Self Portrait with Wine

[Mike Buckley]

This is how I want to be remembered.

To make this photo, I unabashedly copied the concept used in a Wine Enthusiast magazine's full-page advertising photo of Michter's whiskey. The primary differences between my photo and the photo in the magazine are that I photographed wine in a wine glass instead of whiskey in a whiskey glass, that parts of my body show a little color and shape instead of being in complete silhouette, that I was wearing glasses instead of the other subject not wearing them, and that more of the glass and all of my hand are included in the frame instead of being partially cut off at the right side of the frame. I tried to find the photo online that inspired me to make the self portrait so I could show it to you, but had no luck.

Setup
I used a wirelessly tethered laptop computer to compose the image and to release the shutter with my left hand not included in the image. The background is white translucent acrylic. A medium continuous-light lamp behind the background is shining toward the subjects and camera to define the edges of the glass and wine in dark tones, to create glare on my glasses and to light slight parts of my face and hand, leaving the rest of me in silhouette.

[rpcrowe]

Neat idea and well done... I have to do a self portrait with some of my dogs...

[Mike Buckley]

You really should do that, Richard. Or at least set up the photo so your wife or someone other than you purely releases the shutter. Similarly, considering the dedication your wife has also given to the many dogs you've helped save, you should make a photo with both of you and the dogs. Another thought is to have a reunion of sorts of all the people and dogs who have come together as a result of your and your wife's efforts, and to make a group photo.

[Werner]

Nice picture. Thanks for giving us all that info about the shot.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[bnnrcn]

Nice image Mike The reflections on your glasses add to the image and complete the composition. The silhouette image would be weak on itself if the reflections weren't there.

[Rita]

A masterfully executed image. At least that's what I think

[bje07]

Nice image Mike The reflections on your glasses add to the image and complete the composition. The silhouette image would be weak on itself if the reflections weren't there.

A masterfully executed image. At least that's what I think

+1, +2, + 1000
Very nice Mike.

[LePetomane]

Mike, I'm not a consumer of "adult beverages" but your photos are tempting me. Nicely done.

[Ndukes]

Mike, that is excellent. Nice simple effective composition.
Hope you celebrated appropriately.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

The silhouette image would be weak on itself if the reflections [in the glasses] weren't there.

I completely agree. I wish I could have found the photo in the magazine to post here that displays a complete silhouette. That was effective because of the style of the rich, wide, heavy, dark tones displaying the many edges of the whiskey glass made of cut glass in that image. My image with the wine glass displays much narrower lines, much fewer lines because the wine glass isn't cut glass, and lines displayed mostly in grey tones rather than the heavier look by design. That lighter look of the wine glass in all respects would not have gone well in my mind with a complete silhouette of my hand and face and vice versa. Eliminating the eye glasses would have made that silhouette even heavier and more incompatible with the lighter treatment of the wine glass.

I'm not a consumer of "adult beverages" but your photos are tempting me.

My wife will attest that when it comes to being adult, I only do that well when it comes to beverages.

[Digital]

Mike, this is a very interesting photo.
Very well done.


Bruce

[mugge]

Mike, this is quite different and I like it a lot.
Cheers Ole

[johnlarsen]

Thats a really nice one Mike. If I'll do similar I will, for several reasons, use one of my favourite whiskies (rather than a whiskey - details details).
Are you wearing sun glasses on the portrait?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Ole and a belated thank you to Bruce!

John: My eye glasses are regular glasses without which I would not have been able to see the image in the laptop computer well enough to compose the scene. Have fun making your photo of your favorite whiskey! Be sure to post it at CiC.