Wine in a square bottle

[Colin Southern]

Again, saying the background is blotchy is insufficient for the same reason that saying it is uneven is insufficient. If you don't like blotchy, uneven or whatever, that's understandable. However, to assume that blotchy is bad is no different than telling me the background is bright or dark.

If you explained that the background is distracting the eye from the subject, that would have merit. Even then, I would argue that a bright sky with a few clouds for me is no more distracting and is actually more interesting than a plain sky with no clouds.

If you were a paying client, I could and would make the image according to your desires. Pay up and I'll prove it.

I don't want to argue with you about it Mike - if that's the background you want then that's the background you want.

All I can say is that if I were a discerning & paying customer I'd be very happy with your usual standard -- it's definitely professional quality. This one I'd be rejecting because of the background though.

I appreciate that this is probably again "insufficient" ...

[Mike Buckley]

I appreciate that this is probably again "insufficient" ...

Not at all. Completely understandable and sufficient.

[Manfred M]

Mike - love the subject and logic behind it. Perhaps they should try breeding square pigs, apples, potatoes, etc. to improve shipping costs?

As for the image, I'm with Colin on this one; I find that the background detracts from the image, although I do understand your rationale for trying this approach. Not sure about the cork either, again, I can see why you included it, but the balance between the large bottle and small cork doesn't quite seem to work for me either.

[Mike Buckley]

Just imagine the usefulness of a square potato. You could peel it with only six quick swipes of a sharp knife. On the other hand, I almost always cook potatoes without removing the skin.

Thanks for your comments, Manfred!

[Kaye Leggett]

Thank you, Donald!



The company explains the advantages of square bottles:

• You don't need a wine rack to store them.
• They don't roll when laid down.
• They require less storage and shipping space.
• The use of square bottles is greener because smaller boxes can be used to ship them.
• Square bottles complement a square meal. (Yes, they actually say that; they have a sense of humor about this stuff.)

This company is missing the point and I am (almost) glad the wine wasn't worth drinking. But well done on another great image and for outraging a few of us at your subject matter

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Kaye. I'm always happy to be your source of outrage.

This company is missing the point

What do you feel the point is?

[Kaye Leggett]

Thank you, Kaye. I'm always happy to be your source of outrage.



What do you feel the point is?

As the saying goes - 'never judge a book by its cover'....so the wine bottle can be as pretty (or not ) as it likes but if the wine's naff there is no point.

[Mike Buckley]

Ahhhhhhhh. Now I understand your point.

To be fair to the winemaker, I didn't say the wine is bad. I only explained that the best reason for me to buy it is to photograph it. Keep in mind that it's an inexpensive chardonnay and, unlike wine made from other grapes, I have never enjoyed an inexpensive chardonnay. I sure wouldn't rate it 91 out of a possible 100 points as Beverage Dynamics did.

[Kaye Leggett]

I decided a couple of years ago that life was too short to drink cheap wine - so I am totally with you on the inexpensive chardonnay, its usually over oaked too.

[Mike Buckley]

I decided a couple of years ago that life was too short to drink cheap wine

I sure do wish you lived close enough to me that I could invite you over for a couple glasses of one of my favorite Bordeaux wines at a cost of USD $11. Easily as good as any $25 to $30 Bordeaux. I've yet to photograph it but I will.