Leroy

...Darcy's "tutorial" on photographing (great info by the way). I'm having a hard time finding the lights. In his article, he mentiond "narrow spot hallogens." I can find bulbs, but the lamps are another story. I have not found anything satisfactory yet. I was just wondering if anyone here had any suggestions on lighting. Thanks, Leroy

Hello everybody.... I have been trying (and failing) to take better pictures of my swords. What would you all suggest for lighting? Can you make 2 suggestion? For example--- 1) parts I could pick up from a Home Depot 2) More specific items like softboxes and what not. I'm looking for specific types of lights, wattage... I would like to start selling off some of my pieces and need to be able to photograph them to show more details. Thanks in advance eveyone -Leroy

I received mine just the other day. I must say it is awsome! I highly recommend it. I have to admit that I do like the spiral bound more as it is easier to hold and use for studying as Darcy has mentioned. Now I am really looking forward to the rest of the series. You can count me in for 2 of each :D Thanks again Darcy for your effort and hard work in sharing your weath of knowledge. Bob Benson deserves a nod here too! Thanks again, Leroy

I could not decide which I wanted, so I got both :D hehe! -Leroy

Thanks for the link. I just ordered without any issues. Looking forward to this :D -Leroy

Thanks for the advice. But can you explain to me how you used the woolite? Just trying to explore all options. And Simon, thanks for the tips on the slide. I guess that part won't cleaned as soon as the rest

Hi all, I just acquired a tassel for my Army Koshirae, but unfortunatly, it smells like it came from a smolers house. Anyway I can SAFELY remove the smell? Regards, Leroy

Well, I was able to locate some true nihonto here in South Taiwan. If anyone is interested there is a museum here called Chimei Museum. They have a huge collection of sculptures, paintings....and wepons! Wepons from all over the world and from all time periods. They have nice display of nihonto. Unfortunatly it was all chinese and I can't read kanji. But they have 13 blades, most wakizashi in size, a couple katana, all made in Edo period, ranging from about 1620's to 1850's. The blades were not in very good shape so it hard to see any activities. But, I did get my fix, :D They had 3 full sets of armour, too as well as some tsuba. All in all it was a nice collection. I then went to another place. This "shop" for lack of a better word, forges blades of all types. THis is polace that supplied many of the swords for "The Last Samurai" movie. He also made the "Green Destiny" for Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Anyway, He had 6 real Nihonto that he supposedly got while studying in Japan 30+yrs ago. He was kind enough to let me see them, or his wife was anyways. Because of the thick, and I mean THICK coating of grease on the blades, as well as my untrained eye His blades looked like showato. I could not see any nie or activities. Strange. He said he paid about $1000 US for each of them. They all had traditional style fitting fittings, except one that was an NCO sword. Oh well, It was fun. If anyone isinterested I will try to get the English name of the shop (Everything was written in Chinese, hehe) Regards, Leroy

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone on the board has the oppertunity to view, or even purchase nihonto in Taiwan. The National Museum in Taipei may have some, but I'm on the southern end of the island. I know the Japanese colonised Taiwan during the early part of the century. If anyone has any info, can you pass it my way? If I find some myself I'll let you guys know. Cheers, Leroy

I'll be in Taiwan

Hi all. I hope it's ok to post this here and not in the sales/auction portion... Anyway, I was curious about the werstern letters on this. http://cgi.ebay.com/4032-JP-SAMURAI-SWO ... dZViewItem Is this something to be weary of? The reason I ask is that my interest in fittings is growing, a bit to fast ) I was curious to hear what some of the more experienced collectors thinks. Thanks, Leroy

Darcy, Thanks for the kentai. I saw it a bit to late to participate, but like Brian, I would not have been close. Great photo's (As always) and great learning experience. You're efforts are truly appreciated. Anyway, I have a suggestion: Brian, can you archive these kentai's for future newbies, as well as us who are still trying to learn? I would like a quick link so I can comeback to this in the future. Thanks again, Leroy

Hi all. Sorry for replying late. There was good info in this thread. Well, I finally had a chance to upload the rest of the pics I took in Hino. Some are better than others, but hay! I'm still learning. http://public.fotki.com/hiritomi/shinsengumi-1/ -Leroy

Hi all. Question about a Naval Dirk on ebay. Would this be considered "nihonto"? Or in the same catagory as the Mantestu blades? The decription says is was made from the gun of a battleship. It's an interesting peice with probably an interesting history. http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Samurai-Sw ... dZViewItem Cheers! Leroy

I have not done any research in this area yet. I'm just going by what myX-lator told me. But Hijikata Toshizō Yoshitoyo wasa very fierce worrier, from what the guide said. People would get out of his way when he was walking doen the street. Apperantly, he also a great fighter.

Hi all, I'm working inHachioji Japan at the moment. I had a few hours off about a week ago and went to Hino. This is where the real last samurai lived. The guide didn't speek English. My X-later helped a bit though . Anyway, I just wanted to share a couple pics I took of the a house that doubled as a Municaple buliding as well as the Community Heads home. I will put the rest of the images in my gallery later. Here are just a couple. Let me know what you think! Cheers!!! -Leroy

A lot of good advice, George, thank you. Sorry for the very late reply. As you can see from my webpage, I have taken a few shots of soem of my blades. I am looking to take more over head images. Like the ones of the tanto in your gallary 20. Great pics by the way. I have not had a chance to take over head shots with my sigma yet. I will do that when I get back tot he US (in Japan at the moment). I have tried following the advice in the article Brian mentioned. It's very good. I just wasn't sure what type of leneses were good. ANymore advice, I'm all ears. Thanks again, and welcome! -Leroy

Thanks for the replys. I was wondering what members here use for display pieces. Just to many options Regards, Leroy

Hi all. I just bought my first home in No Cal, and want to have a display katana. Now my question for you all is: What do you use for a display katana? Do you use somethng traditional? Or something fake? I would prefer something more traditional, especially the mounts. What are your opinions? Thanks everyone Leroy

Hey everyone. Just wanted to say I'm heading back to Japan next week (if all goes as planned). I was wondering if anyone here knows of any dealers in Hachioji? That's where my customer is this time. I know Shinjuku is about 30 min away (sword museum). But I would like to go to a new place. I'll still hit the other places to. See you soon Ichi! Thanks all, Leroy

Did the listing say when they were made? -Leroy

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k35709694 I was browsing the Yahpp JP auctions (just looking-cannot read nihon-go!) and came across these HUGE menuki. They look like decent quality. can someone explain the purpose of the size, and what they might have been used for (assuming they are true tosogu). Please bare with me...my knowlege of fittings is next to none Thanks a bunch -Lerroy

That Auto Color Correction worked pretty good. I have CS2 and used Adobe Camera Raw to set the WB. "Auto" setting looked like your Smart Fix image (2850). It's a bit to cool. Also, "As Shot" makes it to warm (3700). So I just played around with the temp. I didn't do a good job, I might add Thanks for the tips. I'll keep working on it and post new pics as soon as I can. :D -Leroy

Rich, I agree that they are too warm. I used AWB, and this was not even close to what I was seeing with my eye. I tried playing with the temp in my RAW converter, but I just could not quite get it right (i'm still learning this). I guess I will have to try a custom WB and more lights. Thanks Rich and S.Haugtredet for the C&C. I'll keep working at it. -Leroy

Hi everyone. I uploded some pics I took of 2 of my swords. Can you guys give some feedback on lighting and what not? I appreciate it. http://public.fotki.com/hiritomi/Japanese-swords/ Thanks -Leroy