pen #100 - Curly Jarrah Jr. Statesman

[Joe Aliperti]

I just finished my 100th pen!

Worthy of the occasion is a nicely figured piece of curly jarrah from Australia. CA finish.

Thanks for looking!

- Joe

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/curly_jarrah_jr_statesman.JPG

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/curly_jarrah_jr_statesman2.JPG

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/curly_jarrah_jr_statesman3.JPG

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/pens/curly_jarrah_jr_statesman4.JPG

[Jon Lanier]

The figure in that wood is amazing. You did that Statesman proud!

[John Keeton]

Beautiful pen, and gorgeous wood!! Joe, your photography is fantastic - so crisp and full of detail. I wish I could take pics like that, but I think my lighting situation is not correct. What do you use for your tent?

[Baxter Smith]

Great pens and as John said, great pictures.

[David E Keller]

Simply beautiful

[bob svoboda]

Very nice pen from some excellent wood.

[Joe Aliperti]

Thanks for the nice comments.


Beautiful pen, and gorgeous wood!! Joe, your photography is fantastic - so crisp and full of detail. I wish I could take pics like that, but I think my lighting situation is not correct. What do you use for your tent?

John,

Thank you, I do use a tent, but my secret is I don't use the tent lights anymore! I bring the object to the front of the tent, and the only lighting is the overhead fluorescent bulbs in my basement.

Here's a shot of my setup, but like I said, I don't use the halogen tent lights:

http://www.silverlakewoodworks.com/images/tent/lightbox.JPG


This requires a tripod and a 6 - 8 second exposure at f20 on my 100mm/f2.8 macro lens. I utilize a 2-second delay and mirror lock-up feature to minimize camera shake.

When I try using the tent lights, the lighting is way too diffuse/flat, and I don't have the proper lights to do a mix of diffuse and direct lighting as of yet.

For post-processing, I crop the image tight around the object using a 4x6 aspect ratio. Then I usually turn up the contrast a bit to bring out the details better and make the background whiter. I resize to 800 pixels for the web, and I'm done.

[John Keeton]

Joe, thanks a bunch!!! I will try this on my next setup for pics. Great info!!

I have been blacking out the shop, and using a similar setup as in your photo, but most of my stuff has a high gloss finish and I have difficulty with the glare, and getting a lot of detail. I think the timed exposure is the key. Not sure my el-cheapo camera will do all of that, but I will see!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Another beautiful pen Joe! Sure is some amazing wood!

[Jeff Belany]

Beautiful Pen!! I wish I had held on to a few of my early pens -- first, 100th, etc. Never thought about it at the time. Been making pens for quite awhile (1996-97 I think?) and in the early years I made quite a few (for me). Since the pen turning hobby/business has grown I don't sell as many anymore but still enjoy doing a few now and then. Did one of the laser cut piano pens last week and gave it to my sister. Came out pretty nice. Don't want to admit how long I had the blank getting up anough nerve to turn it. But, it all worked out, just took it real slow.

Again, nice work.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin