Hot Glass Sculpture

Don Kondra · Nov 11, 2008

Greetings,

This is a sculpture I made in an introduction to glass blowing workshop.

Shot in a 28" light tent with one 26w CF boom light and white foamcore clipped to both sides of the tent.....

Cheers, Don

craig · Nov 11, 2008

Tough deal on the specular highlights. Glass is usually better when lit from the back. Give it a try if you have a moment.

Love & Bass

Don Kondra · Nov 11, 2008

Excuse #6

I wanted the internal fire.

Cheers, Don

craig · Nov 11, 2008

Certainly up to you. I am just making suggestions.

Love & Bass

Don Kondra · Nov 11, 2008

And I thank you for that.

Tried your suggestion. On the next two shots I didn't bother with much PPing :mrgreen:

This is with minimal back light...

And very little top front corner light...

Just for the heck of it this is a 15 second exposure with no lights except cloudy reflected daylight from the east side of the tent. The tent opening is facing north, the west side is blocked with foamcore and the south side is the backdrop..... little after 2 pm.

Cheers, Don

Don Kondra · Nov 11, 2008

craig said:
Tough deal on the specular highlights. Glass is usually better when lit from the back. Give it a try if you have a moment.

Love & Bass

I'm curious about the shot you have on your web site of the three wine bottles?

Perhaps the client requested it be shot that way ?

Cheers, Don

craig · Nov 11, 2008

Excellent attempts! Actually I think the top front corner light gives the glass the nicest shape.

The three wine bottles was a failed attempt for The Jackson Hole News & Guides FAF special section. The Art Director loved it and it was quite effective because the photo ran small.

Love & Bass

Don Kondra · Nov 12, 2008

I just can't help myself Craig,

Why would you put that "failed attempt" on your web site?

Cheers, Don

craig · Nov 12, 2008

Feel free to speak your mind with me Don! Although not the smartest move; that shot really means a lot to me. I can produce slick work, but I also like to have fun and stir emotion.

Check out http://craigblankphotography.viewbook.com/ This is more recent work. As you can see I am not always a fan of details in the highlights and sharp focus.

Thanks!

CB

Don Kondra · Nov 13, 2008

Okay Craig,

I guess we can agree to disagree...

The last shot I posted is my favorite and I am a fan of sharp focus

Cheers, Don

craig · Nov 13, 2008

Excellent!

)'(

Christie Photo · Nov 14, 2008

Without seeing, holding the sculpture, my instinct/training is to light whatever I put behind it. Of all the glass things I've photographed, I don't recall ever attempting to shoot something like this with such an irregular shape.

-Pete

Don Kondra · Nov 14, 2008

I think that's why the "no lights" light was the most successful shot, with such an odd shape there is bound to be a highlight somewhere

At some point when I have more time I would like to try the cut out in the bottom of the backdrop and light that. Different colored narrow beam lights might be interesting too...

Cheers, Don

Patm1313 · Nov 14, 2008

You might be better off using a single light source. Using multiple light scources on glass with curves tends to deceive the eye about the shape of the curves.

Don Kondra · Nov 14, 2008

Patm1313 said:
You might be better off using a single light source. Using multiple light scources on glass with curves tends to deceive the eye about the shape of the curves.

Not quite sure how to respond to that

The first picture is a single light source, a 26w CF bulb.

The last picture is a single light source, the sun on a cloudy day with two sides of the tent blocked...

Cheers, Don