January 2012 Assignment: Glass (clear)

[tc95]

rab3rd let me barrow his boom so I played with it today...

Setup:

...Boom w/Flash XXX

......................................XXX Chandler



......................................XXX Camera w/Flash pointed away from Chandler



System D2x with Sigma 500DG Super on camera Sigma 30 1.4 {ISO 160...1/250...f1.6...EV 0...

[rab3rd]

Great job everyone. There were some great images created for this assignment. Thanks for all the participatioin. I hope everyone learned something either through their own work or the work of others. There is still a few days left so feel free to add more if you are still working on it.

:-)

[lvolkjr]

I accepted the challenge given by rab3rd. It's just taken a while to figure it out and to find the time to try some ideas. I'm not quite there yet, but here's what I have so far.

I have another idea I want to try. I'll try to get that done before the 31st.

[lvolkjr]

Here's another one I did. The glass is clear, but the liquid is orange. Is this breaking the rules?

[rab3rd]

not at all, there were no "rules" really, just an assignment to get you thinking outside your normal way of thinking. I like your first attempt, if your lighting was just brighter you would have nailed the example. As a case in point if I may use your shot.

You can see how the stem completely disappears becoming part of the background, this is the biggest issue when shooting clear glass. You may thing ahhh, no problem. I'll shoot it against a white background. Well guess what kids, same problem. So you try more light and more light, but now you're making hot spots and it looks worse and worse. The key is in the reflections. You use reflectors out of frame, not to add light but to add reflections. So now you see in the glass the reflection of your reflective material. These reflectors can be moved closer or further away, made in different sizes width and height wise. All of which will change the image you see in the glass. These reflections help to define the edges of the glass and create seperation from the background.

I was hoping someone would do a white background so we could all see how that works too. Its the same as the black really but you use black card stock or material as your relflector. I know that sounds counterintuitive becasue black detracts light, but remember its not the light we are after, its the reflection.

Good job this month by everyone. Now on to next month. I know it may seem a little harder when you first read the assignment, but it really isnt. Just step back and think simple. There is no wrong shot, its a chance to be creative.

Now go forth and create...

:-)

[lvolkjr]

Thanks Rob, I'm still learning and developing an eye for the details. I guess that's why I'm doing this. I'll try to be more creative in the future, I looked at your example as a challenge to recreate. All in all I still learned something and I did something I've been wanting to do, forcing myself to use my flash. I really need to learn more about how to use my flash.

Again, thank you!

[rab3rd]

You're welcome. ;-)

[78novacaine]

Here is my craptastic attempt, first time I have tried lighting glass, LOTS of time spent in LR with the adjustment brush, haha, single speedlight in a DIY round modifier above subject:



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[lvolkjr]

Kind of looks like there is frost on the glass.

[rab3rd]

Good go David. Keep in mind, and Im sure you already know this, your time is better spent trying to get it right in the camera instead of post. Pretend like your shooting film and there is no photoshop...

Post really should be limited to some exposure correction, color correction, contrast adjusments, and sharpening. Not saying that I dont depend on post but we should all try and try to get it right in the camera. If you do that you learn more about you camrea and less about PS ;-)

[78novacaine]

Originally Posted by rab3rd

Good go David. Keep in mind, and Im sure you already know this, your time is better spent trying to get it right in the camera instead of post. Pretend like your shooting film and there is no photoshop...

Post really should be limited to some exposure correction, color correction, contrast adjusments, and sharpening. Not saying that I dont depend on post but we should all try and try to get it right in the camera. If you do that you learn more about you camrea and less about PS ;-)

Yeah, I usually concentrate more on getting it right in camera, just was being lazy today Plus it really wasn't THAT much extra work, basically a lot of dodging and burning, so could have still done it with film for similar results with the original image

[justjenny]

Can we use natural light? I hope so.. I shot a bunch with flash, hated them. Got frustrated and used mini blinds.

[Ricks Canvas]

I like the challenge... So here is my first in the Assignment Exercise....