Mazz 62 Posted March 15, 2012 Wow 2 spammers in the same thread in one day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffw69 0 Posted March 15, 2012 Silver, thanks for the tutorial. I will give it a shot. Most of my pics have been coming out blurry, so we'll see if this helps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Yan 8 Posted March 16, 2012 Jeff. I think it's specsavers you need buddy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffw69 0 Posted March 16, 2012 Jeff. I think it's specsavers you need buddy. Yeah, I know!!! Pic removed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffw69 0 Posted March 16, 2012 OK, read the tutorial, made adjustments on my camera: What do u think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Yan 8 Posted March 16, 2012 I dont think its very nice to use a picture of an unfortunate kid to make a laugh ! Thats what i think Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crusader 0 Posted March 16, 2012 (edited) The 3rd pic is blurry, but that's probably because you hold the watch a bit too close for the camera to focus, others are great. And usually the best photos can be done near the window or in the shade outside, since there is the most light Keep it up mate, watches are difficult to photograph, we all know that Edited March 16, 2012 by Crusader Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeffw69 0 Posted March 16, 2012 I dont think its very nice to use a picture of an unfortunate kid to make a laugh ! Thats what i think Sorry if I offended you dr yuan, I just looked up your name in google images and thats what came up. anyway, I removed the pic(of course it was nothing like the unfortunate pic that you post, "yeah, I know") Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Yan 8 Posted March 16, 2012 Theres a big difference between a real child with a serious genetic disorder with all the difficulties that come with that and an adult comedian playing a comic character Ya know ! Anyway I know you didn't mean any harm by it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dumaz 0 Posted April 9, 2012 Very useful topic, thank you! IMHO cheapest method to get some nice results is natural light, correct angle from reflections and correct depth of field. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
irate03 0 Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) I hope people don't mind me chipping in on this thread. I've only been in to watches for a year or so but i've been a photographer for many years and shooting things like watches is no different to other product shots with reflective surfaces, I have DSLR's, studio lighting, small strobes etc but it's really not essential as people have said here, one of the important things if your using available light is fixing you're white balance, in camera if you can or in post production. Another thing to use is bounced light and negative light, if you point a flash at a shiny subject it's going to bounce back, but metal and glass don't look great with big burnt out hot spots. I don't have a light tent/dome so I use negative and positive reflective lighting, this basically means bounce the light off a surface to soften it but also to fill the reflective surface. If you bounce the light off a ceiling, that ceiling is huge and will fill an area of metal or plastic or glass that is reflecting the lit area (the ceiling) it's not reflecting the light but what is being lit, so if it's a ceiling or wall you may also see yourself, a lamp stand, a door frame etc in the reflection, that's where tents and dome's work great. BUT tents give a very clean all over light. To create directional lighting all you need is a light source and pieces of white and black card or paper. To create a dark face or edge use the black card, position it so you can see the reflection of the card from where you're shooting, that's negative light, it's essentially taking away the bright reflection and replacing it with a dark one, perfect for dial shots. Make sure the card is close enough or large enough to fill the area so no other reflections creep in. When you want a bright/white reflection do the same thing but with the white card. If you're using a table lamp place a black card between it and the watch so you can't see the bulb highlight or the cable or the pretty pattern on the shade ) then use a white card to reflect the light from the lamp in to the part of the watch you want to light (have a bright reflection) don't forget that if you're using a lamp your going to have an orange colour cast so you need to either select a white balance setting or correct the cast in post production. most camera's do a decent job with preset white balance settings but they are never perfect. If you can make a 'custom white balance' then use a white sheet of paper under the lighting you are using to set it up. I got a little carried away there and have probably repeated what others have said but here's a few examples of different setups i've used. Today's quick garden photoshoot, using daylight only, using a A3 white card to block some of the brightest highlights but because it's white it bounces a soft fill light over everything to, it's an over cast day so there's lots of soft light bouncing around. (i've broken my own rule here by using a white card to create negative light, but as long as it's creating a shadow it's still dark enough to do the job, i held it above the watch and below was dark wood so there was very little light bouncing off the card surface) ___________________________________________________________________________ shot indoors using three flashguns all set at low power and positioned at the same height as the watch pointing away from the watch in to white bounce cards, and using large black cards to clip the harsh reflections and flag the light. ___________________________________________________________________________ This is a quick set up just bouncing a flash of an angled ceiling, not so polished but it was showing what i needed to show. ___________________________________________________________________________ A more prepared shoot with my first Pam homage- lighting diagram at the bottom. ___________________________________________________________________________ This is lit by the screen of a 27inch iMac with a blank google page positioned behind the watch....BIG SOFT LIGHT!!!! Edited April 25, 2013 by irate03 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crusader 0 Posted May 4, 2012 There's a new sheriff in town, beware photographers Great write up mate, very detailed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prancuzas 0 Posted May 4, 2012 wow, really impressive! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cyril_Clunge 0 Posted May 4, 2012 Excellent stuff, thank you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Del 4,461 Posted May 4, 2012 Very interesting write-up irate03, and very nice pics too btw! Although I can produce some fairly decent pics, I'm nowhere near as experienced or as knowledgable as you so this has given me some more food for thought - thanks for posting. I now feel the need to spend the weekend trying out some of these tips! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
solkryssare 109 Posted May 4, 2012 Thank you for putting this together for us mate I really need to learn this stuff soon...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dumaz 0 Posted May 4, 2012 Very useful lighting examples, irate03! Thanks. Now, gents, grab your photoweapons and do the shooting! Practise makes perfect!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingle 57 Posted May 4, 2012 Thank you for putting this together for us mate I really need to learn this stuff soon...... +1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molcos 0 Posted May 12, 2012 Could i just add how much difference a digial SLR does compared to a regular digital camera. I have a Nikon D90 with a 50mm 1.8d fixed lens I don't ever think it's possible to take a bad shot with that setup. Just make sure you have a good light source, i never use a flash. I saw some really awesome photos in this thread...talented people here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
luminox 0 Posted May 14, 2012 awesome post,makes me wanna buy some new lense wide for my SLR :( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldrick 1 Posted May 23, 2012 Now, gents, grab your photoweapons and do the shooting!Practise makes perfect!!! OK..... Daylight shots...!!!! BREITLING QTZ 1 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr BREITLING QTZ 2 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr V&C 1 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr AP RO COMP 4 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr STUDIO SHOTS AP MAY 1 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr PAN DAYLIGHT 1 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr NAVITIMER by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr PLANET OCEAN CHRONO 5 QTZ by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr TAG MONACO 24_1 by Hugh_Jorgen, on Flickr Daylight's good, but it won't ever match the control you can exercise in a studio...and not a single flash fired in anger....flash is NOT good for watch photography.....all photos shot with 2x 5500k bulbs ..with the camera set for 5500k...no need to white balance! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pihlippe 1,264 Posted May 23, 2012 Stunning pictures Baldrick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
machiavegli 6 Posted May 29, 2012 Goddamn Silver and Baldrick et al, I need to up my game!!! There are some unbelievable pics on this thread! Thanks for the food for thought... -Mach Share this post Link to post Share on other sites