11 replies to this topic

[Sailjunkie]

Hi everyone,

 

One of my camera club's summer assignments was bottles.  By happy coincidence, we bought some wine during our Okanagan holiday.     Because photographing wine bottles has previously been outside my "wheel house", I would welcome some feedback before I submit them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I shot all images at 

• ISO 64
• f11
• 1/125 sec

For lighting I used a speedlight that was either behind a home-made scrim or mounted in a Westcott soft-box.  I also used a white core foam core on the opposite side of the speed-light.

 

Thanks for looking, everyone. 

[james23p]

Nice work Mark, glad you took the photos before you popped the corks! 

 

Jim

[justshootit]

I like these with the following comments.
Image 1 - not quite enough fill on camera right.
All images - add just the smallest touch of light so we can see the bottoms of the bottles.

Other than that, they're great images.

[Sailjunkie]

Thanks for the kind words, Don and Jim.

 

Don, I fully agree with all of your points.  After shooting Image #1, I changed to a larger light and added a fill card on the other side.  As for the bottom of the bottles, I should have caught that earlier. 

[Art]

Very nice, Mark.

 

Sorry, just saw this.

 

I like them all but number 3 is near perfect.  

 

It looks to me like you have light on the left and reflected light from the right.

 

The only thing I would do is up the light a little and try to get some light in behind the bottle.  The reflection on the bottle is nice, even on both sides, dark in the middle.  In my books that is as good as it gets.  You just have to make the bottle look a little less flat by introducing some light behind it.  Foam core?

 

I also think you need a little more DoF on that particular shot.  The label looks a touch soft on the bottom.

[Sailjunkie]

Very nice, Mark.

 

Sorry, just saw this.

 

I like them all but number 3 is near perfect.  

 

It looks to me like you have light on the left and reflected light from the right.

 

The only thing I would do is up the light a little and try to get some light in behind the bottle.  The reflection on the bottle is nice, even on both sides, dark in the middle.  In my books that is as good as it gets.  You just have to make the bottle look a little less flat by introducing some light behind it.  Foam core?

 

I also think you need a little more DoF on that particular shot.  The label looks a touch soft on the bottom.

 

Thank you for the kind words, Art.

 

Your guess about the lighting set up is spot on.  I had a soft-box on camera left and a white foam core card on camera right.

 

After 3 months of Project 52, plus the addition of 2 strobe lights, I might shoot this a bit differently now.  I'd place a strobe on either side, as close to the bottles as I could get without getting the lights in the frame.  Then diffuse them further with a scrim in front.  For good measure, I'd put small white foam core cards in front of the bottles at either corner.  Finally, as you suggest, a light behind the bottles (Don calls it a spray light?).  Our last assignment before the holidays is due Dec 18th, so I might have a go at this over the break. 

[Art]

Good idea, look forward to seeing what you come up with.  Ideally, try to get the reflection on both sides symmetrical and even intensity, without over powering the exposure.

 

Reminds me a lot of the type of things we were doing in my flash class.

[Dennis]

Does the background need to be black?

My thought is a large wooden cutting board behind. Having spill from one of the lights. Keep in mind, the light will still reflect in the glass, without the light actually facing the bottle. So a main light pointing more on the background will still reflect. And spill light on the background.

A small flash light shining behind to light a bit of the wine inside, should help with giving the bottle demension .

[Sailjunkie]

Does the background need to be black?

My thought is a large wooden cutting board behind. Having spill from one of the lights. Keep in mind, the light will still reflect in the glass, without the light actually facing the bottle. So a main light pointing more on the background will still reflect. And spill light on the background.

A small flash light shining behind to light a bit of the wine inside, should help with giving the bottle demension .

 

To answer your question, Nope.  I've been looking for some good wooden backgrounds.  Home Depot or Rona not much help.  Antique stores are the next stop. 

 

I like your idea. 

[Art]

Mark,

 

See if you can reclaim some wood somewhere and make a crate.  The more weathered, the more interesting the prop!  Put your handyman skills to the test!

[Sailjunkie]

Mark,

 

See if you can reclaim some wood somewhere and make a crate.  The more weathered, the more interesting the prop!  Put your handyman skills to the test!

 

I won't guarantee results, but that's the plan.  Rona and Home Depot only have fresh wood scraps.  A few people on Project 52 suggested antique stores.  So, we're going to check out a Re-store-it outlet on Thursday.    

[Dennis]

Goo to goodwill (type stores) and get a few used cutting boards.