Watch photography

[CommanderJameson]

Has anyone got any tips for taking super pictures of watches?

My observations are thus:

• Don't use the flash. It'll just highlight all the bits of fluff and dust that you couldn't see before, making your lovely watch look as though it's owned by a scruff. It'll also wash out the colours
• Clean your watch. For an automotive theme, call it "detailing" it.
• Daylight is the best light for watch pictures
• Turn on the macro or super macro mode if your camera has it
• Get a little tripod - I have a desk one with bendy legs which is quite handy
• Watches look ace when photographed against a background of pages of books, or maps
• Wrist shots are hard and mine always look cack
• Bung the picture through Photoshop Elements or something and at least do the auto enhance. I generally give mine a tickle with the dust and scratches filter, too

[andy tims]

Those far more competant than me will be able to talk about apperture settings etc. but all I'd add to the above would be:-
Always use a tripod - needn't be a little one.
If you have a remote shutter release, use it.
Picasa is free to download via google & has some easy to use enhancement features.

[Asterix]

That's basically what I've done. Natural light and a tripod are simply musts! Can also take a while to set up the shot making sure there are no reflections in the crystal.

[ShadownINja]

I must say that everyone who did the snow shots made it look good.

[Slagathore]

ShadownINja said:

I must say that everyone who did the snow shots made it look good.

A guy posted up his Damasko in the show! Looked amazing!

Also, in a recent thread regarding the Sinn U1's, there was a picture of the U1 with a divers knife, which looked amazing!

Stuff related the nature of the watch like that is good!

[iantib1]

Hi, How do you take the darker type pictures showing the luminous bits glowing green?

[Stefan Tapp]

iantib1 said:

Hi, How do you take the darker type pictures showing the luminous bits glowing green?

Like this?



I've built a simple and cheap light box from an old cardboard box with the top and sides cut out, then lined the whole thing with white paper and currently lit from above with a 500w halogen lamp (I'm playing with the lighting for best results). To take the lume shots I simply turn that light off and darken the room.

My camera (Samsung Pro 815) is mounted on a tripod and I use a remote to take the shot. Here are some examples of some of the pictures I've taken with this setup.















Stef

[ShadownINja]

Holy crap. You can even see the "gap" under the Breitling logo.

[Asterix]

You need to get that close to a Breitling face to read what's on it

[sjg]

andy tims said:

If you have a remote shutter release, use it.

And if you don't, self-timer works just as well.

[CmdrBond]

Just thought would share these images which I took a little while ago. You might guess from the pictures, that I am a fan of both Omega Speedmaster and the Apollo 13 story, of which the Speedie played a small but vital part.

[Asterix]

Here's a couple of mine. Will get round to doing more when I have a moment.

[Stuart]

Asterix said:

Here's a couple of mine. Will get round to doing more when I have a moment.

That movement is astonishingly beautiful. Exquisite.

[dawson2k5]

All amateur, most taken with a compact, some taken with a 400d and kit lense in automode.
Thanks,
Andrew

[CommanderJameson]

Stuart said:

Asterix said:

Here's a couple of mine. Will get round to doing more when I have a moment.

That movement is astonishingly beautiful. Exquisite.

Y'know, if I had a watch like that, I'd not leave the house.

Super macro pictures please, Asterix!

I'd be taking pictures of it, you perverts

[Asterix]

Here's a few more. Old pics but a bit closer - you can really see the quality of the finish with them though.

[sjg]

...and so it deviates from the original point of the thread into yet another "look at these photos of my watches" one.

[Asterix]

sjg said:

...and so it deviates from the original point of the thread into yet another "look at these photos of my watches" one.

How else do you demonstrate macro photography? Send me your watches and I'll take pictures of them - I just happened to have these images to hand.

[dawson2k5]

Ok time for some tips, from an amatuers POV:
never use the flash
always use a tripod
self timer or remote shutter release
good light
interesting background
be prepared to take 30 shots and only one or even none of them be any good
don't try too hard, some of my favourite pictures were taken on a whim with no preparation.
I never use photoshop, mine a straight out of the camera, not even cropped
If using a compact the older the better, the newer digital ones mess about too much and are too clever, i used a 4 year old 4mp canon for my top 3 pics
Thanks,
Andrew

[MarkoTVR]

Stefan Tapp said:

Stef

Ohhhhhhhhh, I want that!!!