Wine: Clear Bottles

[Mike Buckley]

Clear wine bottles are relatively rare. It took me quite awhile to save 12 of them (even though I only used 10 for making these photos). Notice that all of these bottles were made for use with screw caps. I don't think I've seen any clear bottles made for use with corks but I could be wrong.

Using my new wireless tether reduced the time required to make these images by more than half. That's because viewing them on an 11" monitor instead of the camera's LCD made it possible to quickly determine the adjustments that needed to be made to the alignment of the bottles and the position of the lamp.

Setup
The background is translucent white acrylic positioned to fill the frame, no more and no less. A medium continuous-light lamp is shining from behind the background toward the subjects and camera.

[just me]

Mick......just AMAZING images, I cannot tell which I like the best, because I like them both !!!!!!!

Griddi.......

[TonyW]

I like the first image especially because of the range of tones. It's got an almost anatomical look to it. I can't work out why the middle bottle has those squiggles on the inside at the bottom of the neck.

The second image is interesting too. I like the way the shape of the back bottles show through the front ones in both images. Also there is an asymmetry that I can't understand - not that it detracts from the interest.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures.

[Rob Ekins]

. I can't work out why the middle bottle has those squiggles on the inside at the bottom of the neck

Tony,
The squiggles are present on the first five bottles (Front to back) My guess is that you are seeing a reflection of the bottles that are behind the first five bottles, the waves you notice are those pieces reflecting through imperfections of the moulding process of the glass.

I am sure Mike will dispel my theory or explain more eloquently what is actually going on when it is day time up in his neck of the woods.

[John 2]

Clear glass isn't the easiest thing to photograph and bring out the shape without ugly highlights. Another workshop in how it's done. Nice work Mike - the first one in particular.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Referring to the first image...

I can't work out why the middle bottle has those squiggles on the inside at the bottom of the neck.

The squiggles are present on the first five bottles (Front to back...the waves you notice are those pieces reflecting through imperfections of the moulding process of the glass.

Robbie knows his way around a studio, so I'm confident he understands the concept and accidentally used the wrong word. Rather than the edges of the bottles in the rear being reflected in the front bottle, they are being refracted by the bottle(s) in front of them. [Edit: See my correction in my next post.] Though imperfections in transparent and translucent glass will cause refraction to occur, any curves in glass, whether perfect or imperfect, will cause refraction.

A clearer example of refraction is displayed in this photo. Notice that the horizon of the tabletop is perfectly straight except when it is seen through the three bottles. That is because it is refracted by them. In the center bottle, the refracted horizon line is the horizontal, bent line displayed in the middle of the bottle. In the two outer bottles, the refraction causes the horizon line to appear as thin squiggly lines. If anyone has trouble identifying the exact lines I've mentioned, let me know and I'll post the same image here in the thread marked up to indicate the refracted horizon.

[Mike Buckley]

Actually, the more I think about it, perhaps Robbie and I are both correct. He might be correct that the edges of the rear bottles are being reflected in the front bottles. I think we're seeing those edges because we are looking through transparent bottles but I think we're also seeing reflections. Whether we're seeing reflections or only the objects themselves, I am certain I am correct that whatever we're seeing is being refracted.

Maybe someone who understands the physics pertaining to this can clarify, confirm or correct this stuff in lay terms all of us, especially I, can understand.

[Rita]

Can't say that I have seen clear wine bottles. Number 2 is nice but I far prefer the symmetrical look in #1.
Also in #1 I keep thinking that the bottles are waiting to be filled with wine.

[DaveRob]

Yup.... I'll vote for number 1 also..... That image is top draw, maybe a little editing of TINY details..... a good 'Art in Form' style image, Thank you . DaveR

[NorthernFocus]

Nicely done, Mike. The only clear bottle with cork that I recall was Monkey Bay Sauv Blanc. It's a Marlborough Sound,NZ wine. They switched from screw top to cork for a couple of years but are back to screw tops now(thank goodness). They never did work out proper sizing of the cork and they would twist in the neck of the bottle when you tried to insert the cork screw. It was maddening.

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to all!

Dan: I've enjoyed the Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc a couple of times and remember the clear bottle now that you remind me of it. I even have a snapshot of it that I made sitting outside at a restaurant in July 2008. I'm surprised to learn from you that they temporarily used corks. That is so odd considering that New Zealand wineries have always been the leaders as a region of using screw caps. Thanks for that interesting information!

[NorthernFocus]

Continued thanks to all!

Dan: I've enjoyed the Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc a couple of times and remember the clear bottle now that you remind me of it. I'm surprised to learn from you that they temporarily used corks. That is so odd considering that New Zealand wineries have always been the leaders as a region of using screw caps. Thanks for that interesting information!

I was surprised and perplexed when they did it. Presumably they were seeking to gain market share among those who associate screw tops with swill. But they came to their senses.

I guess there is a bit of ritual to removing a cork that adds to the whole experience for serious enthusiasts. But for the practical minded who are simply interested in getting at the contents a cork screw is simply and extra bit of unnecessary complexity.

[Mike Buckley]

I guess there is a bit of ritual to removing a cork that adds to the whole experience for serious enthusiasts.

The ritual for me is hearing the "glug, glug, glug" that happens only with the very first pour of a full bottle of wine. I just love that sound! The quicker I can get to that ritual, which means opening a screw cap instead of a cork closure, the better.

[bnnrcn]

They are both very nice and #2 is special for me

[Tronhard]

I really like the use of the backlit effect on your bottles, and if I had to express a preference it would be for the first one as I like the symmetry - it reminds me of a parade. Thank you for expressing how you took the photo - it adds a heap of value!

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Mike,

Another excellent set!

I think that wireless tether has already justified the spend Mike, I can't fault these.

Maybe someone who understands the physics pertaining to this can clarify, confirm or correct this stuff in lay terms all of us, especially I, can understand.

I'm not sure I am qualified, but here goes anyway ...

One immediate thought that occurred to me to differentiate between a refraction and a reflection is that a reflection will 'reverse' things (left/right, or up/down), whereas a refraction will leave sides 'unswapped'.

Of course, that could be utter hogwash

They never did work out proper sizing of the cork and they would twist in the neck of the bottle when you tried to insert the cork screw. It was maddening.

I agree, I have (eventually) opened a few bottles like that in the last 40 odd years.

Presumably they were seeking to gain market share among those who associate screw tops with swill.

That could be me
Sure it is true of UK 'reds' - not that I drink much of it.

The ritual for me is hearing the "glug, glug, glug" that happens only with the very first pour of a full bottle of wine. I just love that sound! The quicker I can get to that ritual, which means opening a screw cap instead of a cork closure, the better.

I like the 'plop' as the cork comes out

Cheers (how apt), Dave





PS - in Mike's first shot - is anyone else 'seeing' bottle people inside the first three bottles 'talking' to each other?
... and I think they are getting 'passionate' in the second shot!

[Mike Buckley]

One immediate thought that occurred to me to differentiate between a refraction and a reflection is that a reflection will 'reverse' things (left/right, or up/down), whereas a refraction will leave sides 'unswapped'.

Of course, that could be utter hogwash

I am looking at two reflections of my neighbor's window in a wine glass. One reflection is on the near side of the glass and the other reflection is on the far side of the glass. The reflection on the near side is reversed but the reflection on the far side is not reversed, at least not relative to my neighbor's window. I wonder if the reflection on the far side is a reflection of the reflection displayed on the near side. If it is, then the reflection on the far side is reversing the reversal, which would explain why it's not a reversal of my neighbor's window.

Like you, I conclude that my observations could be utter hogwash because I still don't know what is happening.

[Dave Humphries]

No, I think we're on the right track, the problem is that the real world is far more complicated.

I believe what I suggest is true for a single instance, in other words; a single transition.

What we're looking at here, be it the bottles or wine glasses, are multiple reflections and/or refractions in series along the path of the rays of light that form the images of more distant things, with the added issue of the glass thickness and curved surfaces to boot.

We know from the way a simple periscope works, that an even number of reflections in series cancel each other out; the reversed gets reversed again, so appears correct.

[TonyW]

Actually, the more I think about it, perhaps Robbie and I are both correct. He might be correct that the edges of the rear bottles are being reflected in the front bottles. I think we're seeing those edges because we are looking through transparent bottles but I think we're also seeing reflections. Whether we're seeing reflections or only the objects themselves, I am certain I am correct that whatever we're seeing is being refracted.

Maybe someone who understands the physics pertaining to this can clarify, confirm or correct this stuff in lay terms all of us, especially I, can understand.

I believe that the main thing that is happening here is refraction. There could be some total internal reflection off the inside surface of the bottles but I don't think that is the main thing we are seeing.

If you look say at the second bottle from the right. It acts as a lens so that we see a diminished image of the end bottle in it. The third bottle then acts as a lens for the second bottle and we see the image of the second bottle plus a distorted image of the image of the end bottle. And so on.

That still does not explain the squiggles though. It would also be interesting to see what happens when the bottles are filled with water since the refraction at the glass/water interface would be changed significantly. I suspect the result would not be anywhere near so interesting.