The night is still young.

[Mike Buckley]

I had lots of fun making this image.

Setup
The tabletop is white foam core and the background is translucent white acrylic. A medium continuous-light lamp behind the background is shining toward the subjects and camera. That back lighting defines the edges of the transparent glass and most edges of the ice cubes in dark tones. A small continuous-light lamp is high and on the left side to add light to the opaque objects. The cool tones were added during post-processing. The liquid is sherry posing as bourbon. The ice cubes are handmade acrylic. Everything else including the lipstick is real.

[bje07]

Superb composition, Mike, magnificent rendering of shadows by the dosage of light, and ice cubes.
I just love it.

[mugge]

Mike, I hope you will not put ice cubes in a good Scotch. Looks like a good time was had by all.
Cheers Ole

[Wavelength]

A young Mike.....

Just superb

[Werner]

Love the composition. A great story telling still.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Dave A]

That image is worth a thousand words......and probably more. Nicely constructed.

Dave

[Kaye Leggett]

Great image - lovely story conjuring. I can see a series of these...................

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Jean mentioned the nice shadows. It was interesting to me that when I initially placed a diffusion sock on the lamp that created them, the shadows were just a tiny bit too soft. When I removed the diffusion sock, the slightly harder shadows had a bit more of a nod to the style of film noir that seemed to be a better fit with the mood of the image.

[Mike Buckley]

Kaye mentioned the possibility of a series of images but I can't think of any other stories, themes or whatever. If she or anyone would please make suggestions, I would appreciate it.

[Shadowman]

Kaye mentioned the possibility of a series of images but I can't think of any other stories, themes or whatever. If she or anyone would please make suggestions, I would appreciate it.

Start with a restaurant scene, no need for faces just hands, then possibly a profile shot of one of you looking out of a limousine window, next one one of you opening the door, next one back to your original post and perhaps a bit of furniture; say a couch or bed. Just don't show your address.

[ccphoto]

A bit of a nick but I have two things that I wish were different. The first is the lack of foreground. Even another 1/2 inch or so would allow the eye an easier entry into the scene. The second is that since everything else is nice and sharp, I'd like to see the lipstick heavier or at least more defined...I don't mean glompy, just higher definition as if the lady wanted to leave an impression.

Overall, I like the composition, use of subdued lighting and the shadows don't really bother me at all. Like you said, "more toward the noir," to me a scene right out of Dashiell Hammett's, Maltese Falcon.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Chris!

Start with a restaurant scene, no need for faces just hands, then possibly a profile shot of one of you looking out of a limousine window, next one one of you opening the door, next one back to your original post and perhaps a bit of furniture; say a couch or bed. Just don't show your address.

I perhaps should have clarified that I'm interested only in tabletop photography for producing the series. Fortunately, your first idea would work as a tabletop photo.

[ccphoto]

A bit of a nick but I have two things that I wish were different. The first is the lack of foreground. Even another 1/2 inch or so would allow the eye an easier entry into the scene. The second is that since everything else is nice and sharp, I'd like to see the lipstick heavier or at least more defined...I don't mean glompy, just higher definition as if the lady wanted to leave an impression.

Overall, I like the composition, use of subdued lighting and the shadows don't really bother me at all. Like you said, "more toward the noir," to me a scene right out of Dashiell Hammett's, Maltese Falcon.

[NorthernFocus]

Excellent visual story telling.

[rpcrowe]

Nice... I might think about adding a pair of lacy panties

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Dan and Richard.

I might think about adding a pair of lacy panties

I thought of something very similar. However, I tend to like simplicity and decided not to add another element. On the other hand, I've thought of making a photo of the same theme that displays undergarments without the shoes or jewelry.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice Mike, super composition and lighting