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worktolivelife · 11 October 2005, 08:16 PM

at the moment i just point and shoot using a coolpix 4600 on auto then have a bit of a fiddle within the confines of i-photo on my i-book and to be honest enjoying the ease at which IMO the pics aint too bad. whats the next level. here,s my latest shot and a bit of a fiddle in i-photo

thanks gents

steve

Rockrolex · 11 October 2005, 10:40 PM

Not bad, Steve. Try shooting straight on and with natural lighting. That will likely require a tripod unless you are shooting outdoors. Also try a shot with the watch on its side - crown up naturally.

Then you can make a light box and start to get fancy.

Bruce and Chip can probably give you much better advice.

dman · 11 October 2005, 10:53 PM

You can pre-set the light setting on the Nikon and that will help. Also the only problem with straight on shots is the reflections, so you will need to use a piece of paper with a hole cut in it to send a reflection back to the watch.

Just keep playing with the lights and the angles, it is alot of fun!!

BruceS · 11 October 2005, 10:57 PM

Steve - first of all, I think you are doing quite well. I always found black dial Rollies to be terribly difficult to photograph. The flat crystals with no a/r reflect everything. Your pic is really clean in that regard!

Your Nikon is a great camera for watch photography. I used a Coolpix 4500 alot. The macro capability is really without equal, IMO. The only suggestion I would make there is to switch from auto mode to macro mode.

The biggest thing in watch photography is lighting and white balance. Make sure your white balance setting suits the type of lights you use, or do a custom WB (really the best thing to do, but I never needed to with my Nikon).

Your pic only suffers from insufficient lighting. Better lights will do a couple of things: You'll get more true colour and your image will be brighter. The trade off is that you'll really have to watch reflections, both with the crystal and the case/bracelet.

A lot of guys use a light box or light tent to diffuse the light. You can just place any diffuser in front of your lights to accomplish the same thing (white paper, white sheet, etc). You just have to play with it until it looks right.

I go back and forth between the light tent and just shooting on the table top. I like the colour better out of the light tent, personally, but the light can be a bit too hot (or harsh). Even in a light box/tent, you still have to play with the lights to get it right, and sometimes add additional diffusion, or use black paper to cut reflection.

I think the best lights are the daylight type. It doesn't matter whether they are tungsten or florescent so long as your white balance is adjusted for it. Also, proper photography reflectors work best. I'm referring to the lamp housing (or whatever it's called). The light will be way too harsh without them.

That's about all I can offer. You really just have to experiment. Hope that helps.
Bruce

JJ Irani · 12 October 2005, 03:40 AM

Steve, your watch must be "hot". That dame's broken out into a sweat!!

12 October 2005, 08:05 AM

Well Steve, here is an example of what not to do........

Saw this on another site today - I LOL when I realized what was reflecting in the bezel at 6 o'clock.......

As others have said, watch out for those reflections (or at least wear pants when you take the photos).

SLRdude · 12 October 2005, 08:53 AM

I don't have a lightbox or a fancy camera.
All I do is... take a lot of shots until something works. I look along the camera lens to make sure that no reflection can be seen on the dial or crystal... and that's about it.
My camera is a 4 years old Canon G2, 4mp.

here are some examples.

BruceS · 12 October 2005, 11:50 AM

I think that's the best advise yet....look through the viewfinder and see what you see! Adjust as necessary. Of course, your lighting and WB are spot on Chip

SLRdude · 12 October 2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceS

I think that's the best advise yet....look through the viewfinder and see what you see! Adjust as necessary. Of course, your lighting and WB are spot on Chip

I have NO earthly idea how to use the camera settings for that lol.
What I do know is Photoshop. :-)
I figured that if I can't take the right picture... I better learn how to manually adjust levels, hue and saturation in photoshop!

Thank you for the kind words. I am still drooling over pretty much anything that you are shooting!

BruceS · 12 October 2005, 02:09 PM

LOL, and I need a photoshop lesson! Thanks mate :)

worktolivelife · 14 October 2005, 07:40 AM

had another go, for everyone i thinks ok there's 10 i trash!

i reckon i've sussed the lighting/reflection seems to be key! you wont believe the positions i've achieved to try and get a shot, wife walked in thought i had the "Karma Sutra" out practicing for some fun and games

steve

JJ Irani · 14 October 2005, 04:08 PM

That's a superb pic, Steve!!!

11 October 2005, 08:16 PM	#1
worktolivelife "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,365	Any of my peers care to give me some advice at the moment i just point and shoot using a coolpix 4600 on auto then have a bit of a fiddle within the confines of i-photo on my i-book and to be honest enjoying the ease at which IMO the pics aint too bad. whats the next level. here,s my latest shot and a bit of a fiddle in i-photo thanks gents steve

11 October 2005, 10:40 PM	#2
Rockrolex TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: God Location: Washington, D.C. Watch: What do you think? Posts: 37,507	Not bad, Steve. Try shooting straight on and with natural lighting. That will likely require a tripod unless you are shooting outdoors. Also try a shot with the watch on its side - crown up naturally. Then you can make a light box and start to get fancy. Bruce and Chip can probably give you much better advice. __________________ Despite the high cost of living, it's still very popular. *Tosser Cabinet Member* Official Member: 'Perpetual 30' Vegas International GTG 2016 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2017 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2018 Official Member "WIS-CON" Las Vegas International GTG 2019

11 October 2005, 10:53 PM	#3
dman Lifetime TRF Patron Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: Daren Location: Austin Watch: the road Posts: 13,583	You can pre-set the light setting on the Nikon and that will help. Also the only problem with straight on shots is the reflections, so you will need to use a piece of paper with a hole cut in it to send a reflection back to the watch. Just keep playing with the lights and the angles, it is alot of fun!! __________________ You either get it or you don't, if you have to ask, YOU DON'T!! I really hope that midget cop doesn't find me in Kokomo.

12 October 2005, 03:40 AM	#5
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	Steve, your watch must be "hot". That dame's broken out into a sweat!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

12 October 2005, 08:53 AM	#7
SLRdude "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Chip Location: Dallas TX Posts: 6,194	lightning is everything my friend I don't have a lightbox or a fancy camera. All I do is... take a lot of shots until something works. I look along the camera lens to make sure that no reflection can be seen on the dial or crystal... and that's about it. My camera is a 4 years old Canon G2, 4mp. here are some examples. __________________ Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. Yoda, Jedi Master CHIP Member # 87

11 October 2005, 10:57 PM	#4
BruceS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Sir Daft Location: Cornwall, UK Watch: Too many Posts: 2,464	Steve - first of all, I think you are doing quite well. I always found black dial Rollies to be terribly difficult to photograph. The flat crystals with no a/r reflect everything. Your pic is really clean in that regard! Your Nikon is a great camera for watch photography. I used a Coolpix 4500 alot. The macro capability is really without equal, IMO. The only suggestion I would make there is to switch from auto mode to macro mode. The biggest thing in watch photography is lighting and white balance. Make sure your white balance setting suits the type of lights you use, or do a custom WB (really the best thing to do, but I never needed to with my Nikon). Your pic only suffers from insufficient lighting. Better lights will do a couple of things: You'll get more true colour and your image will be brighter. The trade off is that you'll really have to watch reflections, both with the crystal and the case/bracelet. A lot of guys use a light box or light tent to diffuse the light. You can just place any diffuser in front of your lights to accomplish the same thing (white paper, white sheet, etc). You just have to play with it until it looks right. I go back and forth between the light tent and just shooting on the table top. I like the colour better out of the light tent, personally, but the light can be a bit too hot (or harsh). Even in a light box/tent, you still have to play with the lights to get it right, and sometimes add additional diffusion, or use black paper to cut reflection. I think the best lights are the daylight type. It doesn't matter whether they are tungsten or florescent so long as your white balance is adjusted for it. Also, proper photography reflectors work best. I'm referring to the lamp housing (or whatever it's called). The light will be way too harsh without them. That's about all I can offer. You really just have to experiment. Hope that helps. Bruce

12 October 2005, 08:05 AM	#6
---- Guest Posts: n/a	Well Steve, here is an example of what not to do........ Saw this on another site today - I LOL when I realized what was reflecting in the bezel at 6 o'clock....... As others have said, watch out for those reflections (or at least wear pants when you take the photos).

12 October 2005, 11:50 AM	#8
BruceS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Sir Daft Location: Cornwall, UK Watch: Too many Posts: 2,464	I think that's the best advise yet....look through the viewfinder and see what you see! Adjust as necessary. Of course, your lighting and WB are spot on Chip

12 October 2005, 02:09 PM	#10
BruceS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Real Name: Sir Daft Location: Cornwall, UK Watch: Too many Posts: 2,464	LOL, and I need a photoshop lesson! Thanks mate :)

14 October 2005, 07:40 AM	#11
worktolivelife "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,365	had another go, for everyone i thinks ok there's 10 i trash! i reckon i've sussed the lighting/reflection seems to be key! you wont believe the positions i've achieved to try and get a shot, wife walked in thought i had the "Karma Sutra" out practicing for some fun and games steve Last edited by worktolivelife; 14 October 2005 at 07:44 AM..

14 October 2005, 04:08 PM	#12
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,320	That's a superb pic, Steve!!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

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