Photgraphy Question regarding Ivory Kris

Spunjer · 27th July 2007, 08:25 PM

there seems to be a flurry of moro weapons thread lately, and although this is about a moro kris, this is more in the realm of the unexplained.
it has been a habit of mine taking pictures of every weapon i own. i reckon it's a good insurance, and when i do sell or trade it in the future, in essence, i still have a part of it. although my collection changes every so often, every weapon that i've owned, at the least, i have a record of it.
when i acquired this kris, it wasn't anything spectacular, only that it was originally owned by a certain charlie woodruff, who, according to his decendant, spent some time in the southern part of the philippines during the philippine american war.
as i've mentioned, there's nothing spectacular about it: a straight blade with nicks here and there denoting it has seen some action. the pommel is your typical ivory, although what's odd is the wrapping, which is rattan. you would think a more expensive wrapping would be used. it does have some talismanic symbols on the blade, but unlike what we've seen here lately where it's vague and up for guesswork and late night conversations. no, the symbols are straight up bad juju stuff, solomon rings, etc, etc, and some faded kawi or jawi writings, however you wanna call it. whoever originally owned this meant serious business.
now here's where the unexplained part comes in. please bear with me on this cause it sounds crazy. for the life of me, i can't get a clear picture of it. i've taken countless pics (rechargeable batteries are my new best friends) and i just can't get a decent clear picture of the sword. yes, the camera is on a tripod and the subject is laid flat on the floor. i've taken pictures of another sundang prior to this, and also a panabas after and they both came out fine, clear as could be. when i took the pictures, it was taken all at the same day. there has to be a scientific explanation to this as i'm a pretty logical person. i think it could be the exposure, or even the reflection from the blade that is doing this. these pictures are actually the best ones that came out; on some of them it was just a blob. but anyhow, hopefully, some of our members that delve on photography can explain this; meanwhile enjoy the 'blurry' pictures. btw, are there anyone here that can read kawi? is wilked (dan) still in sulu? are you still here, dan? not sure if ths is sama or tausug.
here are the pictures:

katana · 27th July 2007, 09:52 PM

Logical possibillities .....the 'firmware' (the operating programme of the digital camera) could be 'corrupted' which could cause intermediate problems or conceivably certain items/subjects (because of colouring, lighting conditions etc etc) may result in poor pictures. If the 'part ' of the firmware corrupted relates to say 'automatic lighting adjustments' then it is quite likely a reflective surface/colour may highlight the 'fault', yet another 'subject' may not.

Non-Logical possibilities....there has been documented cases where some objects/people photograph poorly....irrespective of the camera used.
I will try and dig them up......needless to say...supernatural explainations were offered as science had none (at the time)....starting to get a bit like a X-file........Mulder....if you're out there

David · 27th July 2007, 11:16 PM

Hey Ron, why don't you pay me a visit in Cincinnati and let me have a crack at it? Afterall, it is what i do for a living.

I would say that if i have similar results we can go with the "non-logical possibilities".

Anyway, you know the number, give me a call. And if you come bring your camera as well. If there is something wrong with it i might be able to figure it out.

Spunjer · 28th July 2007, 05:49 AM

yo david, that's an excellent idea! i definitely need a second, even a third opinion on this. i was actually planning on taking this kris with me on vacation and use my sis's camera, but your plan sounds even better. yes, if you don't mind, i would love to get together this coming winter as i have a lot of down time then. work normally slows down after christmas. with your interest in photog and paranormal, this would be very interesting. i'll definitely take that offer!

as far as the jawi writings, maybe dan can chime in. with luck, he should still be in sulu and have one of the locals translate this for us.

katana, that's a plausible explanation, as far as the firmware acting up. but what i can't explain is why would the swords prior and after this kris came out normally. in regards to non-logical possibilities: i've never heard of that. in this side of explanation, it's weird that i find my dreams lately being so vivid. perhaps just a coincidence....

Mark · 28th July 2007, 05:43 PM

While I am of a definite esoteric bend of mind, I am not prone to believe in the "supernatural." Having said that, it is very intriguing that it seems to be only this piece that is affected, and that it is affected in every shot, whether full or close-up. If it were some firmware problem or tricking of the autofocus by a fortuitous combination of color, light and dark, I would have expected different effects with different overall compositions.

Maybe you were just especially excited about this piece, and couldn't keep still?

Spunjer · 28th July 2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Maybe you were just especially excited about this piece, and couldn't keep still?

there's no doubt in my mind i was especially excited, mark. it's not too often one comes across a moro weapon with talismanic symbols, but to acquire a kris with talismanic symbols and jawi writings (spell perhaps?), engraved on the blade is enough to jack my excite factor from 2 to 9 in the scale of 1-10

i'm still not ruling out the firmware, but like i mentioned on my original post, the camera was mounted on a tripod.

27th July 2007, 08:25 PM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Photgraphy Question regarding Ivory Kris there seems to be a flurry of moro weapons thread lately, and although this is about a moro kris, this is more in the realm of the unexplained. it has been a habit of mine taking pictures of every weapon i own. i reckon it's a good insurance, and when i do sell or trade it in the future, in essence, i still have a part of it. although my collection changes every so often, every weapon that i've owned, at the least, i have a record of it. when i acquired this kris, it wasn't anything spectacular, only that it was originally owned by a certain charlie woodruff, who, according to his decendant, spent some time in the southern part of the philippines during the philippine american war. as i've mentioned, there's nothing spectacular about it: a straight blade with nicks here and there denoting it has seen some action. the pommel is your typical ivory, although what's odd is the wrapping, which is rattan. you would think a more expensive wrapping would be used. it does have some talismanic symbols on the blade, but unlike what we've seen here lately where it's vague and up for guesswork and late night conversations. no, the symbols are straight up bad juju stuff, solomon rings, etc, etc, and some faded kawi or jawi writings, however you wanna call it. whoever originally owned this meant serious business. now here's where the unexplained part comes in. please bear with me on this cause it sounds crazy. for the life of me, i can't get a clear picture of it. i've taken countless pics (rechargeable batteries are my new best friends) and i just can't get a decent clear picture of the sword. yes, the camera is on a tripod and the subject is laid flat on the floor. i've taken pictures of another sundang prior to this, and also a panabas after and they both came out fine, clear as could be. when i took the pictures, it was taken all at the same day. there has to be a scientific explanation to this as i'm a pretty logical person. i think it could be the exposure, or even the reflection from the blade that is doing this. these pictures are actually the best ones that came out; on some of them it was just a blob. but anyhow, hopefully, some of our members that delve on photography can explain this; meanwhile enjoy the 'blurry' pictures. btw, are there anyone here that can read kawi? is wilked (dan) still in sulu? are you still here, dan? not sure if ths is sama or tausug. here are the pictures:

27th July 2007, 09:52 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Logical possibillities .....the 'firmware' (the operating programme of the digital camera) could be 'corrupted' which could cause intermediate problems or conceivably certain items/subjects (because of colouring, lighting conditions etc etc) may result in poor pictures. If the 'part ' of the firmware corrupted relates to say 'automatic lighting adjustments' then it is quite likely a reflective surface/colour may highlight the 'fault', yet another 'subject' may not. Non-Logical possibilities....there has been documented cases where some objects/people photograph poorly....irrespective of the camera used. I will try and dig them up......needless to say...supernatural explainations were offered as science had none (at the time)....starting to get a bit like a X-file........Mulder....if you're out there

27th July 2007, 11:16 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,127	Hey Ron, why don't you pay me a visit in Cincinnati and let me have a crack at it? Afterall, it is what i do for a living. I would say that if i have similar results we can go with the "non-logical possibilities". Anyway, you know the number, give me a call. And if you come bring your camera as well. If there is something wrong with it i might be able to figure it out.

28th July 2007, 05:49 AM	#4
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	yo david, that's an excellent idea! i definitely need a second, even a third opinion on this. i was actually planning on taking this kris with me on vacation and use my sis's camera, but your plan sounds even better. yes, if you don't mind, i would love to get together this coming winter as i have a lot of down time then. work normally slows down after christmas. with your interest in photog and paranormal, this would be very interesting. i'll definitely take that offer! as far as the jawi writings, maybe dan can chime in. with luck, he should still be in sulu and have one of the locals translate this for us. katana, that's a plausible explanation, as far as the firmware acting up. but what i can't explain is why would the swords prior and after this kris came out normally. in regards to non-logical possibilities: i've never heard of that. in this side of explanation, it's weird that i find my dreams lately being so vivid. perhaps just a coincidence....

28th July 2007, 05:43 PM	#5
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	While I am of a definite esoteric bend of mind, I am not prone to believe in the "supernatural." Having said that, it is very intriguing that it seems to be only this piece that is affected, and that it is affected in every shot, whether full or close-up. If it were some firmware problem or tricking of the autofocus by a fortuitous combination of color, light and dark, I would have expected different effects with different overall compositions. Maybe you were just especially excited about this piece, and couldn't keep still?