Wine: Red wine in red light

[Mike Buckley]

Ribera del Duero is a regulated wine region of Spain that makes red wine very much like the wine made in its Rioja region; both areas make red wine mostly or entirely from Tempranillo grapes. Though red wine from Rioja seems to be generally more well known than red wine made in Ribera del Duero, many people feel the highest quality comes from Ribera del Duero.

Setup
The tabletop is highly textured black art paper and the background is black velvet filling the frame no more and no less.

First capture: A small continuous-light lamp fitted with a red gel is behind the background shining away from it toward a white wall behind it. The light redirected by the wall toward the subject outlines the bottle in red tones. It also creates a lot of flare, which was eliminated by placing a black card with a rectangular hole in front of the lens.

Second capture: A flash unit fitted with the same gel on the right side at the level of the tabletop rakes light across it to display the texture. (A continuous light source could have been used. The only reason I used the flash unit is that I was trying various setups requiring a flash, ended up not using any of them, and used the flash because it was already on the light stand and configured in the camera for use.)

Third capture: A small continuous-light lamp held above the bottle lights the foil and the wine label.

The three captures were merged. The red gradient on the right side of the bottle was then added during post-processing to help define the shape of the bottle and to add interest.

[Shadowman]

I like viewing your wine bottle images for their graphic appeal and also a bit of education regarding the particular vintages, I wouldn't necessarily purchase any of the bottles unless they were a particular blend, I tend to favor ports, malbecs and very rarely cabernet or merlot; I will try a zinfandel or chardonnay in summer though. This particular image is very dramatic and I think the vintner would love this image.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, John!

I think of Zinfandel as an ideal summer choice only with barbecue. Particularly good with a side of corn on the cob. Otherwise, it's far too big for me on a hot day.

[bnnrcn]

This is a great image Mike I wouldn't guess that it was a bottle of wine.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Binnur!

I wouldn't guess that it was a bottle of wine.

I'm confused. Would you not recognize that it is a wine bottle if I had not explained that in the text? If not, the image definitely is not successful at least regarding the information I hoped would be conveyed to virtually anyone.

[mugge]

Mike, I like the white writing on the label, don't care much for the rest. That is only my opinion though.
Cheers Ole

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike. The bottle looks like a wine bottle, but the label doesn't give much info about the drink inside of it being wine. And your editing with those bright reds on the bottle and on the tabletop, gives the feeling of a night club to the image. That's why my first impression was a bottle of an alcoholic drink but not wine.

As I said before, it is a great presentation , I like the image and your editing very much. May be I'm not as knowledgeable about the wines of the world as you are and that's why I couldn't guess it was a wine bottle

Thanks, Binnur!



I'm confused. Would you not recognize that it is a wine bottle if I had not explained that in the text? If not, the image definitely is not successful at least regarding the information I hoped would be conveyed to virtually anyone.

[Mike Buckley]

Ole: You mentioned that you like the white lettering on the label. Ironically, when I saw the label I was drawn to the red lettering and immediately knew that this style was how I wanted to make the image. It's definitely not for everyone, so I completely understand why you might not like it.

Binnur: Ahhhhhhhh, now I understand your thinking. Thanks for clarifying. The terms, Ribera del Duero and Crianza, are dead giveaways that the bottle has to be a bottle of wine for people who are familiar with them.

[Wavelength]

Great; yet it looks like Dracula's favorite drink

[Mike Buckley]

Good one, Nandakumar!

[PhilMain]

Nice one Mike I think it would make a good ad shot.

Phil

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Phil!

[Jim A]

Excellent result, Mike, and you also tutor us along the way. I have added this to my bookmarks so may try to emulate some day, however every day I learn and see more. At age 73 with only 10+ years photographic experience, it is mindblowing the possibilities. Many thanks for sharing!

[ST1]

Nice work Mike, did you gel the light for your third capture


Sent from somewhere in Gods County using Tapatalk

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Jim and Peter!

did you gel the light for your third capture

No.