Lighting challenge 1, coffee cup

[Garry Edwards]

I've think or at least thought - that it may be a good idea to try to explain things better by using video, so here's the first one.

The video is my first attempt and is far from perfect and all comments, complaints and suggestions are very welcome, but please post them in the discussion thread here https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/lighting-challenges-discussion-thread.759256/ and not in this thread, which is for your own brightfield lighting shots.

The video runs for 14 minutes, but took a lot longer to make

View: https://youtu.be/7j8kHHYpwgQ?si=DuYTkIs8tbLVz6Yp

 

[TimHughes]

Wonderful! Thank you Garry - this is great!

 

[Donnie]

Thought I would finally try this, as you can see from my (messy post christmas dining room) there's not a lot of space!
So, got a new speedlite for christmas which has given me some motivation, though the softbox is a bit on the big side making life difficult in a confined space.
Here I ended up using an older glass double walled mug and black coffee as thats what I drink
Straight out of camera other than a crop, used a white reflector too above and to one side to help bounce a little light onto the wooden base and front of the mug.

I think I've managed the brightfield lighting even without a nicer mug etc

BFCoffee by Donnie Canning, on Flickr

 

[Boots]

Very late to the party, for which I can only apologise. Here is my effort:



And, here is the behind the scenes shot:



I fully admit that I read all the hints and tips earlier in the thread - so thank you all.

I don't think I did myself any favours in:
a) using a mirror as the base, which left me the nasty "horizon", but I couldn't really figure out how to avoid it, without going to a different base.
b) Not using brandy, but coloured water - this didn't really look right to my eyes.

But I enjoyed doing the challenge and learnt whilst doing it.

PS Only post-processing was to adjust the colour balance and spot out the dust bunnies from my sensor.