Camera Talk

Rolex Milgauss


We've all got a watch on our wrist. No excuse then not to use it as a subject to practise our "product" photography. Photographing watches can be very frustrating if you are not experienced in the genre. Reflections are the main problem, from the face crystal, from the face itself, from the case and from the strap. Some use polarising filters to try and eliminate some of the reflections. I never do because I don't think they offer an acceptable solution. I just control the lighting and the angle of view to eliminate reflections. This goes hand-in-hand with the correct choice of lens and the angle of view, which may also lead to a problem with perspective distortion. Why don't you give it a try - it can be enormous fun.

This was taken with a Canon Eos 7D and a Canon EF 50mm compact macro lens set to f16, 1/60th ISO 200. Lighting was with two Elinchrom 500ws heads, both fitted with softboxes.

You don't need strobe units or softboxes - you can use open shade with white card reflectors. Try it!

That is an excellent photo and one that you might see in an ad, although lately advertising has been using a lot of black backgrounds so that you only see the watch and nothing else.

Good use of the softboxes. I like using them because you can really control things, such as highlights and shadows.

Very nice photo, Graham. I like how you composed choosing the aeronautic book and the precision instrument, both always related to luxury watches.
Interior lighting is the topic pending I have, I would like to learn how to make portraits in interior.

I like the care taken in this picture, down to the position of the seconds pointer.

A camel hair brush, and an air bulb also come in handy.

PF

melek wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:53 pm

That is an excellent photo and one that you might see in an ad, although lately advertising has been using a lot of black backgrounds so that you only see the watch and nothing else.

Good use of the softboxes. I like using them because you can really control things, such as highlights and shadows.

Mike, I have used a black background for some of my work, but to me the result is very "catalogue-ish" and sterile.

alexvaras wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 13, 2019 3:10 pm

Very nice photo, Graham. I like how you composed choosing the aeronautic book and the precision instrument, both always related to luxury watches.
Interior lighting is the topic pending I have, I would like to learn how to make portraits in interior.

Alex, interior portraits are best done using north window light and a reflector. You should give it a try, I think you will be very good at it.

Julio1fer wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:03 pm

I like the care taken in this picture, down to the position of the seconds pointer.

Julio, most photos of watches have the hands in the generic 10 - to - ten position. I always try to avoid that, but it does work well for some.

PFMcFarland wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:05 am

A camel hair brush, and an air bulb also come in handy.

PF

More than you know!

Here is a Patek Phillipe Calatrava lit by natural window light and a diffuser.