Photographic studio lighting technique: Glass

This is part of an ongoing assignment from Dr. T at Platypod. We reviewed ideas in the book, Light, Science and Magic by Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua to share. Here is a way to add nice soft specular and shape forming light patterns. Here’s a link to the article on metal.

Wine bottle and glass

wine bottle no lighting — Here’s the raw subject with only room lighting.

Subjects that have extremely reflective surfaces require large, soft light sources. Large is relative. The scrim I employed in this image was only 20 inches. It’s proximity to the wine bottle and glass. A diffused light was placed behind the scrim to fill the entire surface. If you wanted to show a more specular light within the scrim you could remove that diffuser cover and move the light a different distance from the 20-inch scrim for totally different lighting effects. Looking for something smooth this is how I decided to light it.

final wine glass and bottle lighted properly — Final rendering. See set ups below.

Different specular light

In order to add some more light to the other side of the wine bottle I brought in a reflector card. On this set it needed to be close for the highlight outline which brings it into the picture. It required a mother frame capture which was stripped in during post production. Another frame was also used to reflect light smoothly on to the label. Many times I will piece an image together only concerned with a specific place on the subject. All images are them assembled using Photoshop layers. If you use this technique be very careful to not disturb and of the subject when moving reflectors. Your camera should be triggered with a remote to keep any movement as well.

adding a specular light — Card was added in separate image to add a slight specular line of light on the back of the wine bottle. It was stripped in using Photoshop layers in post production.

Background light

In order to get the deep, rich color I employ a black background. An RGB Light Stick, Irisa 1 from Falcon Eyes for something similar works well. The subjects platform is raised in order to not have any specular color from the light stick striking the subject. It is also partially covered with a black gobo to direct the light only on to the background. If you find the color of the light is not deep enough turn the brightness down. Yes down helps because when color is underexposed it becomes richer. While you might be able to achieve this color with a medium gray background it will always read pink if you use white.

wine bottle and glass set from the side — Side view of the gear. Base supports are Platypod eXtremes and Delta. Elbows help to place lights and Westcott 20 inch scrim. Platypod Handle and Goosneck along with Mini Super Clamps.

The set

Having lots of doo-dads to maneuver lights, scrims and gobos helps a lot. Check the set photo to see how easy it is to move things close yet still stay out of frame. In the past I was always tripping over tripods, and large and small light stands. No more. It’s much easier to work on the set.