Karen Botvin
July 2024 - The Beer Party
Original
About the Image(s)
I have been shooting tethered in my home studio for the past few weeks trying different lighting styles. It’s too hot to be outdoors and this month’s photo represents a good cold drink on these very hot, humid days. I call it ⬓The Beer Partyâ¬. As I said, I shot this tethered to my computer using my Nikon Z7-2 mounted on a tripod with a 24-120mm f/4 lens at 44mm. Using the typical flash settings, the ISO 100, f/8, and shutter speed set to my sync speed of 1/200 sec. Using 2 flashes, I set one low with a grid and pointing towards the background at -2.7 power and the second flash in a 2’x3’ light box with half the light blocked so to have a 1’x3’ strip box. That flash was set at +1.3 power pointing toward the back to just graze the sides of the glasses. In LR, I increased the exposure and whites just a bit, decreased the highlights, and increased the shadows. In PS, I cloned the dark shadowed areas on either side of the frame. I will say that shooting beer is a challenge as the head shrinks fairly quickly. I do like that the bottom glass’ rim lines up with the top of the head on the top glass, and the bottom of the head on the top glass lines up with the top of the head on the bottom glass. Trust me, that was quite by accident as I was pouring the beer from one glass to another to try and keep a bit of the head in both. I was happy with the outcome. What do you think?
This round’s discussion is now closed!
13 comments posted
I think I might have been tempted to drink the beer!
I would like to see how it looks without the packet of biscuits, leaving just the three leaning against the cheese board, and I might remove the blue/white object in the foreground thereby reducing the business of the image.
I like the way the cloth leads the eye into the image.
Maybe a fraction more separation between the two glasses and I would like to see how it looks with the background highlight lowered so that it shines through the glasses a little more, rather than above.
An interesting image. Well done! Posted: 07/04/2024 01:10:18
Here in Canada, I save indoor shots for January/February. I like your arrangement and there is clearly a connecting idea between the elements. If you don't mind, here are some ideas (not a critique):
-Try using a grey card and setting your white balance to it. Or use a white piece of paper. Just shoot one picture with it in the frame and then set the white balance to it in your post software. Super easy. I'm just thinking there's a lot of blue in the picture.
-Try spraying a mist of water on the glasses. I think the pros use a diluted glycerine mixture so it stays put.
-To make the picture look less like a studio shot, try using a patternless curtain as a backdrop, or a wall. I've found that dollar stores sell 1ft sections of fake brick/tile that can be stuck to plywood. If it is in soft focus, it looks real.
Great shot by the way!
Cheers. Posted: 07/04/2024 17:30:12
Not near as technical as your shoot, but I like what you're doing. well done. Posted: 07/05/2024 19:18:25