Introduction: Why ESEE?

This case study is a letter, a love letter to a company whose values (and visual aesthetic) align with mine; a business that makes the best products and provides the best service and warranty of any manufacturer in the world. And the best part? They train, design, and manufacture in the USA.

When I DM’d Shane Adams, Marketing Director of ESEE Knives / Randall’s Adventure and Training, about the message he wanted to share for their products, his response was clear.

“I like to see them used as a tool. That’s what we build. That’s our company's position. We view our products like you would a hammer, screwdriver, etc.”

So with that top of mind, I set out to make a prospective set of images to express that message.

So I put my money where my mouth was, went out and bought an ESEE-6 (in my fave color green), and got to work.

The Process

So the message was clear, but how could I convey it visually? I come from a film/animation background, so I began the process through a simple story board sketch. Now I have to admit, I know for sure that this message would hit stronger as a heartfelt film rather than a set of images, but I wanted to make it as good as possible with the limited time and resources I had, so photography would have to do. And that creative limitation pushed me to make things as visually strong as possible.

My idea was to show the stages of the life of an ESEE from a user’s perspective. It would start off all brand new and perfect and walk through stages of being used, worn, and handed down. So let’s walk through those steps.

Scene 1 - Brand New

The concept behind this first image was to show the knife as brand new, untouched, but establish right off the bat that this is a tool. So of course, I included a set of tools on a pegboard.

Many of the tools I already had or was able to borrow from my dad, but the crowbar was chosen and bought specifically for this shoot. It was the anchor to the background of the composition, designed to keep the viewer’s eye from drifting out of frame. I never try to let my circumstances dictate my creative ideas, that’s why I always draw what I imagine first, and then build the set to match the idea, not the other way around. And I believe that process pays off every time.

Unfortunately, I forgot to record the behind-the-scenes for this final shot, but here’s a quick breakdown. The knife was glued to a clear rod and strapped to a light stand to suspend it in front of the pegboard. I captured two shots, one with the knife in the scene, and one of the background only (without changing the focus point) to easily comp out the clear rod. I used 2 backlights up high to catch the top-left edge of the blade and the curve of the handle. These lights simultaneously lit the background. I had a hard light off to the right of the knife to reveal the texture on the handle. The key light was a round light source through a scrim to catch the logo. The sharp edge of the knife was illuminated by a smaller light coming from the lower right side of the camera.

Scene 2 - The Workbench

For the second scene, I wanted to once again reinforce the idea of this knife being a tool. When I think of tools, I think of a workbench in a warm, dark woodshed. This was also where I wanted to introduce the next character of the story, the user (aka my dad). A working man’s hands. Here’s a quick BTS.

Scene 3 - Gone Fishing

This third scene brought us out of the studio and into nature where these knives are designed to be. Now, I have to admit, I don’t know a whole lot about being an outdoorsman, but I do know a little about fishing, so that’s where I decided to focus this story. I wanted the viewer to imagine themselves tagging along with this man, perhaps as his son or daughter. Fishing adventures were a staple of my childhood, and I hope this low perspective puts the viewer in the shoes of a young adventurer, learning from their dad.

It was a beautiful overcast day at Snowy Range. The sun was in the perfect position to highlight the knife, and the color coordination of the clothing worked out perfectly. I couldn’t be happier with a natural light shot.

I was originally going to use the belt clip that comes with the ESEE-6, but I just couldn’t contain myself and had to customize the sheath with paracord lacing. It may be improper, but I figured it lends itself to the story by customizing the tool to work how you want to use it.

Scene 4 - Hand it Down

So this is it, the scene to wrap it all up and drive home what it’s all about. At this point, the blade was meant to be well-used, dirty, and part of a long list of memories. The original idea was for this knife to be handed down to the next generation. It’s a simple sketch, but a powerful one. The sun is setting on one story, and rising on another. Not much needs to be said beyond that. Here’s one more quick BTS video.

Conclusion: What I Learned

This personal project was just that; personal. It made me reflect on my relationship with my dad; all the things he’s taught me, and all the things I’ll teach my kids. This was a journey of many aspects, from learning about knives and survival, to patience in delivering a project when it’s ready, and thinking deeper about my relationships and legacy. This work over the past few months has impacted me in many ways, and I can’t express how thankful I am to have done it.

Shane, thank you for the initial direction and for your amazing ESEE Rat Pack podcast. I learned a TON from you, and look forward to learning even more. I know I’ve just scratched the surface on your art direction.

Dad, thank you for being such a huge part of my life. The biggest in many ways. I wouldn’t know a thing about common sense and working with my hands if it weren’t for you (even though I’m a just button pusher).

Thanks to my pastor Chris for taking us fishing and being a true outdoorsman we could learn from.

And thanks to my wife Addy, baby daughter Ada, and my Mom for helping me get out and get this done. Your encouragement means the world.

Catcha soon,

Jeahn

The ESEE-6: A Case Study by Jeahn Laffitte

Introduction: Why ESEE?

“I like to see them used as a tool. That’s what we build. That’s our company's position. We view our products like you would a hammer, screwdriver, etc.”

The Process

Scene 1 - Brand New

Scene 2 - The Workbench

Scene 3 - Gone Fishing

Scene 4 - Hand it Down

Conclusion: What I Learned

Some Copy Ideas

It’s precision.

Take it with you.

It’s a tool.

Pass it on.

Bonus Images