Grandfather's Pocket Watch
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Grandfather's Pocket Watch
I have posted on another forum that I would like to learn microphotography. I thought I should post something here to show what I have been doing. I shot a series of pocket watch photos recently. Here is one of my favorites:
Bill
- Mike B in OKlahoma
- Posts: 1048
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:32 pm
- Location: Oklahoma City
An attractive old piece of machinery, and nice change from the nature shots that dominate here. Do you know what the S and F refer to?
Mike Broderick
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Constructive critiques of my pictures, and reposts in this forum for purposes of critique are welcome
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul....My mandate includes weird bugs."
--Calvin
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Constructive critiques of my pictures, and reposts in this forum for purposes of critique are welcome
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul....My mandate includes weird bugs."
--Calvin
- Mike B in OKlahoma
- Posts: 1048
- Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:32 pm
- Location: Oklahoma City
Your first grandfather had better taste in watch interiors! But the second one is nice too, and well-photographed.
Mike Broderick
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Constructive critiques of my pictures, and reposts in this forum for purposes of critique are welcome
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul....My mandate includes weird bugs."
--Calvin
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
Constructive critiques of my pictures, and reposts in this forum for purposes of critique are welcome
"I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul....My mandate includes weird bugs."
--Calvin
Another interesting photo of a nice time piece . I remember Waltham watches and I think they are still manufactured today, of course its been a longtime since I have seen one and most pocket watches are quartz these days, although you still find a few here and there with fine mechanical movements. I used to have an old mantle clock, a Regulator I believe, and I would sit quietly in the house and all you could hear was the "tick, tock" of that old clock. Got it a an antique shop, brought it home cleaned it up with some furniture polish but left everything else as it was, it was in really good conditon, you wound it with a key. Many a nap was taken listening to that old clock.
- rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23564
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Bill,
These images are luscious -- very crisp and beautifully lit to show off the textures! Got any more where these came from?
By the way, that word "microphotography" is not the best description of what you want to learn. Strictly speaking, microphotography refers to making tiny photographs (as opposed to making magnified images of tiny things). I think what you want is "photomicrography", that is, taking pictures of subjects seen through the microscope.
(Even more complicated, what you've done with these watches could be called "close-up" or "macro photography" (two words) or "macrophotography" (one word) or "photomacrography" (also one word), depending on who's doing the calling. See this posting and other discussion in the same topic, but only if you're into etymology and philosophy. )
Personally I'm happy with "takin' pictures of little stuff", and it looks to me like you're already pretty good at it for watch-sized subjects. I can hardly wait to see what comes through the 'scope.
--Rik
These images are luscious -- very crisp and beautifully lit to show off the textures! Got any more where these came from?
By the way, that word "microphotography" is not the best description of what you want to learn. Strictly speaking, microphotography refers to making tiny photographs (as opposed to making magnified images of tiny things). I think what you want is "photomicrography", that is, taking pictures of subjects seen through the microscope.
(Even more complicated, what you've done with these watches could be called "close-up" or "macro photography" (two words) or "macrophotography" (one word) or "photomacrography" (also one word), depending on who's doing the calling. See this posting and other discussion in the same topic, but only if you're into etymology and philosophy. )
Personally I'm happy with "takin' pictures of little stuff", and it looks to me like you're already pretty good at it for watch-sized subjects. I can hardly wait to see what comes through the 'scope.
--Rik
Rik- Microphotography is what I want learn. You see, I got a bunch of itty, bitty, little frames that I need pictures for... Actually, please correct my terms. I am very new to "photomicrography" (is that correct?) and need all of the help I can get! I hope I don't offend anybody with my ignorance! Thanks for the comments regarding my images. I have some more of the watch pictures. I need to find the time to PP them.
Bill
- rjlittlefield
- Site Admin
- Posts: 23564
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
- Location: Richland, Washington State, USA
- Contact:
Bill,
Not to worry -- the crew here seems to run on a policy of "mutual non-offense", even when we disagree with each other!
Let's see, itty bitty frames...yep, you can use your microscope to fill those! Just run the thing in reverse -- focus carefully, then stick a piece of film down where the slide would normally go, put your subject above the eyepiece, and let the light shine down instead of up! Hey, it works for the semiconductor chip industry, why not you?
I'm looking forward to more watches & suchlike. What camera/lens/lighting do you use for those, anyway? And, uh, what does "PP" mean?
--Rik
Not to worry -- the crew here seems to run on a policy of "mutual non-offense", even when we disagree with each other!
Let's see, itty bitty frames...yep, you can use your microscope to fill those! Just run the thing in reverse -- focus carefully, then stick a piece of film down where the slide would normally go, put your subject above the eyepiece, and let the light shine down instead of up! Hey, it works for the semiconductor chip industry, why not you?
I'm looking forward to more watches & suchlike. What camera/lens/lighting do you use for those, anyway? And, uh, what does "PP" mean?
--Rik
-
- Posts: 414
- Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:15 am
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Steve replied:
I still cannot get over the images though, the craftsmanship of true watch makers is really a dying art it seems but I have a feeling they will be around for a good while longer.
You know I had not really noticed that. Being as I have DSL the files come up so quickly, our file size limit is 200KB there Bill but not to worry, we all mess up or forget from time to time.Really nice shots. But can you please reduce the file size in future
I still cannot get over the images though, the craftsmanship of true watch makers is really a dying art it seems but I have a feeling they will be around for a good while longer.
I save web image files as PNGs. I reduced them to 800 pixels on the longest side. But, PNGs contain more info than JPEGs. Sorry!!! I will check my file size before I post anything again!
Yes "PP" stands for post process. I only shoot digital now. I set my camera to save as Large Fine JPEG. I then PP in PS (PhotoShop).
Thanks for all of the help everybody!
Yes "PP" stands for post process. I only shoot digital now. I set my camera to save as Large Fine JPEG. I then PP in PS (PhotoShop).
Thanks for all of the help everybody!
Bill