Ming Thein • Fratellowatches - Opinions on watches, watch reviews, watch stories & industry news

Fratellowatches In DigitalSLR Photography Magazine

May 15, 2013 by Robert-Jan Leave a Comment

Although we have been mentioned in various magazines (e.g. Chronos, WATCH, Style:Men) and newspapers (e.g. FT) before, Fratellowatches also got a mention in the February issue of DigitalSLR Photography magazine. Thanks to our guest contributor Ming Thein who did a number of photo essays for us and a very interesting interview with Linde Werdelin’s co-founder Jorn Werdelin.

Fratellowatches In DigitalSLR Photography Magazine

Ming Thein is being interviewed by this photography magazine (the biggest on photography in the U.K.) in February, telling the readers about making his step from a corporate environment to being a professional photographer. Of course, it also tells the reader what we already know, how and why he wants to capture watches with his camera. Although we advice you to order the magazine, you can read the interview with Ming Thein here as well.

Fratellowatches In DigitalSLR Photography Magazine

Make sure to visit the website of Ming Thein about photography as well. His Camerapedia, workshops and portfolio (Photoessays) are legendary already. His official website is: blog.mingthein.com.

Filed Under: Interview, Interviews Tagged With: Ming Thein, photography

Photoessay: The Maitres du Temps Chapter Three

June 19, 2012 by Ming Thein 3 Comments

Disclaimer: The watch photographed was an early production prototype. I’m told there will be a number of changes to the final version, they’re also looking into the possibility of additional/ alternate dials…

The Maitres du Temps Chapter Three is an interesting piece because it carries clear DNA from its creator – Kari Voutilainen (the dial) – whilst at the same time retaining the brand’s own DNA (the rollers). It’s a substantial but not oversized watch at about 42mm in diameter; contained inside are time functions, small seconds, date, synodic moon phase indication, day/night indicator and second time zone display. The latter two functions are hidden under panels on the dial at 12 and 6 that retract slightly into the plane of the dial and rotate out of the way, activated by the button concentric to the crown; the fact that they sit flush when hiding the functions is a neat touch.

There’s a button at 9 to advance the second time zone display, on two rollers (normally hidden under the panel at 6). You can see the action of the panels in the final two images. The more time I spend with their watches, the more I feel that Maitres du Temps is definitely a brand to watch because it collaborates with famous watchmakers to create the various ‘Chapters’ – they do have an in-house execution and assembly facility headed by the noted Andreas Strehler, but each project always lands up different because it carries the DNA of the master watchmaker in charge of the project. (I’ll probably get shot for saying this, but in many ways, it feels like a more classical version of MB&F.) Chapter 3 looks nothing like 1 and 2; they were of course designed by completely different watchmakers. Personally, this piece is by far my favorite – I think of it as classical, with a twist. MT

This series shot with a Nikon D800, AFS 60/2.8 G Micro, and several SB900s. As always, clicking on an image brings you to the Flickr landing page, from which you can view a larger version.

More information can be found at:

www.facebook.com/MaitresduTemps

www.maitresdutemps.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: chapter 3, chapter three, fratellowatches, Maitres du Temps, met, Ming Thein, Photo Essay, photoessay, photographie, preview, prototype

Opening Night: The Art Of Watch Photography Exhibition By Our Own Ming Thein

May 5, 2012 by Ming Thein Leave a Comment

Last night was the grand opening party for my exhibition of fine art watch photography at Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pending any unforeseen changes, the images should be up for the next two weeks on the first (Adorn) floor. The exhibition was co-sponsored by Jaeger-LeCoultre and Leica, with CEO Jerome Lambert, Swiss Ambassador Dr. Rolf Lenz and Malaysian Tourism Minister Dato Ng Yen Yen doing the honors. Some images from the launch party follow. Images courtesy KH Yeo and myself.

I’ll be putting up a full set of the photos from the exhibition in the next couple of days for the readers who can’t make it to Kuala Lumpur. An article on how the series was shot is here on my blog. MT

Setup.

With George Wong from Leica.

The entrance

Arrival of Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Dato Ng Yen Yen

Jaeger Le-Coultre CEO Jerome Lambert shows Dato Ng Yen Yen around the exhibition

Signing the big print.

L-R: Yours truly, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh (MD, YTL Group), Jerome Lambert (CEO, Jaeger Le-Coultre), Dato Ng Yen Yen (Minister of Tourism), Dr. Rolf Lenz (Swiss Ambassador to Malaysia), Sunil Kaul (Leica Asia-Pacific MD)