The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I built myself a light box the other night out of a cardboard box, an old double lamp and some kitchen roll. It looks very Heath Robinson but I quite like the results I have been getting.

I know there are some great photographers on this forum so any advice on optimising these watch shots would be gratefully received.

Here's a few initial photos:

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

More............

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Rolex DJ TT kindly loaned by a friend:

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Nice collection! I really like those Grahams!

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SA Blue Dial Silver Subs Pro 2

Great watches there Ricardo. I'm no photographer so can't help you too much but I notice most of the shots have a yellow tinge to them!

I'll duck for cover now!

Cheers

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Currently:
Avenger Skyland(Black)
Super Avenger(White)

Moved on:
Montbrillant Legende(Silver)
Panerai 312
SOHC 125th Ann. LE(Silver)
Navitimer World(Pearl)
Panerai 441

Great photos Ricardo. That light box seems to work really well. I sure as heck am not a photographer either, but I suspect that the tinge that Andrew mentions is just because the lamp doesn't have a decent white / clear bulb in it.

Great photos.

I love the first Graham. The only thing that keep me from having one is the price I think is a bit steep for whats there. AND I HATE the giant 12 and 6 on the dial, but love those "eyes" over the subdials.

The Rolex is just pure classy. The bracelet is one of a kind!

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

well you nailed it in this shot for sure! please see below my best shot to date using a purchased mini photo studio ...

Great shots Ricardo, love the contrasting colours on the superOcean, is it macro time next?





Ian.

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Navitimer World, Callistino.
Omega Speedmaster Moon, Hamilton 992B, Steinhart BS LEII #2, B&R 01-92 Heritage

Yep. Best photo there.

On the rest, your light doesnt seem to be bright enough, and the cloth that youre using doesnt seem to be diffusing the light well enough. Thats why the photos are either yellow (not bright enough) or have a hot spot/super bright area (cloth is not diffusing enough). The point of the light box is to get a bunch of light while keeping it spread out evenly with no glaring. Try a brighter bulb and play around with the positioning of it to find the right lighting.

You should also change the cloth that you have on the bottom to a smooth piece of card stock, unless youre specifically looking for that look.

Small changes, but I think youll see some nice results. Eventually you get to the macro super closeups which is where the real fun starts

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-RJ

Thank You for all You kind words and advice.

I shall certainly take in on board and try and improve my watch photography.

I quite like the golden hue on some of the shots. I'm sure this is just a result of using kitchen roll as a light diffuser. Intersting that some of you say the lights may not be bright enough. I thought they were too bright. Causing localised glare on some shots. May be I just need to try and reposition them.

Watch this space...................

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Pictures are technically good but the yellow tint comes from a wrong camera setting. You have to find a setting for manual white balance. Now the white balance is off and you get yellow shots.

Shooting in fluorescent mode gives a bit more "cyan" tint for the pics, depending on the camera.

This picture had perfect white balance. Maybe you did something differently with it:
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/3038/lightbox008.jpg