An interview with WatchCalvin

In the first segment of what I am hoping will be a series, I’m going to provide an interview with myself for those that are interested in knowing more about me!

So tell us more about yourself - who are you, where are you, what do you do?

My name is Calvin, as you already know (though it would be quite funny if my name was actually something else). I’m from Sydney, Australia, representing the small cohort of Aussie watch photographers in this community. During the day, I work in a data analytics profession, which is why you’ll see me inherently reference numbers a lot. I think it’s something that helps me approach Instagram a little differently than most.

How did you get into watch collecting?

A lot of my watch collecting actually happened very recently. For most of my life, I’ve only really had a few watches at most. I grew up with a Seiko 5 that my dad gave me, which I still have to this day. Still works too. It wasn’t until I graduated uni that I was gifted my Explorer 2 by my parents, back in the days that you could walk into an AD and get these with a chunky discount. This was my one watch for a good decade, and all of the scuffs are there to show it. I wore it everywhere, to do everything. It wasn’t until the era of COVID did I really start to get into collecting watches, with the original purpose being photography related!

How did you get into photography?

I think I got into it around 2015, through my brother. He needed a camera for one of his courses, and we went out to choose an Olympus OMD EM-10 (the original!) together. I borrowed it for a trip and just fell in love with the process of taking pictures. I had no idea what I was doing, I had no idea how manual worked, but I had a ton of fun. Ever since, it’s just been a huge rabbit hole of many cameras. To date, I’ve shot with Olympus, Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Sony - from mirrorless to DSLR, to even film (Pentax K1000!). It’s been a wild ride and I’m glad I picked up a camera.

What got you into creating an Instagram account for this hobby?

My account was created during our lockdown period, where we could only leave the house for essentials. Having really just shot travel, landscapes and portraits, not having those photography opportunities made me feel a bit pent up creatively. I wanted something that I could shoot indoors from the comfort of my room and thought why not give watch photography a try! I created my account on 15 Aug 2021, and took my very first wrist shot with my Hamilton Khaki Field Auto. I’ve been hooked ever since, going down the rabbit hole of even more watches and photography gear.

What’s your go-to gear and what does your setup/space and workflow look like?

90% of my photos are shot on my Fuji X100V. I could honestly build my entire account solely off this camera. It’s that good. It’s the camera I recommend to just about anyone.

I shoot in my study room, on a couple of IKEA Bror workbenches under a frosted window. I am all for large, diffused natural light sources. Many of you will have seen this setup already, it’s just what works best for me. I also have a Godox SL60 and Aputure Light Dome Mini II for times I want to use controlled light (not very often at the moment).

Whenever I think the lighting is good, I just pop over to the bench, pick up a bunch of props and lay them out. I typically make it up as I go, before popping it into Lightroom for some quick editing.

Do you have any grails that you’d like to pick up one day, whether watches/photography/EDC gear?

I think in terms of watches and photography gear, I’m satisfied with what I have. I have no further need to get anything else. The only watch on my radar (which I am in no rush) is if I get offered a 124270 Explorer.

In terms of EDC gear, it’s definitely been an interesting rabbit hole to research and I’m slowly getting more involved with it. I have some items on the way, and I look forward to building that collection.

Do you have any gear that you swear by and would recommend in a heartbeat?

Fuji X100V. Other than that, use what you have. I get a lot of questions from people asking me what they should get, and I honestly think as long as you’re using a camera and not a phone, you can easily do what I do. Your lighting matters the most and would be the first thing I prioritise even before a camera. I believe that the camera is purely an ergonomic choice, with lighting and lens selection being the critical part. The rest is your creativity.

Do you have any further aspirations with what you’re doing?

I’d like to try my best at breaking into the 5 digit barrier of followers. I want to use this platform as a means of showcasing other people’s work as well as awesome brands and products. I’d like to be able to offer support and guidance on how people can improve their watch photography. I have a few other aspirations in mind regarding building this into a brand and a community, but we’ll see how we go. I still have a day job after all!

Any parting words of wisdom for our readers?

If you want to grow, you need to be stepping outside your creative comfort zones, getting constructive feedback, and being critical about your photos.