Wine Glass

[Mike Buckley]

All of my photos of transparent glass made in the past are fairly traditional insofar as the lighting and realism are concerned. Beginning with this image, I will be making more dramatic images by using more stylistic lighting and by using post-processing techniques that help give the image at least a bit more of an edgy appearance.

Setup
The background is black velvet that fills the frame no more and no less. The tabletop is rumpled, textured, black fabric that has metallic flecks. A white reflector larger than the background is immediately behind the background. A small continuous-light lamp held above and to the right of the scene lights the tabletop and the large reflector. That reflector creates the bright outline of the glass. A white reflector on the left side of the scene creates the band of reflection on that side of the bowl. It also creates a band of reflection on the right side that was eliminated during post-processing. There was so little color in the image that I quickly desaturated to make it a monochrome rather than taking the time to convert using a color filter and following that up with the several adjustments usually needed to tweak the conversion.

[billtils]

More please!

[Wavelength]

My admirations

[ST1]

Nice work Mike, what/how do you support your backgrounds


Sent from somewhere in Gods County using Tapatalk

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Peter: I usually support my backgrounds by hanging them from an inexpensive boom, which has no counterweight, mounted on a light stand. The boom and large circular reflector (also a diffuser when lit from behind) placed behind the background were purchased as a kit, so the boom handily has two built-in spring clips that easily hold the reflector.

The background in this case is hanging also from the same boom using a series of large binder clips sold in any office supply store. Later today I'll provide a photo of the hanging system I have devised.

If the background is rigid enough and if the scene can be photographed with the background resting on rather than hanging behind the tabletop, I'll simply place the boom above the tabletop and lean the background against it. I also have a small easel that I have occasionally used to hold a rigid background. Last, my one large piece of fabric that provides a background for larger subjects is rolled on a cardboard tube; I unroll the fabric so it hangs from the tube. I have gerry rigged a system that holds the tube in place, as my tiny makeshift studio is not large enough to accommodate the typical pair of stands that would support both ends of a tube.

[KimC]

Lovely Mike!

[Mike Buckley]

Peter: I forgot to mention that any time a rigid background is being used that can be placed on the tabletop, it's easy to stand it up by placing a large binder clip on each bottom corner of the background. The two binder clips provide a base that is stable enough to hold upright, as an example, at least a 12" x 18" piece of foam core. I regularly use that setup to place reflectors on the tabletop.

If the background or reflector material is made of lightweight or heavyweight paper, it can be folded into a triangle. Placing the triangular end on the tabletop will create enough stability for the paper to be self-standing.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[mknittle]

I like the concept Mike. the reflection really makes the image.



Edit I forgot to mention the fabric the glass is sitting on looks great too. Now I have a good excuse to roam the fabric store with my wife

[Mike Buckley]

Peter and anyone interested using backgrounds and reflectors, see this thread.

Thank you to Mark, John and Kim!

[mugge]

Mike, sorry for being boring but this is superb. I especially like the simplicity of the scene itself and also the shading of the tabletop.
Cheers Ole

[Mike Buckley]

Mike, sorry for being boring but this is superb.

Thanks, Ole! If that's your version of being boring, please feel free to be boring as much as you want.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice Mike, I love the reflections

[bje07]

I like the concept Mike. the reflection really makes the image.



Edit I forgot to mention the fabric the glass is sitting on looks great too. Now I have a good excuse to roam the fabric store with my wife

+1

[John 2]

That's well done Mike. Simple but oozing quality. I think it would make a great print.

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!