Wine: "S" is for Stringaio

[Mike Buckley]

I've been struggling for months with how to present this wine's very nice label. It was while making this other photo that I realized I would frame the label with the outline of just one side of the bottle. It's in that context that the photo shown below is a display of a wine label, not a display of a wine bottle. I won't be surprised to learn that the unusual concept is not appealing to some people, but it works perfectly for me.

Setup
First Capture: A background of black velvet was in the center of a larger, circular diffuser. A medium continuous-light lamp behind the background and diffuser was shining toward the subject and camera. That created a bright outline on both sides of the bottle, though the outline on the right side was digitally removed during post-processing. A strip box touching a panel of translucent vellum at about a 45-degree angle on the left side of the scene was fitted with a speed light. That created the subtle gradient on the left side of the bottle.

Second Capture: A small continuous-light lamp high and on the right side of the bottle lit the label to create a shadow, which helps define its shape and depicts the red "S" as if it is springing upward from out of the shadow. That lamp also brightened the dark area of the label to ensure separation between it and the darker, adjacent areas of the scene. The label from the second capture was merged with everything else in the first capture.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Suzan J]

Hi Mike: Count me in as a definite fan of the label and the process in capturing it. The simplicity and elegance of the presentation is amazing. But tell me, is the wine any good?

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Suzan!

Yes, Suzan, the wine is very enjoyable. It is made by the estate of Borgo la Terre, which is a resort, restaurant, vineyard and winery located in Tuscany. The wine is 80% Syrah and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is my last bottle of it, which is not readily available to me. Now that I have finally made the photo, I can justify drinking the wine. I most definitely look forward to doing exactly that!

[bnnrcn]

Very classy image Mike

[Donald]

Very classy image Mike

Yep, I'd endorse that. Understated ... and that, of course, is what the label demands.

[bje07]

You will end up like commercial with a wine merchant or a wine grower with these superb photos.
I like very much this last one, just a touch of color

[Rainforest]

Yep, I'd endorse that. Understated ... and that, of course, is what the label demands.

..and I would add that's it's sexy. Very sleek in all aspects. I really like how it bleeds into the black - very cool.

[Wavelength]

That is an amazing shot.....

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone! It's very interesting that everyone who commented likes the offbeat approach of showing just one side of the wine bottle.