Yet Another Attempt at glass photography C & C please

[qleak]

Just trying some more techniques for lighting glass. Please feel free to let me know things I could have done better. I cloned out a couple of water spots that were catching the light, otherwise fairly minimal revisions.
1)
6 by n8.iverson, on Flickr

edit: my monitor reset while I was at work today.. my first edit had the screen way to bright so I fixed it

 

[qleak]

The framing was bothering me on this one and I thought it might be better in 8x10. This is not exactly a crop, more like an expansion:

2)
20150210_0031_8x10_1600 by n8.iverson, on Flickr

 

[dxqcanada2 1]

Where are the lights/reflectors positioned ?

 

[qleak]

Where are the lights/reflectors positioned ?

light 1 with a tight grid behind the subject shooting into the glass beads

light 2 reflected off a partially obstructed board a few feet behind and above the subject.

 

[SnappingShark]

I think I see the reflection of the camera at the bottom of the glass.

 

[qleak]

I think I see the reflection of the camera at the bottom of the glass.

Hmm I wasn't initially sure if it was the camera or the speedlight on a light stand.

After sleeping on it, I think you're right!

I used the on-camera flash (redirected) as an optical trigger. Going wireless would probably help reduce the camera's appearance since it looks like the only reason it's visible is the flash. Now I just need a set of wireless triggers

Thanks for your feedback

 

[qleak]

Hmm.. Then again now that's I've had some coffee, there were some shots where the bounced flash on the lightstand failed to fire.

a) With flash

b) Without

This also helps me see where that glare on the base is coming from. I guess I need some sort of gobo to control this.

 

[bribrius]

it needs more light!!

 

[Braineack]

the glass rocks need more light, the glass itself doesn't.

it needs better placement of the lights to catch the reflections along the edges.

You're not really lighting the glass per say, you're lighting the surrounding area and capturing reflections.

 

[qleak]

the glass rocks need more light, the glass itself doesn't.

it needs better placement of the lights to catch the reflections along the edges.

You're not really lighting the glass per say, you're lighting the surrounding area and capturing reflections.

Thanks for your feedback.

I agree i keep lightening the rocks in post. i had my sb700 at 1/1 manual behind them, so i guess it's either higher ISO and adjust the other flash or different placement.

I'll experiment with the reflector / flash position to see if i can get it a little closer to the edge.

 

[Braineack]

I'd probably try light this as so:

try taking a piece of aluminum foil, tape it at a 45 angle behind the rocks, shot your flash from the side into the foil and have it bounce into the rocks.

the softboxes should provide the rim lighting on the glass, then the foil should illuminate the rocks.


that's what I'd try at least. actual good results may vary.