's a yes. In college I did news photography, dabbled in a little artistic stuff,
but felt a need to pursue my major. Enjoy shots like this.

POST SOME MORE.
Design is presenting something ordinary in an extraordinary way, art is
something else...but pictures first please.

I love it, gimme more! I particularly like the fact that's
it's a striking shot of such a mundane tool. Shots of infill
planes are always gorgeous, but there's beauty in the the
ordinary, as well.

Please post more. My greatest loves (obsessions?) are woodworking, photography, and fine old tools. Your pics would be a joy and an inspiration.

Yes please.
This is the antithesis of the high end hand plane, polished and "casually" placed along side a prepared piece of wood with five shavings carefully staged in the shot.
I would love to see more.

I like it too. Please post more.

Im' with Bob,
more pics please and tips for better lighting etc.

Steve

Great image and hope to see more. Perhaps an "artsy" image accompanying the traditional images of items you have for sale on the website, as well as other items "from the collection."

A couple of points that to my eye might improve this particular image, constructive criticism only intended. First of all, I love the grit in the teeth and the small bits of chips. It appears maybe slightly too cropped. The tip being cropped out is somewhat disturbing to me. Likewise the metal shaving almost in view, seems to draw my interest, but can't quite see, same thing with the "not sure what it is" in the top right.

There is just something about that picture that "gets" me. I'd like to see more - especially if they are as good as the chuck key.

Very nice shot Joel. More. Many. Please.

I'd love to see more. Zoom in some more if you can.

Yes, please show more. All of need to be indulged.

Sorry but it doesn't do much for me. Maybe if cropped in a bit tighter or...

Excellent. Somehow industrial, precise, and yet refined.

More please.

Awesome. Keep it coming.

very nice Joel, I can only imagine the possibilities laying around your place for
photos of this type, we expect more in the near future :)

I guess you have your answer... But just in case, I 'll put mine down for more sweet images!

I'm a photography buff as well, though I don't spend as much time at it as I used to. I like the shot and would love to see more, but I agree with the previous comment that it's cropped too tight. The eye is drawn down to the bottom right corner and then slams into the edge of the picture. Show the tip of the tool and maybe the full metal shaving at the bottom.

Enjoying the shop/industrial photography.

Definitely keep 'em coming! and it is a great idea -- I'm going to try some of that myself.