Help!? How was this photo shot and edited?

[TheLight]

Hi,

I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me any advice how to shoot and edit a picture so it looks similar to this one:
Green apple, black background wallpaper | other | Wallpaper Better

Best regards,
Nick

 

[480sparky]

One light right above a water-dappled apple.

 

[dxqcanada]

Snoot ?

 

[astroNikon]

Snoot ?

I would think so.
Minimal light spillage, very focused beam.

 

[Derrel]

PLENTY OF spray applied to the apple as well. try a 50-50 or so mix of cosmetic counter glycerine, and water, and a good spray bottle. The glycerine added to the water will allow you to build those big drops up, and they will not just ":roll away:".

Not 100% sure this is a snoot...highlight looks hot and crisp, and looks like a long, slender rewctangular light source: maybe a long, narrow LED array, placed a bit above and slightly behind, and angled? Maybe the black has been burned in in psot?

 

[Trever1t]

First you need a wet green apple.....

 

[DarkShadow]

Oh just eat the thing and call it a day.

 

[zombiesniper]

We see a lot of these "How did they get this effect?" threads. I can understand if you're shooting film to not want to waste shots but if you're shooting digital IMHO it is a lot better to experiment and learn on your own how it is done. Not like it costs anything but time.
Never shot anything like this in my life but I guarantee within a few minutes I could set up and get a very similar if not almost exact shot.
I'm not this confident because I ask people how to do it. I'm this confident because I've experimented with my camera and it's settings, lighting, and the lenses at my disposal.
Am I the only one that see this as the only way you can truly learn HOW to recognize the way something was shot?

I would suggest to the OP, get an apple a spray bottle or eye dropper, your gear and experiment. You'll learn so much more about controlling light and your camera than asking for the solution.

 

[photo1x1.com]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
I think there is some photoshop involved in this particular image.
There is definitely some glycerine in the fluid as Derrel mentioned.
The lower left side looks a little unnatural, so does the transition from green to black on top of the apple. So my guess would be a composite in post of maybe two different exposed shots, or just burned in photoshop.

But it can be done in one shot.

1. Spear the apple on a long (preferrably black), thin and sturdy material to get it off ground.
2. Use a smaller light source (could even be a speedlight) above, but rather close to the apple.
   • Choosing a larger light source would also light the lower parts of the apple
   • getting the flash further away from the apple would add light to the background (do some reading on the inverse square law if you want to know why)
   • The more directed you light the better because it will prevent spill light in the background. So an umbrella is a bad idea
3. Now you need a room that is as dark and big as possible to get as much distance between the back wall and your light source.
   • A black background indoors would be great
     
   • Outdoor in an open area without light would be easiest
4. Set the light output pretty high (but it depends on the power of your lights how high it should be)
   
5. Close the aperture and use the fastest possible synch speed of your camera (though you might even be able to use faster than the synch speed, because the usual black gradient caused by this might even be advantageous). But don´t let the word synch speed confuse you if you don´t know what that is. Just set the shutter speed to 1/160th.
6. Use an aperture of around f11 - even higher number if there is still some light visible in the background.
7. Wear black clothing or set the camera to self timer and walk away before the image is taken. Also remove anything that could reflect back some light onto the apple or background.
   
8. Fire away

Make some adjustments to the direction of the light (angle it slightly towards the camera) if there is still some light spill towards the background. To get the cleanest result, make sure no light from the flash gets directly into the lens, causing flare, etc.. You can use a black flag, or at least a lens hood.
Any questions? The idea sounds interesting. I see if I have some glycerin left and maybe I´ll try it in the evening and post my results.

Here is a small draft:

 

[astroNikon]

To put words into an example, since I was eating an apple anyways .... here's a very brief setup and steps.

1 - find an Apple. normal image/exposure

..
2 - Get camera. For this "simple" example I got a flashlight, and created a "snoot" for it. FYI, I did this entire thing right next to my sink ... very simple.

..
3 - Now I adjusted ISO, Aperture and Shutter to make the image black - well nearly, you can still see the edge of the sink. This eliminates Ambient light. Yes, the Kitchen lights were still on.

.
4 - Now I took a picture of the Apple with the snooted flashlight. But as you can see, you can see the counter top.

..
5 - so I put a nearly black piece of construction paper underneath it.

.
6 - and to further separate the Apple from the background I used half of a toilet paper cardboard tube.

..
7 - now I took a couple pictures and to enhance the effect I did turn off the overhead lights.

That's about it. It took maybe 15 minutes and most of that was wandering around finding black construction paper and then a cardboard tube and cutting it. And yeah, I was eating the apple during it too.

Now you'll have to add the glycerin for the water beads. And make a more elaborate setup to get it exactly how you want it. But the "base" concept is fairly easy.

 

[Overread]

We see a lot of these "How did they get this effect?" threads. I can understand if you're shooting film to not want to waste shots but if you're shooting digital IMHO it is a lot better to experiment and learn on your own how it is done.
Am I the only one that see this as the only way you can truly learn HOW to recognize the way something was shot?

This is both true and not true.
On the first count the OP could be using film (though admittedly these days that is more rare).

On the second experimentation without any grounding can be a nightmare. Not everyone is methodical and those very new to things can find it hard to be because each variable is a factor that they have to think about. So sometimes it helps to have a rough guide to start with. It gives a backbone that their experimentation can work off and gives them some pointers and things to consider or look out for.

They still have to setup themselves and take the shots and play around to get the proper effect; but at least they start in the ballpark area where they will want to be.


Of course I would expect most replying to this to be able to create the shot; even if it would require some experimenting (and, like many things, there are going to be multiple ways that you could get the photo). But most replying are more confident; they won't have to think about apertures and shutter speeds and light angles - whilst the OP is likely far newer.



It's all a learning curve coupled to the fact that different people learn in different ways. Some excel at experimenting; others need more structure and direction.

 

[zombiesniper]

I see your point. Guess I'm more of a figure it out myself type of person.

 

[table1349]

This + This along with a spray bottle of glycerin.

 

[photo1x1.com]

Didn´t find time yet to shoot the apple since I have no glycerin. I had the idea to try with sugared water today, but that clogged my sprayer. Anyway, unfortunately the OP lost interest and didn´t even read the replies .

 

[SquarePeg]

Anyway, unfortunately the OP lost interest and didn´t even read the replies .

Just curious...What are you basing that on? The "last seen" info? I believe if the OP returned to the site without signing in he/she could read the replies and not have it register that they were here. Of course that is all assumption on my part.

Interesting to read that this was the thread that prompted that other poster to rant about forum people? Really? This? The snarkometer barely budged for this thread.