Everyone loves an origin story. Don Vito in The Godfather 2. Batman in most franchise films & series, although I’m most partial to Batman Begins. Hell, even how the Death Star plans ended up in the hands of the rebels was simply quite epic. One thing they had in common were turning points.
Turning points that would lead on to what is now, inevitable it may be, yet still brings some surprises along the way. This is my turning point, the events that led to me pursuing the photography of watches and things horology.
The Watch
I was in Edinburgh with my family having a day out. It was my birthday and after having lunch, we were walking the sumptuous meal off. As we passed along some shops, I happen to glance at it. It was the unmistakable dial of the Snowflake, the Grand Seiko SBGA211. It was the first time I have seen it in the metal and it looked every bit as spectacular as how the YouTube videos showcased it (thank you Andrew Morgan & Teddy Baldassare I guess!). So, in I went to try it and experience it closer in the metal.
Before we get to the seemingly inevitable conclusion, the Snowflake was not without competition, for they also had the SBGA415 Taisetsu in store. Its slightly smaller dimensions & case shape was a dream on the wrist. The dial was top-notch as expected from a Grand Seiko. For all intents and purposes, it seemed the better watch. The snag? I found certain angles lacking in contrast between the dial, hands and the indices. It may have been the usual boutique lighting causing it. But if it is an issue here, it will be an issue somewhere else. Holding each watch on my hands, the boutique staff waited for my final thoughts.
I was about to call it a day due to my indecision when a question came through. “Which is the one you have always wanted? I would go with that.” And with that, the Snowflake emerged victorious and came home with me.
The Camera
When I took up photography, I was intent on shooting landscapes. It was during the time when me and my wife would frequent the English Lake District and the Scottish Highlands.
So, it was mountains, valleys, rivers and falls with the occasional picture of her. I preferred wide angles then, natural light and having to work with what got given to me on the day, with the use of the odd filter now and then.
But then we swapped hiking to pushing prams, scrambling to nappy (diaper) changes and the rolling hills to soft plays when the kids came into our lives. And with that, the cameras got seldomly used, with the exception of special occasions. The ease of the mobile phone’s camera had largely taken over in capturing life’s moments.
The arrival of the Snowflake gave the cameras a new lease of life. I really struggled to capture the intricate details of the watch’s dial using my mobile phone camera. It certainly did not look anywhere near the Hotaka mountain view in the winter that the designers in the Shinshu Watch Studio had been enjoying in my attempts. So out came the DSLRs more often and I got shooting again. I had to relearn aspects of photography to move from the wide angle shooting of landscapes to the close quarter frames needed for shooting watches.
Looking back it was the control of artificial light that was the biggest challenge, the proverbial mountain if you may, as I only tend to have time to practice shooting at night. The mastery of light is an ongoing endeavour. There are so many ways that it can be directed that it seems an unending pursuit. The creative aspects that come with imagining and generating a scene, a frame, a shot – the possibilities are just endless.
The Community
For years, my watch content fix was satisfied by YouTube, with the aforementioned personalities amongst others driving my curiosity and knowledge further. I did however start following some brands on Instagram for the nice photos. Seeking inspiration from what felt like a solitary existence. But then, the so-called algorithm had other ideas and started suggesting other non-brand accounts. Josh (@moodydials), Verne (@watchstudies), Tom (@bowlofsalmon), Trish (@watch_girl_life), Dhareza (@dhareza.jpg) and Ryan (@hendersonshorology) were the first accounts that I followed on my personal account.
Unbeknownst to me at the time, they were the tip of the iceberg of what is a vibrant community of collectors, creators and enthusiasts. One thing was for sure, I needed an outlet for my shots and that place was Instagram. So I settled on a handle, started posting and have since connected with a lot of like-minded folk. It is quite a collective – diverse, very welcoming and very supportive. Some might prefer solitude in the creative process, but I like to be in the midst of it, surrounded by the energy and inspiration and the good people that emanates it. And for that I am thankful to the watch community.
The path forward
It is through the combination of the watch, the camera and the community that I find myself at this juncture. A combination that has served as a personal turning point and opened a path previously unknown. I have been blessed to be able to work with both local and global brands in capturing their pieces. It has been an absolute pleasure to have met fellow community members and some of my horological heroes along the way. You will generally catch me in Redbar North East & Redbar Leeds meet-ups. You might even bump into me during British Watchmakers’ Day. And hopefully, I will be able to make Watches and Wonders again this year as a member of the watch-loving public.
The creative journey continues, as there are still so many concepts to try out and master. I am not entirely sure where this journey leads to, the story is still playing out. Have I developed a certain style? I guess the answer to that is no, well maybe not yet nor is it a conscious pursuit. Sure, I have developed certain preferences but if there is anything that this path has taught me is that sometimes you just got to let the timepiece “tell” you how it wants to be framed, how it wants to be captured. And through that, you always learn something new. Here is to more watches & more images to come.
The Timepiecer 
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