Thanks JC for your further information.
Please I didn't mean your this works is better than your previous works. I just have some different feeling when I look at your new works. All your works are in super quality to me. I have print your photos and keep them in my drawing notebook together with the advise in monogram that you gave me before. I know the lines are very very fine in the watch and the real engraving in the watch is far better than the photos.
I think if I can have a chance to hold it in my hand and look at the detail, I will run away immediately...............with the watch in my hand
It looks to me your photos are already very good! It's professional. I did take commercial photography job before and photography is one of my favourite hobby/professional. For better quality marco photo, don't know if the following information can help:
You need a better camera that can take higher resolution images, one that can change lens can better, mine is D200 Nikon (I use it but not recommend this camera!!!), it's good to have a better quality camera to keep record of your excellent works, they will leave you and back to their owner once you finish the job.
1. Get a Marco lens, 60mmMarco is o.k., 120mm or 180mm do have more magnification power.
2. Use tripod, cable release to avoid camera vibration, now most digital camera need digital cable cord and they are crazy expensive, really didn't worth, so use the "self-time" function of your camera also works well, set the time at least 5 second. I don't have the digital cable cord.
3. set the aperature to minimum, i.e. the largest f/stop number, this need a longer exposure time so you need a tripod and cable release. This is the depth of field control, to make the photo sharper.
4. if you need to use flash light, put one or two layer of tracing paper in front of the flash light (if it is built-in), now many people use the semi-transparent milk bottle, after you drink all the milk, cut it half and use the bottom to cover the flash light, this work as a diffuser to avoid hard edge shadow.
5. You need to set the resolution of images of your camera to its maximum, it can capture every details of your watches, but for online photos, you have to reduce it after you load the images to your computer becasue too large in size cause problem in upload and download. You also need to set the "contrast, tone value, saturation, white balance' in your camera before you take the shot, although you can make the adjustment later with Photoshop or other software.
6. Finally you may not enjoy the large resolution photo by a good sharp lens because it shows everything, good or bad, we can see the very tiny scratch, the dust become a white hair.....nearly most good photos of the watches we can see in the magazine are photo-retouched-a rather time-consuming process with Photoshop or other photo retouch software.
I will try to show one high res. photo shot in watch later today if I have time and you will know what I mean.
You've taught me a lot in engraving and above is my very limited knowledge in photography that I can share with you, hope it can help.
I would like to add that I found the shadow effect of the engraving in your watch is strong and this looks very good and I like it so much so I ask how you do it. I don't mean to comment that the shadow is too strong, hope my poor English haven't mess up everything.
I think I better talk less...or even shut up..
seems I have problem in express what I want to say...properly.
Regards,
Zernike
I've pm you something about marco photography.
Zernike