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Old 17 July 2020, 09:03 AM   #1
Snowbob
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How about some photo taking/posting tips

You guys take and post some of the most beautiful close-up pics of your watches I have ever seen - seriously, friggin brochure quality. I have posted a few threads where people are asking for bigger pictures. Are you using fancy cameras? No matter how hard I try, using my Motorola MotoZ cellphone, I can't get a decent picture, and when I do, it's 20X the MB upload limit. Anybody willing to share a few photog tips for us less technologically advanced? Thanks!
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Old 17 July 2020, 09:11 AM   #2
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A few tips:

1) Get as close as you can without the camera going out of focus without zoom.

2) Get near a soft light source. Windows are great and last hour before sunset is perfect.

3) Get creative - Think about the background and consider adding some props. Try out a few different angles.

4) Use a service like Imgur to upload to so you can generate an image file link for TRF.

Good luck and happy snapping!



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Old 17 July 2020, 09:19 AM   #3
LOWERCASE GUY
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Good advice Gabe & great shots too!
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Old 17 July 2020, 10:59 AM   #4
fskywalker
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How about some photo taking/posting tips

In my case always use the phone (no fancy cameras); currently have an Iphone 11 Pro and tend to get the best pictures in the car lol

Few nice ones below (current and gone pieces)


















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Old 17 July 2020, 11:30 AM   #5
Polarexplorerii
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man that a nice strap on the Zenith!
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Old 17 July 2020, 11:47 AM   #6
fskywalker
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Polarexplorerii View Post
man that a nice strap on the Zenith!


Thanks! Its by Zenith, color seems to be discontinued, lucky find on my end!




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Old 17 July 2020, 11:43 AM   #7
RJRJRJ
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Natural lighting, use a macro mode or on iPhone click on the screen where you want it to focus, optical zoom only, no digital zoom. Taking pics in your house at night won't come out well unless you have a really nice setup and know what you're doing.
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Old 17 July 2020, 11:50 AM   #8
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My photos usually suck. Although I think I actually have 5 or 6 that are actually pretty good or certainly as good as most of the ones I've seen on here...
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Old 17 July 2020, 02:29 PM   #9
Megalobyte
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As was said above, iPhone 11 Pro, usually just sitting in my car. :)

Light is important as is holding the phone very still when you take the pic. I like bright days but I’m parked in a shady area.

Use Snapseed to edit.

Use Tapatalk pro to upload pics.

Take lots of pics, pick the best few.

Practice.


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Old 17 July 2020, 04:00 PM   #10
RJRJRJ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Megalobyte View Post
As was said above, iPhone 11 Pro, usually just sitting in my car. :)

Light is important as is holding the phone very still when you take the pic. I like bright days but I’m parked in a shady area.

Use Snapseed to edit.

Use Tapatalk pro to upload pics.

Take lots of pics, pick the best few.

Practice. [IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/24898e45163fa33538908f96f77acd3c.plist[/IG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/d503e9c55105f123343359e7083ee0b4.plist[/IG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/314a346d61bc1c0c779ad9f50d21314b.plist[/IM\G][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/ddae8e216045fea1ff8bb2cdd6c9ddd1.plist[/IG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/a26d0a8bc69eb8ccc88e2702a15a8312.png[/MG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/528b89071677bebe56ce773595b141cb.plist[/IG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/4aa4dcfad15aa9c8dd47c20e68540df9.plist[/IG][IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200717/1d86b7829f3f7b8ed41c91eb517b8ab5.plist[/IG]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Not to be an ass, buuuuut, I think the filters ruin every single photo.
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Old 17 July 2020, 02:29 PM   #11
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Rule of thirds
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Old 17 July 2020, 08:03 PM   #12
Rori
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How about some photo taking/posting tips

Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowbob View Post
You guys take and post some of the most beautiful close-up pics of your watches I have ever seen - seriously, friggin brochure quality. I have posted a few threads where people are asking for bigger pictures. Are you using fancy cameras? No matter how hard I try, using my Motorola MotoZ cellphone, I can't get a decent picture, and when I do, it's 20X the MB upload limit. Anybody willing to share a few photog tips for us less technologically advanced? Thanks!

With today’s smartphones you can really tale amazing pictures without the need to use a pro or dedicated camera.
First thing to consider is lighting, big windows or openings that are north oriented provide the soft light need without the harshness if direct sunlight.

Then think if background and and surrounding of the watch in case it’s a wrist shot.

Framing your watch is also important, try to put frame it off center leaving some dead space in the frame.

To upload the image without worrying about resizing use Tapatalk, it makes your life much easier.



Shot made using iPhone. Scene lit by the screen of an iPad. “iPad Screen opened to a blank Internet page to provide a soft white light source”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old 17 July 2020, 08:56 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowbob View Post
You guys take and post some of the most beautiful close-up pics of your watches I have ever seen - seriously, friggin brochure quality. I have posted a few threads where people are asking for bigger pictures. Are you using fancy cameras? No matter how hard I try, using my Motorola MotoZ cellphone, I can't get a decent picture, and when I do, it's 20X the MB upload limit. Anybody willing to share a few photog tips for us less technologically advanced? Thanks!
No matter the camera, lens,or price,final picture is only as good as the person composing the picture, and pressing the shutter.
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Old 18 July 2020, 05:38 PM   #14
Phil t 32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by padi56 View Post
No matter the camera, lens,or price,final picture is only as good as the person composing the picture, and pressing the shutter.

As someone once said....

’buy a digital camera and you are a photographer, buy a flute and you own a flute’

made me chuckle anyway


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Old 17 July 2020, 09:04 PM   #15
brandrea
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It's really about the lighting



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Old 17 July 2020, 09:16 PM   #16
Snowbob
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Thanks for all the tips!
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Old 17 July 2020, 09:46 PM   #17
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Take lots of pics. Experiment with angles.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Old 17 July 2020, 11:32 PM   #18
Snowbob
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Getting better?
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Old 17 July 2020, 11:36 PM   #19
Snowbob
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Sorry forgot to upload. Better?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg PhotoPictureResizer_200717_083603552.jpg (171.2 KB, 128 views)
File Type: jpg PhotoPictureResizer_200717_085816712.jpg (222.5 KB, 126 views)
File Type: jpg PhotoPictureResizer_200717_090418880.jpg (249.0 KB, 126 views)
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Old 18 July 2020, 02:38 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowbob View Post
Sorry forgot to upload. Better?
These pictures are all back focused. Try to touch the screen on your phone to lock focus on the watch, or adjust the distance until it focuses on the watch.
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Old 18 July 2020, 05:54 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowbob View Post
Sorry forgot to upload. Better?
Hi Snowy,

I think you should be able to answer your own question?

Do they look ok to you?



E.

As Brian has said,

Lighting helps.
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Old 17 July 2020, 11:54 PM   #22
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It's amazing what some of you guys can do with your EyePhone.

I use a professional grade DSLR and very expensive lens on a tripod with several lights, usually in a lightbox and it never fails that when I go to look at the results, I've got dirt, lint and smudges on the watch. Grrr.
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Old 18 July 2020, 12:42 AM   #23
Polarexplorerii
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nice pics. I need to try that
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Old 18 July 2020, 02:35 AM   #24
Miguels
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Lighting and composition. There is no replacement for good lighting.
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Old 18 July 2020, 02:51 AM   #25
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Lighting more than anything. And since you're doing it just for fun, not worth creating a full lighting setup. As many here will know, you go down the rabbit hole of photography much as we do with watches (lots of fun though).

The easiest and often the nicest approach is to find a big window and use natural/window light. No direct light. This will give you a nice soft light with good modeling.

I used to have a portrait studio and lots of times we ditched our elaborate lighting and shot with window light.

Hope this helps.
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Old 18 July 2020, 03:32 AM   #26
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You guys that take such great photo's really tee me off.

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Old 18 July 2020, 03:39 AM   #27
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How to rotate posted photo?
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Old 18 July 2020, 03:42 AM   #28
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I take 47,000 photos for each one I post, I work on the assumption that there may be one that looks okay.
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Old 18 July 2020, 04:20 PM   #29
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How about some photo taking/posting tips

Here’s a few examples of some from the last year I quite like around home and on travels.

You may find a iPhone takes better photos than your Motorola, but most important is to get a good crisp focus on your subject matter (usually the watch) and then have a good experiment with different ways of getting an interesting background or surround in the shot.

Some people here take some excellent technical photos with proper cameras and lenses but mine are all just phone photos.

The most advanced I get is a cheapo clip on macro lens from amazon. But it serves the intended purpose.

Additionally try and hold still whilst pressing the shutter button to prevent blur.

Posting via tapatalk will maximise resolution easily and automatically too straight from your phone.













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