Ok, so maybe it's not really <i>poor</i> man's, because I still used a D70 and a hefty tripod, flash, remote, etc - but I'm talking without spending $2000 on lighting gear ...


<b>STUDIO:</b>

<u>Ingredients</u>
1 kitchen counter
1 tripod plus Nikon D70 / 50mm f/1.8 / 12mm extension tube
1 Sigma flash, with Stofen diffuser and "paper towel" diffuser.
1 mini-tripod stand and green cloth
1 bottle of Laphroaig 10 year
1 open white foamboard box of home made design
1 plastic grocery bag, white

<u>Method</u>
As seen in the diagram, I set up the kitchen to diffuse light through the Stofen and paper towel, onto the bottle, creating the reflection in the crystal on the watch, where I aimed the camera, focused on the bottle as seen in the watch face.

<img src="http://www.drwombat.com/temp/studio1.jpg">

I also made use of the white foamboard box to reflect additional light back onto the watch face where it otherwise fell into shadow. White balance was set to Auto, but was effectively a mix of incandescent (kitchen lights) and flash.

<img src="http://www.drwombat.com/temp/studio2.jpg">

I also held the white grocery bag directly over the setup while using the remote release (wireless) to shoot, to diffuse the kitchen light and prevent any glare on the watch.

Ghetto? Yes.
Fabulous? Haha - I think so. Cheap lighting studio ...



<b>RESULTS:</b>

<img src="http://www.drwombat.com/temp/omega4.jpg" border="1">



I also made these two shots, without all the flash setup, just direct light diffused through the grocery bag inside the white box

<img src="http://www.drwombat.com/temp/omega1.jpg" border="1">

<img src="http://www.drwombat.com/temp/omega2.jpg" border="1">

Great inginuity as well.

Love the watch.. (I own that Seamaster as well)

I love the 2nd hand, dragged shutter shot.
It'd be catalog quality if the BG was dark.....
Making the watch stand out more.
Wtih the White BG and the chrome/silver being darker, the BG is too over powering.

Great stuff, none the less.

kj