Wine shots

[blaze_away]

I am doing some trial runs ready to shoot some pictures for a friends new bistro.
Here are a couple of my trial shots.

Taken with D2x, ISO-100, Sigma 50-500 at 100 mm, F16, 1/250 sec.
Lighting 2 flash heads, each at 45 degrees to the camera, both wth soft boxes fitted.

Any comments, be honest, I can take it, I need to get better !!

1: Nice tipple after these shots

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0283-2.jpg

2: Interesting little number.....didn't dare open it !!

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0271-2.jpg

[Janice]

I like the compositon... but they both look wonky to the right.. .with the second photo being the worst for this.

I also think the exposure could be upped a bit to make it a bit brighter,
but having said that.. once fixed I think they will be great. :woot:

[EdinburghGary]

I these are very nice, although, the grey background is a little dull. Watch for your sensor spots!!

G.

[blaze_away]

Agree they are a bit wonky, I only have a manfrotto ball-head and the sigma is soooo heeeavvy it keeps sliding round, must get more suitable head unit.

The background is actually white, but its about 4 feet away with no additional lighting, I'll stick another light up and whiten it a bit.

Just had my first ever experience of sensor spots, 2 appeared in the middle of doing the shoot, guess I'll need to get the camera cleaned as well now.

Thanks for all your comments very much appreciated.

Cheers
Frank

[blaze_away]

Another flash on the background, straightened, increased exposure, and PS'd the sensor spots and you get.....

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0293.jpg

Now the background needs ironing.......

[LeeP]

Now the background needs ironing.......

How about another flash on the left to remove the grey altogether? Also - any chance of controlling the reflections? They just look a little "messy" for print perhaps?

Lee

[Moos3h]

What about Old School?

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e256/Moos3h/wine.jpg

Cheers,
James

[EdinburghGary]

Haha Moosh, you have just helped find a new Sensor Spot :)

I think the 2nd edit with the flash is best so far, but want to see the while thing with a white backround...

[Moos3h]

Yep, filthy sensor...! ;)

Cheers,
James

[EdinburghGary]

Yep, filthy sensor...! ;)

Cheers,
James

Think I can spot 5 or 6 so far....I have a similar number on mine.

[Moos3h]

Check this out, quite some lattitude in the hidden detail!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e256/Moos3h/win2.jpg

[EdinburghGary]

Wow how did you "unlock" that? Thats amazing!!

[Moos3h]

Maximum recovery, clarity, vibrance and fill light in Lightroom.

It gives a peculiar feel, but it's amazing for seeing what shouldn't be seen ;)

Cheers,
James

[Jayst84]

Old school works well on the wine and bread to an extent, but the grapes now look mouldy to my eye.

I think the main thing that needs tweaking is that the highlights on the bottle look to obviously like reflections of softboxes. Left and right highlights are too central and close together in general too.

[Jayst84]

Wow, that wine makes a cracking mirror.

[frank]

Another flash on the background, straightened, increased exposure, and PS'd the sensor spots and you get.....

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0293.jpg

Now the background needs ironing.......

Like this one better, the edit with the pink background shows the label on the bottle as nearly blown, same with the bread. Is there no way you can stop the reflection of the lamps on the bottle and glass
? that's the only thing that spoils it for me.

[blaze_away]

Added another flash head to the left, upped the power to both background heads and now its all white and removed the soft boxes and dropped the power to the main lights and here's what I got.

AND Wow, what a lot of replies, thanks folks, really appreciate your feedback, btw the grapes aren't mouldy just they have a 'fresh' bloom on them, very sweet and tasty too.....perks of the job, what a way to spend a hot afternoon, doing what I love and I get to eat and drink the set !!!

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0321-2.jpg

[EdinburghGary]

Maximum recovery, clarity, vibrance and fill light in Lightroom.

It gives a peculiar feel, but it's amazing for seeing what shouldn't be seen ;)

Cheers,
James

How do you do it without a raw file?

[nigelcampbell]

Ok... here's my 2 cents worth.

Unless there's a reason to have a white background, why not go black? I know what you're thinking... that the red wine will dissapear but it wont. You need to move your lights out and to the side so that they create highlights on each side of the bottle, along the edges (they should do the same for the glass) The dark background will make everything look a little richer (you can also try a dark green or other dark hued backgrounds. This will stop everthing being so bleachy and you can give it a bit more saturation to bring out the colours.

I would also sugges that the composition is a little one dimensional - try getting the cheese to come towards us and maybe place some other grapes behind the bottle (blurring with the DoF).

In general you want to say something about the product (other than "this is in focus") so you might want to to give it a luxury feel, or a party feel etc. This should be reflected in the lighting, staging and composition.


Just a thought.

[EdinburghGary]

Ok... here's my 2 cents worth.

Unless there's a reason to have a white background, why not go black? I know what you're thinking... that the red wine will dissapear but it wont. You need to move your lights out and to the side so that they create highlights on each side of the bottle, along the edges (they should do the same for the glass) The dark background will make everything look a little richer (you can also try a dark green or other dark hued backgrounds. This will stop everthing being so bleachy and you can give it a bit more saturation to bring out the colours.

I would also sugges that the composition is a little one dimensional - try getting the cheese to come towards us and maybe place some other grapes behind the bottle (blurring with the DoF).

In general you want to say something about the product (other than "this is in focus") so you might want to to give it a luxury feel, or a party feel etc. This should be reflected in the lighting, staging and composition.


Just a thought.



Yup black would be cool too I bet :)

[blaze_away]

.........and one with a black background, now the lighting is as follows:

Main light left at 45 degrees, another right at about 75 degrees and a back light at 120 degrees left with a red gel filter on it.

Not sure about this one, needs more work I think, like the idea of adding some 'luxury' or 'party' aspects, maybe red & blue filters with an exploded party popper in the scene, will need to go get some.

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/gallery/data/1774/MBP0372.jpg