Alan's photo secrets REVEALED!

I was fortunate to uncover this video of Alan (using a pseudonym, of course) explaining his watch photography secrets.

I can't wait to apply them to my next new watch!


http://vimeo.com/9941074

That was freakin cool as hell!!! I love seeing the creative process behind what we normally see in the final outcome, very cool!!!

10 hours!!!! So much for point 'n shoot!

That was cool, thanks for the link.

Man - wish I had an entire day to shoot a watch properly.
That's why most of my posts are Q&D wrist shots.

When I am in the tent (rarely), I never shoot watch/background separately - no time.
I do use the flag/kicker technique - with just any old scrap laying around.
Always Photoshop dust, smudges, errant hairs, and noise reduction - even on wrist shots.

Used to be a photo major in college (switched to video/film later).
But never knew the joy of product photography till I started snapping my watches.

Thanks for the video.

jaw wrote:

Man - wish I had an entire day to shoot a watch properly.
That's why most of my posts are Q&D wrist shots.

When I am in the tent (rarely), I never shoot watch/background separately - no time.
I do use the flag/kicker technique - with just any old scrap laying around.
Always Photoshop dust, smudges, errant hairs, and noise reduction - even on wrist shots.

Used to be a photo major in college (switched to video/film later).
But never knew the joy of product photography till I started snapping my watches.

Thanks for the video.

I didn't really understand the "flag/kicker" thing. What's that all about?

Photoshop is interesting. Makes me appreciate older product photos so much more because they had to do it all in reality with film.

pacifichrono wrote:

I didn't really understand the "flag/kicker" thing. What's that all about?

They both are used to force (bounce) shadow/highlights onto the subject.

Recall he said you are lighting the "environment" not the watch - the watch will reflect it automatically.

Placing a white sheet of paper out side the camera view will cause a well placed highlight.
Conversely a black sheet will cause a dark shape to fall onto the watch
- you saw him placing black strips under the watch to get corresponding black reflections on the bezel

Almost every indoor car photo you see uses shaped lights to get those highlights to traverse the vehicle.

great video!

This may sound naive or arrogant...

...but 10 hours for that shot is OVER KILL.

MANY of TOM's look as good or BETTER IMO!

[quote="jaw"]

pacifichrono wrote:

Placing a white sheet of paper out side the camera view will cause a well placed highlight.
Conversely a black sheet will cause a dark shape to fall onto the watch

Excellent. Now I know what to call what I learned to do by accident. It's a technique

Great video Tom. I agree with Robert though. Look at all the great photography BEFORE Photoshop!!! Now that was creative!

I enjoyed that video although, I feel exhausted from watching what it took to do that shoot!

WoW...10 hours...that guy has patience...I was just surprised on the level of equipment that was used...