Wine: Chateau St. Michelle "Eroica" Riesling -- TAKE 2

[Mike Buckley]

To review my first photo of this wine and an explanation of the wine itself, see this thread.

Setup
The background and tabletop are separate pieces of the same silver-grey, semi-glossy presentation board.

First Capture (near wine bottle, tabletop, and the base and lower stem of the wine glass):
A small continuous-light lamp in the right front area lights the tabletop and near wine bottle. A white reflector behind that wine bottle is also lit by that lamp and redirects the light to create the bright areas of the wine in the wine bottle. That redirected light creates flare, so a flag between the white reflector and the camera eliminates it. A medium continuous-light lamp below the background lights it. The light reflected off the background outlines the lower part of the wine glass in dark tones.

Second Capture (background, the other parts of the wine glass and its wine, wine being poured and the neck of the rear wine bottle):
A small continuous-light lamp on the right side shines through a panel of translucent vellum, which creates the vertical reflections in the wine glass. A medium continuous-light lamp below the background lights it. The light reflected off the background outlines the wine glass in dark tones where the background is brighter and in bright tones where the background is darker. It also lights the wine being poured and the wine in the glass. A flash unit on the left side at the height of the rear wine bottle lights its neck and the wine being poured. It also stops the action of that wine bottle and the pouring wine.

The two captures were merged.

[Wavelength]

What a creative composition; zillion compliments

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Nandakumar! The photo required one of my most complicated setups but is very much worth it.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done, good sense of imbalance from the viewer's perspective.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike. I have looked at this image several times and I couldn't find what was bothering me Now, I know what it is.I like the image very much but I think it needs a light colored ( grey ?) border. Because when I click on the image to see it lightbox, the image gets smaller on a dark BG and the RHS of the image blends with the dark BG. So, I think a grey border would be good in order to appreciate the image better

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to John and Binnur!

Binnur: I understand what you mean, as when I display the image on my television, there is also absolutely no separation on the right side between the image and the background. Usually that effect is an enhancement but in this case it's a detriment. However, in any other situation when displaying the image on my computer regardless of the software I regularly use and regardless of how large or small I display the image, the background is either a mid-grey or light grey tone that provides nice separation.

EDIT: View the image at my website. The image will be displayed with a white border on all sides. Then click the image if you want to enlarge it. A border on the right side about one pixel wide will be displayed that separates it from the background.

[bnnrcn]

The image on your website looks better with those borders Mike

Thank you also to John and Binnur!

Binnur: I understand what you mean, as when I display the image on my television, there is also absolutely no separation on the right side between the image and the background. Usually that effect is an enhancement but in this case it's a detriment. However, in any other situation when displaying the image on my computer regardless of the software I regularly use and regardless of how large or small I display the image, the background is either a mid-grey or light grey tone that provides nice separation.

EDIT: View the image at my website. The image will be displayed with a white border on all sides. Then click the image if you want to enlarge it. A border on the right side about one pixel wide will be displayed that separates it from the background.

[mugge]

Mike, the creative imbalance of this picture is what does it for me.
Cheers Ole

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Ole! Your use of the term, imbalance, is perfect and is something that I had not thought of to describe the composition.