Bottles and glasses

[Potatis]

A few months ago when I was very new to photography, I learned a lot about lighting when taking this photo. It was lit with my cheap $17 spotlight that I got from the supermarket. I could not find a sheet of perspex at the the time, all the shops I went to were sold out. So I used a thin plastic sheet to sit the bottles & glasses on, the kind of thin plastic you might cover a book with. As a result the reflection was not flat. Nevertheless, I still liked the shot because I got what I was looking for.

*Edit: It's been a long time since I saw this photo, and to me it looks a little oversaturated, but I post it as it was.

[Matt. K]

Stewart cystal? :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Nothing but the finest?

I like the lighting and there is something "dimensional" about the image. I love glass and backlighting. Good job.

[sirhc55]

Doug - I have done this kind of shot many times and this shot of yours is excellent

[Alpha_7]

Impressive stuff Doug, really like the colours, arrangement of the items.

What did you use as a backdrop ? (good idea using the plastic sheets).

[Potatis]

I'm very flattered by the comments!

Matt, I know I should be keeping my mouth shut, especially after seeing how expensive Stewart crystal is from a google search. But these glasses were just some cheap things that readers digest were sending me while I was trying in vain to be removed from their mailing list a few years ago. These are about the only time they've been used. I have reidel glasses... well, actually only one left now - they break. Thanks very much for your comments.


Chris, I'm flattered by your comments too! Thanks very much.

Craig, thanks for your comment. The background was a large sheet of plain paper (thin cardboard?), the kind you buy at the newsagents. It has a kind of paper texture to it in the photo. I don't mind it, but I can see that if I want it smooth, I need to use something else. Since this shot I have bought a large sheet of clear perspex, so I'm set if I want to do this kind of thing again.

[rokkstar]

I like this shot. I've been trying to do something similar with bad results. Where did you pick up your perspex and what did you get it for? I'm trying to find a piece as well, for reflections like you have mentioned/.

[Potatis]

Hi Matt. I ended up finding the perspex at Bunnings at Terry Hills. I'd tried A couple of Mitre 10s, and Bunnings at chatswood. They normally stocked it they told me, but didn't have any in stock at the time. Although Mitre 10 only sold it in white, not clear. I think I paid somewhere between $50-$70 for a sheet... wait, I'll measure it... It's 120cm x 90cm and a few mm thick. Others here may know where it can be bought cheaper.

It can be bought clear, or in white. I got a clear sheet so I could do this sort of thing in the future. White, black or any other colour paper can be put underneath the perspex.

[stubbsy]

Doug

Nicely done. I like the idea of carrying the colours through in the shot glasses.

I also like the fact you have Reidel rather than Stuart Crystal.

[Potatis]

Thanks Peter. I have one Reidel glass left until Genista breaks it. Then I'll have to buy another set.

[Geoff]

Beautiful work there Doug...nicely executed!

[stubbsy]

Thanks Peter. I have one Reidel glass left until Genista breaks it. Then I'll have to buy another set.

A good spot to buy when you need to is Peters of Kensington

[Potatis]

That's where I saw the Stewart Crystal glasses in my google search, Peters of Kensington. I wonder if Peters of Kensington are more expensive than the bottle shops, or Myer? I'll compare. Hmm I haven't seen that 'O' series before. It's obvious that Peters of Kensington have a much larger range than other places.

Peter, what's your best recommendation?

[stubbsy]

That's where I saw the Stewart Crystal glasses in my google search, Peters of Kensington. I wonder if Peters of Kensington are more expensive than the bottle shops, or Myer? I'll compare. Hmm I haven't seen that 'O' series before. It's obvious that Peters of Kensington have a much larger range than other places.

Peter, what's your best recommendation?

Peters Of Kensington is a fantastic store and their prices are generally lower than bottle shops or other specialty stores. I've bought lots of different things there. It's like a slightly seedier DJs or Myers. They have an excellent mail order service, but you can also just go to the store in Anzac Pde. Great place to browse through. The O series glasses don't grab me greatly - the Vinum range, while more expensive are better - the SHiraz or the Cabernet or the Pinot glass. For everyday use I have Bodum design Polo glasses which are simialr (not crystal) and cost $6 each rather than $36

[Potatis]

Thanks very much for the information, Peter.

Sorry to all for hijacking my own thread, and throwing it off topic.

[gstark]

For everyday use I have Bodum design Polo glasses which are simialr (not crystal) and cost $6 each rather than $36

I have some $2 Mikasa imitation Reidels that are very nice,. Clear, simple in design, inexpensive, and they are crystal.

[Potatis]

Gary, have you done a side by side taste test to compare the difference between the Reidel and the imitation? That'd be very interesting, as I understand that it is the shape of the Reidel glass that is the key? I could be wrong, but I'd be interested in trying it myself. A good imitation could copy the shape.

It was interesting when I first did a taste test comparison when I first got my Reidel glasses to discover that it really was true that the same wine actually did taste different coming from different glasses. And it was not in the mind. I had been very sceptical.

[ozczecho]

Good stuff Doug - have you done a follow up since then?

[gstark]

Doug,

No. These make no attempt to prend to be Reidel; they just emulate the shape somewhat, but they're still very pretty, very elegant, and for the money, they were bloody good value.

[Potatis]

Thanks ozczecho. I haven't done a reshoot of this photo yet. I think I will sometime, using the new perspex. I have used the $17 spotlight for several things since though, and it has worked fairly well. Here is another photo I took with my cheap spotlight. Beer with barley & beer nuts. It may not be great, but I was learning by teaching myself.

[Potatis]

Gary, I'm very interested. I will look around for them and try them. They are officially on the shopping list

[ozczecho]

Mate, beer shots...my fave, I love what you did with this.

Like you I have a cheap light and have also been practising, trying to take the ultimate beer shot. After getting a tip from sirhc55 to use salt to give the impression of frost..here is the result...



Hope you dont mind me posting it in your thread.

Cheers

Mike

[Potatis]

Of course I don't mind you posting your photo in my thread. I'd like to know more about the salt tip. I also need to do a tighter crop of my photo. I did one, but can't find it. Doesn't matter, I can crop this one.

Your lighting is great, and love the DOF (blur behind the glass).

[Potatis]

Different crop. I think we are still on the bottles and glasses topic.

[sirhc55]

Doug - you have certainly got the hang of this kind of shooting. I like the way the table leads to black but my only critique would be the hard table edge on the left is just too hard.

Mike I like your shot as well - a nice angle for the lighting and my only critique on your shot would be to make sure your beer has a good head. Top the glass up just prior to shooting should do the trick.

[Potatis]

Thanks Chris, I really appreciate your critique. That hard edge to the table really stood out to me after I saw Mike's photo. That's why I commented on his DOF, I liked the smooth transition to the distant background in his shot.

The head was a nightmare. With the heat of the light the head was rapidly vanishing before my eyes. I filled up and immediately hit the remote over and over. Viewing the thumbnails I could see the head quickly going lower and lower and lower. In the end I PPed this image which might have an ok head for photography, but is a bit too much for my drinking tastes.

[sirhc55]

Don’t worry Doug, I have PP’ed in many a head

[Potatis]

Haha I didn't mean I PPed in the head, I didn't do that. I mean I chose this shot to PP out of all the shots in the thumbnails

[Poon]

Nice pictures
-------------
regards
poon

[Alpha_7]

Almost makes me want to stock beer in my fridge, but I'd have to find someone to drink it after the shots were taken Nice idea with the barley and nuts.

[gstark]

Don’t worry Doug, I have PP’ed in many a head

Better than peeing in a head, I guess.

Hmmmm .... maybe not.

[Potatis]

Thanks Poon

Thanks again Craig for your comments.

Gary, we all have to be careful of what and where we PP.

[sirhc55]

Don’t worry Doug, I have PP’ed in many a head

Better than peeing in a head, I guess.

Hmmmm .... maybe not.

That’s what Killa would do

[ozczecho]

Mike I like your shot as well - a nice angle for the lighting and my only critique on your shot would be to make sure your beer has a good head. Top the glass up just prior to shooting should do the trick.

The evaporating head is a direct measure on how long it took me to get the shot right lucky I wasnt shooting VB....

[ozczecho]

The head was a nightmare. .....

Tell me about it...I took quite a few shots with moving the light around, with my wife being the light assistant. This shot obviously came at a later stage.... BTW I like a good head......on my beer

[Potatis]

The evaporating head is a direct measure on how long it took me to get the shot right lucky I wasnt shooting VB....

I was shooting VB.

[ozczecho]

The evaporating head is a direct measure on how long it took me to get the shot right lucky I wasnt shooting VB....

I was shooting VB.

you must have been quick with the shutter....

[Potatis]

can in on hand, remote in the other. Fired non-stop as soon as I finished pouring.