Product photography - glass item with metallic gold foil

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AndyG123

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I've been trying to get some shots of candles in a glass jar with metallic gold writing on. I want a shot which shows the metallic off. A flash totally wipes out the gold foil and it looks black somehow. I have 1x on camera flash, 1 x off camera flash and sunlight.

Any suggestions on how to photograph something like this with my kit are welcome.
https://cdn.notonthehighstreet.com/...52f8/original_thank-you-bridesmaid-candle.jpg

MOD EDIT - not OPs own work - broken to a link for reference - PLEASE DON'T EDIT this linked picture or embed it in your posts...
 
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Andy, remember that specular surfaces will reflect
what they "see"!

Some letters are magenta because they see the
hearts… it is all in the angle of incidence. Good luck.
 
As Kodiak says it is all down to angles... incidence and reflectance. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat and there will be lots of opinions... I would think about how I am going to light the glass first, either dark or light field and then the label, a possibility is to use a strip of reflector material to create a highlight on the side of the glass and use a flag or gobo to prevent too much direct reflection from the label and the gold lettering... At the moment, for me at least, the image looks a little flat and needs more shape and form...

In the past I have used Light field illumination with reflectors to the front to carefully put some light onto the front of the subject whilst maintaining modelling. The same would be possible with dark field...
 
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AndyG123 said:
I've been trying to get some shots of candles in a glass jar with metallic gold writing on. I want a shot which shows the metallic off. A flash totally wipes out the gold foil and it looks black somehow. I have 1x on camera flash, 1 x off camera flash and sunlight.

Any suggestions on how to photograph something like this with my kit are welcome.
https://cdn.notonthehighstreet.com/...52f8/original_thank-you-bridesmaid-candle.jpg
Click to expand...

I can't help with the technicalities but you may get more responses from the lighting forum. I know there are some real specialists who hang about in there
 
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Probably the easiest way is to meld two shots one lit for the label and one for the glass.
As the label is made with printed foil it will pick up reflected light from all angles so needs a virtually continuous reflecting surface to light it but with a few grey and black stripes to create "Reality". you can use bent card for this reflector.

The second way to light the label is to dull it... when you "huff" on a metallic surface it can be lit with direct light, and it picks up light from everywhere. It is easier to achieve this by putting the item in the fridge for a while. when you bring it out moisture will condense on the surface. so quickly take the first shot. Then when the surface clears take the shot for the background. Or perhaps the first shot will be good enough to deal with every part of the image. it might however, look better as a compromise, by bringing both shots into photoshop as layers and changing their relative contribution to the final image. it could well look more natural.

I have no problem with the reflective surfaces in your shot as that is exactly what we see in those circumstances.
 
Might try daylight rather that flash or studio lights..............:-)

If you don't mind waiting several months.........
 
I wouldn't mind seeing the reflections either, it looks a bit more natural.
I've done a quick google and it doesn't seem to be something people shy away from.

I think the issue with reflections is when you can see people or diffusers etc , but just a contrast of light and dark adds depth.

I think you're close. Personally, I wouldn't include the straws as I don't get the relation, but I like the image.

If you print the labels yourself you can maybe include a digital image of the label, so people can see exactly whats on it.
 
Sorry for any confusion here. The original image isn't mine. I used that image as an example of what I want to achieve. I
 
AndyG123 said:
Sorry for any confusion here. The original image isn't mine. I used that image as an example of what I want to achieve. I
Click to expand...

AFAIK the rules here at TP say you should only post/embed your own images.......in cases such as this 'request for technical help' you have to provide the URL linky explaining that this is what you are trying to achieve.

As you may be aware copyright infringement of photography is rife and embedding as you have done is something of the thin end of the wedge in that erosion!

PS arguably compounded by that you have your profile set to Yes for "edit my images".........this one not being your image makes the embedding even worse.
 
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Box Brownie said:
AFAIK the rules here at TP say you should only post/embed your own images.......in cases such as this 'request for technical help' you have to provide the URL linky explaining that this is what you are trying to achieve.

As you may be aware copyright infringement of photography is rife and embedding as you have done is something of the thin end of the wedge in that erosion!

PS arguably compounded by that you have your profile set to Yes for "edit my images".........this one not being your image makes the embedding even worse.
Click to expand...

What he said...

I've edited the post for you, and added a note in the original post telling people not to mess with other folks work...
 
With highly reflective things it is often easier to think of it in terms of creating the environment that will be reflected rather than lighting as such.
I.e. a softbox is a large bright white panel to be reflected, and the lack of a softbox or white panel is a dark area to be reflected... and that's why your gold lettering is going black.
 
TheBigYin said:
What he said...

I've edited the post for you, and added a note in the original post telling people not to mess with other folks work...
Click to expand...
Thanks sorry i'd never thought about the url been hidden when embedding.

Apologies.
 
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