Whisky Bottle

Had another play with lighting a bottle of Whisky this morning. Thanks to Ralph for the link on yesterdays Brandy post. The video was well worth watching, I picked up a few tips and learned a few things.

Anyway here is todays efforts. C&C welcome, The aim for tomorrow is to have a go at watches.

Ralphs link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIm-SZHKOW4

The Whisky and the Cognac have to back to their owner tonight, so you won't see anymore shots of them for a while.

I'm glad you found it useful. I have nearly all of Karl's training DVds and I have found them to be very good. He can be a bit of 'acquired taste' but I have learned a lot from him.

He does do an excellent video on photographing a high end watch with one softbox and using focus stacking but its not on youtube as far as I can see. I look forward to your efforts.

I like the whisky bottle it's a very good effort. Being really picky I would say:
-The bottom and top left are 'blending' into the background a bit and could do with a touch more light to 'define' the edge a bit more.
- The logo on the bottle neck label could do with highlighting a bit.
- The lighting has put a wide band down the centre of the main label which loses the edges a bit
- You need to use an antis static duster on your surface as the dust is quite visible.

I make these comments on the basis of looking at this image as if it was my company and I wanted this in a high class magazine or on a bill board.

Regardless, it's still a good effort (as was the Brandy (oops, Cognac) bottle).

Keep them coming

Hi I had never heard of him, does he write in a photography magazine? I have suscribed to him on facebook and u tube. I like your shot of the bottle, might have a go using glasses.

How did you position the light please??

I use coloured paper from the Range.

Gareth, I have been to local art supply shop to buy a few bits and bobs which should fix some of the problems I have encountered whilst lighting products. I guess time will tell!

This bottle is almost triangular in shape and made lighting it a little difficult, now that I have some tracing paper things should be a little easier in terms of really diffusing the light.

It's all a learning curve that I hope to make more use of in the future, I also am getting hooked on this type of photography.

I have also purchased a small fold down table which should also make life easier for shooting products.

Fletcher8

Never thought about getting a fold up table, where is the best place to get one please?

You could try the Range or Argos. We found one for £17

Things I have learned and can pass on.

Make sure you cut the reflector to the same shape as the bottle and ensure you include the bottle neck

You will need to diffuse the light from the side more than you will think when you do it the first time.

When lighting with more than one light, build up one light at a time, only move on to the next light when the first one is as good as you can get it.

Don't be afraid to move the lights around from what you first might think is a logical position, you will learn a lot by experimenting with moving lights around.

Don't be to hard on your self with your first attempts, it will take time and effort and then more time and effort.

But, it's all fun and learning which will improve your photography.

Fletcher8

Its a pity its empty