This is Assignment 52 - our final assignment.
This would suitable for an email promo, postcard or a portfolio cover. There were no specific requirements. It had to show what we do; and how we do it. It had to be a shot that we are proud of. The big requirement is that it has to get the viewer to pay serious attention.
I decided to go with a minimalist approach. Over the past year, I've learned that the KISS principle serves me well. The less cluttered the image, the better. 
Hard to say if I will continue with this style over the long term, but for now, I quite like it.
For this shot, I decided to experiment with a technique called Dark Field Lighting. My glass is placed directly in front of the soft box. The soft box has a large foam black card placed directly in front of. The key is to leave space for light to come around the edges and the top - that is what lights up the edges of the glass. I also used black cards on both sides, to eliminate reflections. Finally, I hung a large piece of black paper in front of my camera. There was a hole cut in it, for the lens.
I learned a lot from this assignment, even if it was a bit of a "graduation" exercise. I found that my strobe's modelling light let me see how the shot would look before I took. As an example, slight movements of the glass to one side or another changed the symmetry of the light showing in the glass.
Here's the technical stuff:
- Godox Strobe with soft box @ 1.5
- 1 large black card, directly in front of the soft box.
- 2 smaller black cards, on each side.
Camera data:
- D810
- ISO64
- 24-70/f2.8 @ 70mm
- 1/125 sec.
- f 3.2
My instructor's only suggestion was to add a layer that matched the background. Then, roughly where the body and stem met, add a simulated "spray" light. I did this by placing the glass into a separate layer. Then, on the black layer I used a white brush at 10% opacity. The resulting feedback was all positive.
I can't say enough good things about Project 52. It has taken my skill set to levels that I would never have thought possible. I met some wonderful people and had a helluva lot of fun along the way. Thanks for looking, everyone. 
