Wine in a square bottle

[Mike Buckley]

California Square produces three wines -- a cabernet sauvignon, a red blend of three grapes, and a chardonnay. All three wines are sold in square bottles.

I bought the chardonnay for one reason: to photograph it. So, I was not disappointed after drinking the portion missing from the bottle to conclude that, indeed, the best reason to buy it was to photograph it.

The back lighting when used by itself renders the cork, foil and the opaque labels on the front too dark. So, I knew I would also have to use separate light to brighten those materials. I am used to doing that in a separate capture and merging the two images to get the best of both captures. I accidentally stumbled upon a position of the lamp used to light the front that made it possible to get the job done using just one capture. That would not have been possible within the limitations of my makeshift studio if the bottle had been round as usual.

Yo, Christina! Notice that the embossing on the glass is quite evident. Chateauneuf du Pape may be coming to you sooner than I had thought.

[Donald]

I accidentally stumbled upon a position of the lamp lighting the front that made it possible to use just one capture.

And it works very well. Beautifully lit, Mike.

But ... wine in square bottles. Just doesn't seem right! But then I'm a traditionalist when it comes to things like that.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Donald!

But ... wine in square bottles. Just doesn't seem right!

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.)

[Daisy Mae]

But ... wine in square bottles. Just doesn't seem right! But then I'm a traditionalist when it comes to things like that.

Can I fetch you a carafe of single malt Donald?


Really nicely done Milke.

[Donald]

Can I fetch you a carafe of single malt Donald?

Aaargh. Go and wash your mouth out ... and repent whilst you're at it!

[Karm Redland]

Hi Mike. This might sound weird but it's the position of the cork that really makes this image for me.

karm

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Karm and Sharon.

Thanks for mentioning the cork, Karm. I used it and the vignette thinking their round characteristic would emphasize by contrast the square characteristic of the bottle.

[Digital]

Mike, nice image.



Bruce

[travis4567]

really nice Mike, love the use of the cork also and the lighting

[Brownbear]

Yo, Mike! Absolutely gorgeous!

Embossing - Beautifully evident Yeah! Chateauneuf de Pape!

Square bottles... The first I've ever seen and if I ever see that wine I will be buying it for the bottle... Store bubble bath, herbs, spices, etc...

Now I have to get back to work.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to everyone!

Store bubble bath, herbs, spices, etc...

Click this to review suggestions made by the winery. However, everything that a square bottle can be used for will also work with a round bottle, though the dinner or party conversation about the square bottle will be a bit more interesting.

Now I have to get back to work.

Get cracking!

[dedro]

nice Mike.....

[Colin Southern]

Sorry Mike, but I'm struggling with the background lighting on this one (if you grab a scroll bar and mode the image up and down a bit there appear to be some somewhat uneven areas in there) (I'm guessing shadow areas)

[flashback]

Mike,
Great shot.
Wondering...if they can make a square bottle...why not a square neck/cork. Now THAT would be interesting.
Wondering...if a wine is really a *fine* wine, is it necessary to label it as such

[NorthernFocus]

Nicely shot. I like the effect of the cork lying there. But a square bottle ???

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!

Sorry Mike, but I'm struggling with the background lighting on this one (if you grab a scroll bar and mode the image up and down a bit there appear to be some somewhat uneven areas in there) (I'm guessing shadow areas)

The uneven background is intentional and is the result of post-processing. If I wanted to make the background even, I could. It's understandable if you think the uneven background is distracting, unattractive or whatever, but to say only that it's uneven isn't sufficient. That's because it implies that an uneven background can't be appealing.

Not that it matters, but I'm happy to explain that I'm using the same background lighting for several images due to the practical limitations of my makeshift studio. I'm changing the background effect after capturing the image.

[Mike Buckley]

if they can make a square bottle...why not a square neck/cork.

My guess (only a guess) is that the corks would be non-standard and more expensive. Beyond that, the industry is moving if only ever so gradually to screw caps, which by necessity have to be round. Perhaps the winery is at least leaving open the possibility of a move to screw caps without having to change the overall look of their product.

Wondering...if a wine is really a *fine* wine, is it necessary to label it as such

I thought the same thing and wonder if it has to do with the font style. I think that style implies the period of the American wild west.

Moreover, have you ever heard of a wine whose producer didn't want everyone to think it is a fine wine? I'm guessing not. Very few wine bottles sold in the U.S. these days indicate even in the fine print on the rear label that the product is wine, much less fine wine. I don't know about wines made in earlier centuries and/or sold in other countries.

[Colin Southern]

The uneven background is intentional and is the result of post-processing. If I wanted to make the background even, I could. It's understandable if you think the uneven background is distracting, unattractive or whatever, but to say only that it's uneven isn't sufficient. That's because it implies that an uneven background can't be appealing.

Perhaps "blotchy" is a better word - dunno. Bottom left is an example; just above the vignette it does lighter and then darker again before continuing the gradient. 2 or 3 other areas appear the same.

Sorry

[Mike Buckley]

But a square bottle ???

Why not a triangular bottle?

By the way, I don't know enough about the terms, "square" or "triangular," to even know if they can be accurately used to describe a three-dimensional object.

Regardless, the bottle is not really square despite the company's marketing. Though it has four corners that appear to be made at the same angle, each side is slightly bowed. I know because I had enough difficulty balancing an empty wine glass on the side that I decided not to photograph a glass filled with wine resting on it. Actually, it wasn't the prospect of the spilled glass of wine that bothered me; it was the prospect of my wife getting mad at me for making the mess.

[Mike Buckley]

Perhaps "blotchy" is a better word - dunno.

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 because it is blotchy or uneven, that would have merit. Even then, I would argue that it is similar to a bright sky with a few clouds, which 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.