First try at produce Photography
Feb 15, 2019 18:50:08 #
Steve DeMott
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
Here's my first attempt. Don't have a lot of equipment or space (12'x12')
Wanted focus on the wine bottle and not the glass which is why it's slightly out of focus. Glass is set about 6" back of the wine bottle.
Included a diagram of my setup. The speed lights are set to manual @ 1/128 power. The backlight is below the table with a red filter. The reflector on the left is a home depot 8" reflector with a LED light Rated 100Watts. The defuser is a bed sheet. All lights claim to be 5500 K.
I set the camera (d7100 50mm f/1.4) low so that the back rim of the glass was visible and about 6' away.
Comments/suggestions always welcome.
Thanks
Going to try again tomorrow and hope to improve.
Wanted focus on the wine bottle and not the glass which is why it's slightly out of focus. Glass is set about 6" back of the wine bottle.
Included a diagram of my setup. The speed lights are set to manual @ 1/128 power. The backlight is below the table with a red filter. The reflector on the left is a home depot 8" reflector with a LED light Rated 100Watts. The defuser is a bed sheet. All lights claim to be 5500 K.
I set the camera (d7100 50mm f/1.4) low so that the back rim of the glass was visible and about 6' away.
Comments/suggestions always welcome.
Thanks
Going to try again tomorrow and hope to improve.
Feb 15, 2019 21:53:11 #
Hi Steve!
Here is a simple lighting system and a few tips.
Get the soft-box high over the set- somewhat behind the bottle and the glass a slightly off to one side.
Set up a wine glass with a hidden reflector, as shown, taped to the back of the glass- Fill the glass with wine make sure you can't see the aluminum foil from the camera position.
Place the bottle slightly behind the glass to one side and close. Set the soft-box so you see a nice even thin highlight on the side of the bottle, the glass, the rim and the side of the bottle. Some of the light will strike the hidden foil- tilt it (the foil) until it trans-illuminates the wine so you can see some color from the camera position. The rest of the fill lightg is done with reflectors. You can make the reflectors out of white cardboard with crumpled foil on one side. The foil side should pick up some light form the soft-box enough to illuminate the label. The white side of the second reflector will fill in the glass. Make a test shot- if the ratio is too high, just bounce your speedlight off the ceiling to provide a bit more fill.
Here's the concept: You are selling the beverage, not the bottle. Make the wine look appetizing with color- not black and lifeless. You want to identify the brand and the label should be sharp, defined and centred (not rotated away from) the camera as well but it is not a fancy metallic embossed label so it is not an importat aesthetic feature.
Remove the leaves- they are too bright and look artificial. If you want to show grapes or other props- put them in the background with less light and perhaps in soft focus.
Don't light the background separately- the edge of the soft-box beam should be enough.
Before setting up, make sure the glass and the bottle are spotlessly clean.
I am not in my studio- working out of town so I am attaching a few shots that I have in my tablet. See the wine and the beer to get an idea of the ligh coming through the beverage. The highlight on the sided of the oil lamp are the ones I would like to see on the bottle and the glass. There is a basic diagram and a sloppy sketch of the lighting layout. I went into photography because I can't draw- I hope you can make out my scrawl.
Move the props around and do a few shots. Post them and I'll talk you thru any refinements.
Here is a simple lighting system and a few tips.
Get the soft-box high over the set- somewhat behind the bottle and the glass a slightly off to one side.
Set up a wine glass with a hidden reflector, as shown, taped to the back of the glass- Fill the glass with wine make sure you can't see the aluminum foil from the camera position.
Place the bottle slightly behind the glass to one side and close. Set the soft-box so you see a nice even thin highlight on the side of the bottle, the glass, the rim and the side of the bottle. Some of the light will strike the hidden foil- tilt it (the foil) until it trans-illuminates the wine so you can see some color from the camera position. The rest of the fill lightg is done with reflectors. You can make the reflectors out of white cardboard with crumpled foil on one side. The foil side should pick up some light form the soft-box enough to illuminate the label. The white side of the second reflector will fill in the glass. Make a test shot- if the ratio is too high, just bounce your speedlight off the ceiling to provide a bit more fill.
Here's the concept: You are selling the beverage, not the bottle. Make the wine look appetizing with color- not black and lifeless. You want to identify the brand and the label should be sharp, defined and centred (not rotated away from) the camera as well but it is not a fancy metallic embossed label so it is not an importat aesthetic feature.
Remove the leaves- they are too bright and look artificial. If you want to show grapes or other props- put them in the background with less light and perhaps in soft focus.
Don't light the background separately- the edge of the soft-box beam should be enough.
Before setting up, make sure the glass and the bottle are spotlessly clean.
I am not in my studio- working out of town so I am attaching a few shots that I have in my tablet. See the wine and the beer to get an idea of the ligh coming through the beverage. The highlight on the sided of the oil lamp are the ones I would like to see on the bottle and the glass. There is a basic diagram and a sloppy sketch of the lighting layout. I went into photography because I can't draw- I hope you can make out my scrawl.
Move the props around and do a few shots. Post them and I'll talk you thru any refinements.
Feb 16, 2019 17:50:38 #
Steve DeMott
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Hi Steve!
Here is a simple lighting system and a few tips.
Move the props around and do a few shots. Post them and I'll talk you thru any refinements.
Here is a simple lighting system and a few tips.
Move the props around and do a few shots. Post them and I'll talk you thru any refinements.
Thanks for your time and effort to help. I also noticed I spelled Product wrong. OOPS!!!
I posted this this morning and it didn't seem to go through.???????
So!! Here's the 2nd 2nd attempt and a shot of setup & equipment.
Used a 60mm 2.8 macro lens. The focus seems a little sharper then the 50mm.
Tried to setup as close to your suggestion as possible. The lighting seemed to be easier to create using reflectors.
The large back reflector created the bottle highlights on the left side and the front reflector help light the label better. I didn't see a lot of change with the right front reflector, but the small tin foil reflector helped with the label.
The small logo etched on the back of the glass is distracting. The label on the glass front is out of focus due to DOF. The one in the back is on the same plane as the label on the wine bottle so it's in focus. Need a different glass.
I'm not fond of the reflectors & softbox reflections on the bottle and glass. Tried moving the camera and reflectors around. Don't know how to minimize these reflections.
The wine in the glass is colored water. Ran out of the real stuff last night.
Again Thanks
Steve
Feb 16, 2019 22:25:43 #
Good! You are getting there!
The setup is looking good. Now- move the soft-box further to the back of the products. That reflection near the top of the bottom will becom smaller or it might disappear. The highlight on the (camera) left side f the bottle is perfect. Next- extend the dark mat or floor at the bottom so there is no horizon line. Keep the background fairly dark. I did a quick edit and a mockup to explain the look I am suggesting. Notice the texture on the label.Notice also how color in the beverage makes the difference. Try the foil trick- perhaps dilute the colored water slightly.
Keep up the good work and post with your progress.
Next add some cheeses or grapes as props in the background.
The setup is looking good. Now- move the soft-box further to the back of the products. That reflection near the top of the bottom will becom smaller or it might disappear. The highlight on the (camera) left side f the bottle is perfect. Next- extend the dark mat or floor at the bottom so there is no horizon line. Keep the background fairly dark. I did a quick edit and a mockup to explain the look I am suggesting. Notice the texture on the label.Notice also how color in the beverage makes the difference. Try the foil trick- perhaps dilute the colored water slightly.
Keep up the good work and post with your progress.
Next add some cheeses or grapes as props in the background.
Feb 17, 2019 10:03:11 #
Steve DeMott
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Good! You are getting there!
Next add some cheeses or grapes as props in the background.
Next add some cheeses or grapes as props in the background.
Moved the table & glass plate back to the edge of the table to eliminate the background strip. Had to move to a 105mm 2.8 to fill the frame better.
Put the softbox behind the bottle.
Changed out glass. That back back logo was bothersome.
Tried larger reflectors. I think it made a big difference in the reflections and light.
diluted the liquid thus creating a little bit of red tint.
Is the foil suppose to reflect light into the glass or highlight the label eliminating the shadow created by the glass being in front of the bottle? I've been highlighting the label. Something else to try.
I was surprised that 8 ft behind me was two computer screens and a small desk lamp that was creating a redish tint and glare on the glass and bottle.
...and the rabbit hole keeps getting deeper......
Thank you again for your time. Books are a great learning tool but, having someone actually show & explain what to do is priceless.
--Steve
Had a lamp in the back ground by my computer turned on
(Download)
Lamp & computer screens turned off
(Download)
Feb 17, 2019 11:56:52 #
Are we having fun yet? This is great!
I did another quick edit to illustrate a few more suggestions.
I darkened the edges of the background, brought out more contrast and detail in the label, and de-emphasized and blurred the grapes and leaves. I removed the hot-spot near the top of the bottle. I also extend the background to give the composition a bit more space and the reflection on the goblet over the liquid.
You will probably get more precise use of the reflectors of you move the softbox a little further back and aim ot toward the camera . That way, the reflectors will pick up more light. You can make a small reflecto out of foil and aim it at the label. If you carefully adjust this reflector to the angle of incidence, you will create a light field for the metallic embossing on the label. If you crush the fiol and re-expand it, using the shiny side, it acts like a mini spotlight. Feathering the softbox toward the camera will reduce the spill on the background.
Background management: The painted multi-colored backgrounds are good but if you light them just enough to provide some color mass and less detail of the brush strokes, you will get more dimension. Props, unless the are part of the product or theme, should be suggested rather than detailed so under-lighting them or keeping them is soft focus is one aproach. Sometimes a go-bo or black card to block some of the light from striking the background or props is handy. Other background materials, such as barnwood planks, old barrels or casks make for good backgrounds for wine, beer and booze ads. I spend allot of time in junk yards and secondhand shops looking for backround stuff and props. Background colors- warm colors tend to project forward and cool colors tend to recede. Warm backgrounds tend to produce more of a monochromatic feel where as cooler colors in the background provide more color contrast and emphasize the warm colors in the subject. Neither of these combinations are superior to the other, knowing this just gives you more control over the mood of the shot.
Focal length: Your perspective in you shot is good. Here's something to consider- when you are photographing round bottle, cosmetic jars glassware etc., longer focal lengths and further distance tend to flatten out the roundness. If you use a slightly shorter focal length and come in a bit closer, you will see more of the roundness of the object.
Keep up the drill!
I did another quick edit to illustrate a few more suggestions.
I darkened the edges of the background, brought out more contrast and detail in the label, and de-emphasized and blurred the grapes and leaves. I removed the hot-spot near the top of the bottle. I also extend the background to give the composition a bit more space and the reflection on the goblet over the liquid.
You will probably get more precise use of the reflectors of you move the softbox a little further back and aim ot toward the camera . That way, the reflectors will pick up more light. You can make a small reflecto out of foil and aim it at the label. If you carefully adjust this reflector to the angle of incidence, you will create a light field for the metallic embossing on the label. If you crush the fiol and re-expand it, using the shiny side, it acts like a mini spotlight. Feathering the softbox toward the camera will reduce the spill on the background.
Background management: The painted multi-colored backgrounds are good but if you light them just enough to provide some color mass and less detail of the brush strokes, you will get more dimension. Props, unless the are part of the product or theme, should be suggested rather than detailed so under-lighting them or keeping them is soft focus is one aproach. Sometimes a go-bo or black card to block some of the light from striking the background or props is handy. Other background materials, such as barnwood planks, old barrels or casks make for good backgrounds for wine, beer and booze ads. I spend allot of time in junk yards and secondhand shops looking for backround stuff and props. Background colors- warm colors tend to project forward and cool colors tend to recede. Warm backgrounds tend to produce more of a monochromatic feel where as cooler colors in the background provide more color contrast and emphasize the warm colors in the subject. Neither of these combinations are superior to the other, knowing this just gives you more control over the mood of the shot.
Focal length: Your perspective in you shot is good. Here's something to consider- when you are photographing round bottle, cosmetic jars glassware etc., longer focal lengths and further distance tend to flatten out the roundness. If you use a slightly shorter focal length and come in a bit closer, you will see more of the roundness of the object.
Keep up the drill!
Feb 19, 2019 21:45:43 #
Steve DeMott
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)
Yes!!
This is enjoyable. Work & school got in the wway. Hope to get back to this thursday
Thanks
Steve
This is enjoyable. Work & school got in the wway. Hope to get back to this thursday
Thanks
Steve
Feb 20, 2019 08:41:37 #
steve DeMott wrote:
Yes!!
This is enjoyable. Work & school got in the wway. Hope to get back to this thursday
Thanks
Steve
This is enjoyable. Work & school got in the wway. Hope to get back to this thursday
Thanks
Steve
Keep at it! Looking forward to your efforts.
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