The right tool for the right job

First, a little information:

When I first got one of my father-in-laws personal items many years ago, it took me awhile to figure out just what the heck it was. Surrounded here by other items associated with it, its use is probably a little more clear now.

Patented in 1921, the Kriss Kross stropper is a mechanical device used to hone safety razor blades. The blade is placed in its holder, an automatic pressure is set and as the handle is cranked, the leather disk rotates against the exposed 1/4" of blade. The blade clamp repeatedly lifts itself off the disk, flips over and then places the blade back against the revolving leather disk and continues honing both sides all automatically.

C & C:

The challenge for me was to have just the right degree of DOF. I shot this handheld at f4, 1/40th at iso 800 using my Sigma 35 f1.4 mounted on a 5D3. Does the DOF seem adequate? Do you think I should use more...or less depth of field?

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/66040953@N03/9​704023116/

Very cool keepsake Gene! Love it. My only wish is that the cover of the box wasn't there. More of the brush and the lather bowl? but thats just me, I remember my grampa using his strop and blade.

Interesting comment Flo. I thought the box would help identify the main object of the image. I'll reshoot without it and rearrange the rest of the items and see how that looks.

For now, here is another shot taken at a slightly different angle and processed a bit differently as well. The DOF is moved deeper leaving the handle knob a bit more out of focus but the razor more in focus.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/66040953@N03/9​701220049/

Gene:

Consider a lower perspective. At this angle I feel like I'm looking too straight down at it.

With the lower angle, find something to prop up the box with so that we can see the writing inside. In the current setup, there's not enough of the lather bowl to know what it is. Either bring it into the composition or remove it all together.

Then, get out the tripod and shoot with the longest exposure you can stand to get more of the items in focus with a greater DOF. Because of the oddity of the Kris-Kross, I'd really want to be able to read the box.

Thanks for sharing your gifts.

^ Good stuff. I meant the red box cover Gene, not the instructional one.

cpam.pix wrote in post #16279236
Gene:

Consider a lower perspective. At this angle I feel like I'm looking too straight down at it.

With the lower angle, find something to prop up the box with so that we can see the writing inside. In the current setup, there's not enough of the lather bowl to know what it is. Either bring it into the composition or remove it all together.

Then, get out the tripod and shoot with the longest exposure you can stand to get more of the items in focus with a greater DOF. Because of the oddity of the Kris-Kross, I'd really want to be able to read the box.

Thanks for sharing your gifts.

Thanks for the comments. I always appreciate your input. After looking at the two images above, I agree that the lower angle is better. My original thought regarding the DOF was to surround the main object of the image, the stropper, with shaving items but to keep them out of focus so they didn't detract. These were also shot using natural light hence the shallower DOF. You can see the source of light is the window reflected in the brush handle.

Flo wrote in post #16279257
^ Good stuff. I meant the red box cover Gene, not the instructional one.

Too late. Here's a shot without the box. The soap in the wooden bowl is Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Soap. Right now, I use the small bowl in the background to whip up my shaving lather. Tomorrow, I will receive a scuttle* so I"ll include it in a future photograph.

*A scuttle is a double layered bowl where hot water is placed between the layers. This keeps the soap warm as it's being lathered and applied to the face...just like being at a barber shop.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/66040953@N03/9​705037626/

I like the last one Gene. Composition & DOF look good to me. I never dreamed such a tool existed, with blades being disposable.

Gene last one rocks it out!

Qbx wrote in post #16279700
I like the last one Gene. Composition & DOF look good to me. I never dreamed such a tool existed, with blades being disposable.

Thanks. I had never seen or heard of one of these devices before either and thought the mechanics on it was really neat. I'm sure that back when this came out, blades were more expensive and the average working man had to save wherever he could.

Flo wrote in post #16279969
Gene last one rocks it out!

Thanks. I'll have to see if I can shoot a video of how this thing works too.

For anyone that uses a safety razor to shave with, I highly recommend also using a good badger brush and real shaving soap rather than the stuff from a can. It's a good way to pamper oneself. Once I get my scuttle, I'll take a couple more photos to show how that looks too.

navydoc wrote in post #16280248
Thanks. I had never seen or heard of one of these devices before either and thought the mechanics on it was really neat. I'm sure that back when this came out, blades were more expensive and the average working man had to save wherever he could.

Thanks. I'll have to see if I can shoot a video of how this thing works too.

For anyone that uses a safety razor to shave with, I highly recommend also using a good badger brush and real shaving soap rather than the stuff from a can. It's a good way to pamper oneself. Once I get my scuttle, I'll take a couple more photos to show how that looks too.

We will need a selfie mister:p

The latest edit/composition/angle​/DOF nails it.

The only other change you could consider (and highly optional) would be to put the blade leaning against the silver base of the Kris Kross. For those of us who have tried to pick up blades like this off a flat surface, we know we wouldn't want to put the blade like that.

+1 on the selfie!

NIce work, especially that last one. Colors, light, everything looks very good.

As to the subject, proof that we have become a more wasteful society I think. The stropping unit I have is in a lot rougher condition but still works. It's not in current use - I use an electric and a Gillette Fusion.....go figure.

last one is nice, but not 100% convinced you need the back 2 objects I would clone them out and take another look side by side...

cpam.pix wrote in post #16280421
The latest edit/composition/angle​/DOF nails it.

The only other change you could consider (and highly optional) would be to put the blade leaning against the silver base of the Kris Kross. For those of us who have tried to pick up blades like this off a flat surface, we know we wouldn't want to put the blade like that.

+1 on the selfie!

Thanks. I was going to put the towel under the razor and the blade but it threw off my DOF too much. All I did in this case is slide the blade over to the edge of the counter top and then pick it up.

Titus213 wrote in post #16280621
NIce work, especially that last one. Colors, light, everything looks very good.

As to the subject, proof that we have become a more wasteful society I think. The stropping unit I have is in a lot rougher condition but still works. It's not in current use - I use an electric and a Gillette Fusion.....go figure.

Thanks. I think progress doesn't always mean a change for the better. Something new I've learned about this amazing contraption. Not only does it flip the blade over repeatedly while its honing, there is a small lever that is pressed that sets the downward pressure of the blade against the strop when the honing first begins. As the crank is turned, the pressure gradually lessens until the lever returns back to the top position and the honing is complete.

stanclark wrote in post #16280713
last one is nice, but not 100% convinced you need the back 2 objects I would clone them out and take another look side by side...

Thanks. The two objects in the back are the stand that holds the razor and brush and the bowl I use to lather the soap in for now. I thought they were part of the 'story' so I just kept them there to help fill in the frame. Rather than cloning, wouldn't it be simpler for me to just pick up the two items, move them and then reshoot?

Like the story and really like the last image. I have an old pocket watch and holder I think I shall try a similar shot with.

As for shaving, I have many items from Taylor's and have previously used the Sandalwood Soap (now use Crabtree and Evelyn Sandalwood). I have a real badger hair brush which is frowned upon but does whip a good lather. Hold on ......... am I talking about Gentlemen's Grooming ... stop it. This is a photography forum !!!!