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How I shot this photo - my studio setup, using Art Paper creatively, focus-stacking technique, and Zenith El Primero A3818.
Dec 20th, 2025
As always start with setting up the studio gear. I used a Fujifilm X-H2 camera with an 80mm macro lens. My main light is Aputure 120W LED. To shape the lighting, I added a Lee white diffusion sheet, silver paper reflectors, and blue art paper as for the background. I also needed a table, tripod, "helping hands" clamps, and light stands to support the diffusion sheet and lighting setup.
The watch is set standing by using follow focus ring.
I could have captured the final image in a single exposure, but chose a compositing approach instead - for the best quality. One photo was dedicated solely to the watch, and another to the "curled-paper-scene". In this tutorial you see images where the watch has blue strap and then black one - well, I tried different angles - but, it was similar approach to all.
I began by setting up the lighting. My main light, Aputure 120W LED, was positioned to the left of the table and diffused through a LEE 216 white diffusion scrim. The objective was to create a soft, graduated light with controlled specular highlights toward the center of the frame. This approach produces smooth tonal transitions across the brushed steel case while remaining highly controllable. If I wouldn't had used a reflector on the light, it would have given me more diffused light on the watch case. But, it would have been a bit too flat for this shot.
When photographing watches, light is never just light - it is reflection. Every surface surrounding the subject becomes part of the lighting environment, whether intentionally placed or not. For this reason, the silver-colored paper reflectors played a critical role in shaping reflections on the case. The amount of reflected light had to be carefully balanced so that specular highlights would not overpower the brushed texture. In this instance, the top surface of the case is brushed, and exposure needed to be precise to preserve that finish.
First, I photographed the watch without the curled paper strips in place. This clean frame was later used as the base for the case (and for strap for some photos), with the paper elements composited in during post-production.
By cutting the paper into long strips and curling them, I could introduce depth and dynamic into an otherwise flat background. The curves break the rigidity of straight lines and help lead the viewer's eye naturally toward the watch. Instead of acting as a literal backdrop, the paper becomes part of the composition - shaping space around the subject rather than simply sitting behind it. The curling also creates subtle layers, which respond differently to light. Some surfaces catch highlights, while others fall into shadow.
I tried different "curls" and when I was finally happy, took the shot.
I used focus bracketing function on my Fuji camera to take 56 images of the watch and the scene. This tecchnique is important to get the maximum details on the watch. Later on in post-production I used Helicon Focus application to stitch these images into one file.
I took both landscape and portrait format shots, because I felt I needed to have both styles. And with different straps too. I used Veblenist straps in these shots. These are amazing value.
