Watch Photography 101 - Start to Finish

[WingTsun]

I've noticed a few good guides to photographing watches in this forum. I published one on my blog a couple of weeks ago which will take from start to posting on the site. Hope it helps someone and if you find any spelling/grammar mistakes please let me know.

thirtyfivemill.com

[Danny T]

Thanks for that. I juts got a Sony Nex5n and need to learn how to use it. Just got myself a light tent as well and want to capture the perfect shot of my watches. Just need to find the software

[WingTsun]

Thanks for that. I juts got a Sony Nex5n and need to learn how to use it. Just got myself a light tent as well and want to capture the perfect shot of my watches. Just need to find the software

No worries. In the guide there are links to free software that you can use.

[por44]

Thanks - all help is appreciated

[6306]

Very cool. I see there's a section on lumes shots now as well.

[ninjamedic]

Great guide, will get the missus to photoshop my images and stick some on the web. Thanks
Love your watch collection too

[Anatoly]

Very imformative, thank you!

[heb]

Hello,
Doesn't include "Start" because it neglects the most important part: Preparing your watch for photography.

Here are a few should be no-brainers which are often not that way.

1. Superimposed hands. For instance, taking a picture of your watch at 0317 or 1517 presents an unsymmetrical and unattractive image. What happened to the hour hand anyway?

2. Day and/or date half way through their rotation. Even though you may be trying to show the viewer that they operate properly, the photo looks like crap.

3. Time Presentation. When the minute hand is at say, 18 minutes past the hour, and the hour hand is DIRECTLY OVER an hour chapter, you've got a F U watch. This may not be a bad thing however because it warns a potential customer to STAY AWAY.

Good luck,
heb

[6306]

Some good points but I think that review covers the technical aspects rather than the artistic ones.

Hello,
Doesn't include "Start" because it neglects the most important part: Preparing your watch for photography.

Here are a few should be no-brainers which are often not that way.

1. Superimposed hands. For instance, taking a picture of your watch at 0317 or 1517 presents an unsymmetrical and unattractive image. What happened to the hour hand anyway?

2. Day and/or date half way through their rotation. Even though you may be trying to show the viewer that they operate properly, the photo looks like crap.

3. Time Presentation. When the minute hand is at say, 18 minutes past the hour, and the hour hand is DIRECTLY OVER an hour chapter, you've got a F U watch. This may not be a bad thing however because it warns a potential customer to STAY AWAY.

Good luck,
heb

[6306]

Great guide, will get the missus to photoshop my images and stick some on the web. Thanks
Love your watch collection too

Probably a good idea to get into the Photoshop part yourself, too. That's the processing part of the digital negatives and is very much a part of producing an image.