Watch photographers of WatchCrunch, where did you start?

I have learned a lot from Peter McKinnon videos.  Mostly lightroom and off camera lighting tricks.  Another thing you can do is reach out to the photographers you like on here and instagram and ask them questions.  I am far from professional but I am always happy to chat with someone about cars, watches, photography, etc etc.  

Thank you, I’ll check him out! I like your photos so I may throw a question your way in the future

When i started with photography i found this book very helpful, learning about different compositions and perspectives.

https://www.amazon.de/Photographers-Eye-Graphic-Guide/dp/1908150912

Besides learning some basics, you could search for some interesting pictures and try to recreate them or the style. sort of learning by doing.

Thanks for the recommendation. Do you think it is better to start broad and learn fundamentals across all types of photography, or could I jump straight into watch photography without caring about landscapes and portraits?

I started photography when I was like 8 and then really got into it at 19. 

I'd recommend YouTube. Switch between learning and practice. Lighting is by far the most important in studio photography. I wouldn't bother buying courses. You can learn pretty much everything from free videos and practice. 

I'd recommend getting three continuous lights (not flashing lights) because they are easy to use and very versatile. Godox have the best value for money that I know of. Plus some softboxes as large as you can afford. 150cm or even larger if you can.  And heavy duty stands. 

That's one of my recent ones plus a photo of my cat from the same day. 

But I'm much newer to watches. Most my life I've been photographing other stuff. 

Thanks! Are there any channels you recommend, especially to a beginner?

I think some compositioning and Lightning basics always good to know and than focus on studio photography.

It really depends what you want to learn. Each channel/creator has their own areas of expertise. I'd just type what you want to learn into the search. 

What I'd say it's just be careful with channels that try to make themselves look like an authority or super professional in a huge studio etc. Often I find their advice to be a bit crap. 

And there's a ton of influence from industry/products and Amazon affiliate sales so just be aware of the bullcrap.

And don't worry too much about gear. A good photographer will be able to do great stuff with a 10 year old $100 Sony mirrorless camera and a couple of basic lenses. - you're the important tool, not the camera. 

Thank you!

I started when I wanted to learn how to take pictures of my family. I joined a local camera club and picked up tips and entered competitions. The competitions gave me valuable criticism and feedback on why some pictures worked and some didn’t. I went to galleries and tried to work out why something was being exhibited. I read books and looked at pictures, I liked and tried to figure what was appealing about them and tried to re-create them. If something didn’t work I would ask people why I had failed.

I started off with a point and shoot camera and learnt composition - for me, this still the most important element in any picture. It can make any subject have way more impact than any other factor. I shot for two years like this. Even when I thought I had learnt it, I kept doing it. Things like rule of thirds, leading lines, distractions on the edge of your frame, when to use centre composition. And then to realise all of this in the snap second before or after taking your shot. You can gradually add new techniques. I‘ve said this before - I think of every photograph as a ‘conversation’ between the author and the viewer. The conversation always starts with the author/photographer asking the same question: “I saw ‘this’, can you see it too?” If you imagine yourself asking that question and thinking how the viewer will answer, you eventually start taking better photographs. Technique comes in when you need to be more descriptive in that conversation. It extends your photographic ‘vocabulary’ and allows you to be more eloquent in your description. You don’t have to use ‘fancy’ words every time you describe a scene but it’s there if and when you need it.

An average photographer with an excellent camera will always be beaten by a good photographer with an ’average’ camera. No one ever asked Michaelangelo what chisels he used to carve the Statue of David or what wood the handles were made of on said chisels….! The equipment will last you until you think you ‘outgrown’ it - in my experience, that’s a LOT longer than you always think. It’s a hobby you can never truly master, you can only accumulate knowledge and try figure out all the problems along the way. It’s frustrating when you get stuck in a rut but pays off handsomely when you get the shot you see in your mind. Hope that helps and good luck!

Thanks Chung, there were a lot of good insights there. Composition definitely sounds interesting and at the core of creativity for photography 

Sure. Btw I sent you a private message. 

Digesting short-form content from approachable youtubers like Peter McKinnon and Chris Hau are great ways to start absorbing knowledge through osmosis. If you can watch relevant videos from them every day, you'll be on a great way to developing a good philosophy on photography.

Two channels that have helped point me in the right direction for photography are Adrian Barker/Bark & Jack for his dry humor and wit, and Winters and Bui for informative step-by-step tips. Here are two videos that really helped me. Feel free to DM so we can chat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z8sJa85TBA&ab_channel=IAmBarks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDFQA2rOdFE&ab_channel=Winters%26Bui

Thank you Ben! I will check them out 

I just wing it, I've looked at the early how to from the Watch Clicker.  I need to get better at staging but I'm having fun with it and that's all that matters to me. 

Nice! I just got a camera yesterday and have just been messing around. Questions come up as you go so there is a natural progression

I'm not into investing more than an iphone for a camera - but love thinking about how to best compose a pic.  

I remember as a teen and uni student having to burn through rolls of film and the cost of developing to experiment with light and angles, so it always feels amazing to shoot a dozen or so pix with no extra cost when finding the best shot.  Was always just for fun and my own interest.

For watches I'd like to get some kind of a macro lens I could clip onto my iphone.

We should start up a 'best of' page for highly acclaimed WRUW shots! 😃

here is some of my faves

Edit: shoot I thought your comment was on a different post.

I'm having a lot of fun shooting on a budget camera that my friend lent me. It's a Nikon D40 and you can get one used for under $60! The lens, however, is a 35mm 1:1.8G, which is around $160 used

Holy Crap!!!  DSLRs are that cheap??  I had no idea.   

I used to shoot on a 35mm film based Nikon FE in the olden days, but haven't used an SLR in well over a decade.    

I'm very curious how much better pix you can get when comparing to a modern good lens and software iphone.  Keep us informed!!