How are you guys taking your pics? Are you using specialized camers? The reason I'm asking is that I've tried to take the kind of detailed pic like you post and am having no luck what-so-ever :(
St
All I can tell you is the way I have been doing it. I set my camera to the macro setting and use no flash. A few of us have made a light box, thanks to our member Plainsmen's original post. http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent I am in the process of reshooting and updating all my watches on this site and my own site.
Bob
In reply to St All I can tell you is by Bob Bruno
Thanks Bob, I'll give it a wack.... B.T.W. I went to your site on the link you provided and all I can say is WOW! Your watches are exactly what I was refering to earlier today as "pieces of history", and the way you had them displayed was better than visiting a museum. Bob
In reply to Thanks Bob, I'll give it a by simpletreasures
As Bob pointed out a light box is just about a necessity. It's easy enough to make one and you can find plenty of examples on line. You need as much light as you can get. You will also need a camera with macro capabilities. This does not need to be an expensive Nikon with a macro lens. I shoot with an old Minolta. Once you get your basic setup down there's a bunch of other issues that will crop up. Reflections and color balance to name just a couple. Then comes the issue of too much detail. Sometimes a watch will end up looking worse in a photograph than it does in real life. Remember that the picture is several times life size. There are lots more and I will help all I can.
Jay
vintagebulova.com
In reply to As Bob pointed out a light by vintagebulova.com
Hi All,
I've been shooting pics without a light box for years. I use a Nikon CoolPix 5400 ( easily found used for less than $100.00 on Ebay). As Bob and Jay state, set to macro, full auto mode. My white balance is set for flouresent, BSS is on, Image Adjust is on Auto, Saturation is Normal, Flash is off, Matrix metering, Sensitivity,Image Sharpening is set on Auto, Normal Lens Mode.
I know that all sounds like alot of jumble but at the end of the day it took me months of trial and error to get my pics to where I'm happy with them. It will all depend on your camera and your lighting before you get all your settings just right for your own pictures.
Good Luck, Shawn
I don't use a light box either, in fact i bought one, tried it many times and it came with all the lights and things, but found the results very poor. Just a room with skylights in and an old Fuji have done me proud for years. Reflection is my only issue, especially with black or copper tone dial watches.
Remember with cameras its not the pixel amount that is important for close ups it is the size of the lense to allow as much light in as possible and a good macro setting.