Last week, we picked out the first set of submissions responding to our call to #ShootYourWatches which were sent to our email. This week, we follow up with the first set from submissions on Instagram, which had used the hashtag.
As mentioned, we were overwhelmed by the number and quality of the submissions. Here are some of the best from Instagram. In no particular order. Almost none of the Instagram submissions have exif information, or details of how the photographs were taken.
@watchful_waiting
@watchful_waiting sent in several entries, all of them excellent. Our pick is this deep macro of the tapisserie pattern on the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
@rp_thorn
@rp_thorn also submitted many entries, and the one which struck us most was this creative self portrait over his Zenith El primero, titled “The Old Man and his watch…”.
Normally we would shun reflections in the crystal, but here is a very creative use of the bright glare. He blocked the light just so, that his silhouette appears on it.
@numeroxxii
@numeroxxii also tagged us on several posts. Our selection is this one. It may seem to be rather pedestrian at first glance, but we were impressed with the lighting on the photograph of his Habring2. Even lighting, no glare on the crystal so the dial is nice and contrasty. Also the background has a smooth vignette.
He did note the camera was a Fujifilm XE-3, a mirrorless APS-C camera with 24 Mp. And the lens used was the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 L LM OIS, a kit lens, but one which is excels above most in this genre. He had processed the photograph through Capture 1 Pro.
@dash_and_dial
@dash_and_dial is up next with this very graphic expression of the Seiko 5 Ref. 7S26 03R0, aka “Nautilus”. We liked the strong, bright colours and the pattern on which he set the flat lay.
@danielguillanton
@danielguillanton Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ref. 5402a. This is an early Royal Oak. Daniel did not say how old was the watch, did indicate this was from the A Series, which began the historical revolution which created the Luxury Sports Watch genre.
We liked the setup with the RO served up on a porcelain platter, and may have been a bit dull, but he saved it with the sprig of leaves on the right. Nicely balanced composition, though if he had zoomed in a bit more to get more details of the watch, and used a plate which hinted and echoed the octagonal shape of the bezel, it would be stronger.
@brinktime
@brinktime’s submission is an environmental portrait of his Omega Seamaster 120 “Jacques Mayol”. A quartz watch, no doubt, but one steeped in the history of diving as Jacques used one to do his record breaking 101m free dive in 1981. The watch looked to be in superb condition, and we liked the placement among some movement parts and tool.
@barnawatches
@barnawatches also sent in many entries. And the one we picked is this one of his F.P. Journe Chronometre Souverain, set to an angle to show the variety of textures in the dial finish.
He notes that he used a Canon EOS 80D 24Mp, APS-C DSLR with the EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM macro lens. It is not clear if he used the L version, and what the settings were.
@schtebie
Next what @schtebie calls a glamour shot of his Omega Railmaster sitting on a copy of the Hodinkee magazine. The lighting is superb, with a light glare coming from the light source on the left providing just a hint to see the shape of the crystal on the watch.
No exif or shooting data is available, but in his profile, he indicated that he shoots with Fujifilm.
Concluding thoughts
There it is. Another selection of highly satisfying photographs. Nicely done, folks. Next we will round up with a selection submitted to both the [email protected] email or in Instagram hashtag #ShootYourWatches, before we do the final selection and choose one to award a watch branded souvenir. Meanwhile, keep submitting!
