Face Behind The Face

[alfredo]

[Celebration]

1. Nice!

I miss those old mechanical watches. And the workings are really beautiful. Sometimes I wear one my grandmother left me, though I never have taken off the back. I was constantly taking things apart when I was a kid, and I remember that you said that you wanted to use photography to retain childlike wonder. I'm just afraid I would mess it up, not be able to get the watch back together, etc. Oh, yeah, that type thing happened when I was a kid, too.

I can't say I really miss film cameras, though. ;)

[alfredo]

2. Would a child worry about messing things up? The back

comes off one of three ways. If you see a hinge, you can open it that way. Some like the one showed, unscrewed. Some you have to pry open. There might be a small indentation for your soon to be broken fingernail, but give it a try.


The good watches have jewels (rubies) to act as bearings. 17 or 21 jewels is a good sign.

[Adsos Letter]

3. Wow! A beautiful photo of a beautiful timepiece, alfredo. I am amazed by the details

the craftsman included inside those workings. Your photo picks them up quite nicely, even down to the graduation marks on the adjustment.

[Tindalos]

4. What a beautiful piece

Wish they still made them like this. The inner workings are so intricate, who can resist the urge to take them apart and figure out how they work. Too bad modern watches are such crap - mostly plastic too so there's no way they'll last as long as this one.

[alfredo]

5. They still do, but you have to sell your soul to get one.

[HappyCynic]

6. I've always wanted...

I love the way you've captured the light reflecting off the parts. I've always wanted a watch like this but if I got one, I probably would be too afraid to damage or lose it that I wouldn't use it. I've also wanted a cheap, non-functional one that I could take apart without worrying about getting it back together.

[alfredo]

7. Any old wrist watch can give you many good photos. Yeah

take it apart, look over each individual mechanisms. A jumble of parts from a disassembled watch can make some wonderful images. You will need some jewelers tools, but you can find locally.
Look at antique stores, yard sales, Goodwill.


You can tell if there was passion involved in the design and manufacturing of machinery.



A guy might not be able to tell his wife he loves her, but will get misty eyed over a finely machined tool or machine.