Glass Lighting Help

Finste

Finste

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Steven
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I'm trying to recreate this image but having a bit of trouble with the bottom of the glass. Specifically, the white rectangle at the bottom. No matter how wide I make the background, a quarter of the glass at each side is jet black. The upper part of the glass is fine though.

The other thing is the general ambience of the lighting. I've been unable to recreate that as well. I've tried direct flash and a large softbox but neither work. Either too harsh or too smooth if you follow me.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards...

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/511299363919307887/
 
I think that I understand your problem, and if I'm right then I can help with the solution - as I'm sure others can too.

But can you please link to the effect you're trying to get?
 
It was LS&M that led me down the route I was going with the family of angles and reflection/refraction. I never thought of putting a small card at the back. Something to try anyways.

Regards...
 
Garry Edwards said:
I think that I understand your problem, and if I'm right then I can help with the solution - as I'm sure others can too.

But can you please link to the effect you're trying to get?
Click to expand...

It difficult to put into words. Perhaps this can help as an example of what I'm getting but don't want.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/511299363919314106/

Its also lit from the back but looks more artificial. My first example looks more realistic I think

Regards...
 
OK, I misunderstood your first post...

The problem is mainly due to refraction, there isn't a great deal you can do to overcome the immutable laws of physics because they're immutable:) but changing the angle will help, this just involves having the camera lower.

You can also add silver foil reflectors, each side and slightly behind, just out of shot.

But the biggest single change would result from putting light on the underside, a white circle (very slightly smaller than the diameter of the bottom of the glass) would help, underlighting it would be much more controllable, as per this tutorial.
 
The sides of a glass do not show what is "behind" the glass (BG). They show what is to the side of the glass; either behind center (refracted) or in front of center (reflected).

The problem seems to be the angle and that it's the corners of a square base.
I don't think putting a reflector behind the glass is going to help really. IMO you need to get rid of the corners by using a round glass or "squaring" the glass... the "squarer" you line it up, the smaller the black areas should be.
The other option would be to light that side separately from the rt side rear. That's going to be very hard to do without significantly impacting/encroaching on the image... compositing might be required.
 
I'm sorry, but why do you want to re-create that image??
Is it selling whiskey ?
Is it selling anything at all ??
Is it demonstrateing a technique ??
Is it simply a product lighting example that needs help?
I cant see what the image is trying to say.
My best guess title would be, The best looking glass I could find, at the end of a p*** up, badly lit, with a lot of bad pp and no obvious point being made!

There are absolutely masses of fantastic videos and tutotials on how to photograph glass and fluid, Why do you want to copy this thing?? Its not a great still life, and I cant see any technical advantage in knowing how to re-create it?

Steve
 
Steve T said:
I'm sorry, but why do you want to re-create that image??
Is it selling whiskey ?
Is it selling anything at all ??
Is it demonstrateing a technique ??
Is it simply a product lighting example that needs help?
I cant see what the image is trying to say.
My best guess title would be, The best looking glass I could find, at the end of a p*** up, badly lit, with a lot of bad pp and no obvious point being made!

There are absolutely masses of fantastic videos and tutotials on how to photograph glass and fluid, Why do you want to copy this thing?? Its not a great still life, and I cant see any technical advantage in knowing how to re-create it?

Steve
Click to expand...
Because he wants too?
 
Last edited:
Steve T said:
I'm sorry, but why do you want to re-create that image??
Is it selling whiskey ?
Is it selling anything at all ??
Is it demonstrateing a technique ??
Is it simply a product lighting example that needs help?
I cant see what the image is trying to say.
My best guess title would be, The best looking glass I could find, at the end of a p*** up, badly lit, with a lot of bad pp and no obvious point being made!

There are absolutely masses of fantastic videos and tutotials on how to photograph glass and fluid, Why do you want to copy this thing?? Its not a great still life, and I cant see any technical advantage in knowing how to re-create it?

Steve
Click to expand...

1. It is a lighting exercise for me. Glass is difficult to photograph well but easy to photoshop. I'd rather learn how to light.

2. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like its roughness and its flaws. They provide an authenticity, to me, which is lacking in a digital photograph which has been photo-shopped to death. Product shots these days are more like digital art than photography.

Each to their own I guess.

Regards...
 
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