Port glasses milling about the party

[Mike Buckley]

Though I thought yesterday that I was done photographing the port glasses for awhile, I ventured into my makeshift studio this morning with a fresh idea. These might be my favorites of the series.

I just love the personification of inanimate objects and wonder if the idea that these glasses are milling about the party works as well for you as for me. No problem if it doesn't, so please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts about that.








The Outcast



Dancing queen and her audience (variation of an idea suggested by Kaye)

[Brownbear]

Beautiful! The idea works for me, very well.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Christina. I can't seem to get away from the beauty of these glasses no matter how hard I try. I added another photo to the first post in the thread.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Brownbear]

And I'm delighted to hear that as I love this 2nd image! Extraordinarily beautiful! My new favourite!

The only thing I can think of is if you could have one of the glasses dancing about (just a little)... After all it's a party!

Thanks, Christina. I can't seem to get away from the beauty of these glasses no matter how hard I try. I added another photo to the first post in the thread.

[FootLoose]

The first one works for me, Mike. The bubble towards the top of the glass suggest it has had a bit to drink and is enjoying itself. I like the reflections of the other glasses within the main two also, but particularly the reflections in the stems.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks to Christina and Greg.

The first one works for me, Mike. The bubble towards the top of the glass suggest it has had a bit to drink and is enjoying itself. I like the reflections of the other glasses within the main two also, but particularly the reflections in the stems.

That's very gratifying for me to see your reaction. Everything you mentioned suggests to me that the viewer is intimately involved in watching the "interaction" between the personified glasses. The viewpoint in the second one suggests to me that the viewer is watching everything from a considerable distance.

[Plumcrak]

Mike, you continue to impress. I like the closeness of the first image...makes me feel part of the gathering. The second makes me feel like a wall-flower at the party. Both are very nicely done with two different feelings from each.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Jon. Having seen your far better description of the two scenes, I feel like removing my own description that took twice as many words to say half as much. You really nailed everything I was trying to convey in the two compositions. Thank you!

[Mike Buckley]

I added a third photo to the set titled, "The Outcast."

[Brownbear]

Brilliant and beautiful... My new favourite!

[pnodrog]

"The Outcast" is far more dynamic... a bit of spilled sherry or port would open up further opportunities (that is if you can spill without breaking the glass)....

[Jeffbridge]

Fantastic set. Loved them all.

[FootLoose]

The Outcast - obviously the guy who can't hold his liquor

[ShaneS]

Great concept Mike. The first is my favorite due the brightness and the play of light and show of the various glasses showing through the others.

On the third I can't get over the fact that your outcast appears to be floating...maybe he thinks he can fly?

[ST1]

Well done Mike, I've looked at this set a couple of times and I'm impressed with them all. My thoughts but remember this is me typing before having breakfast which could be traumatic.
The first image IMHO matches your title brilliantly. The two foreground glasses showing the reflections of the other glasses make me think/I can see the reflections of headless party goers (lower torso's) having conversations with each other. I hope that makes sense, remember my blood sugar needs a top up.

BTW what does your makeshift studio consist of?

[John 2]

Anothe rnice set Mike. If I have to choose it would be the first and third simply because in the first, the capture of the images of the other glasses in the front two appeals to me particularly the mini images in the stems. In an odd way, they pull the comp together. In the third, the feeling of disaproval is palpable.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you everyone!

It's great to know that the personification of the glasses comes through loud and clear. I have come to realize with no forethought or planning that this particular combination of a group of glasses and glasses this size with such nice, translucent color and interesting bubbles makes it especially easy to implement the concept.

L. Paul: I like your idea of adding spilled port or sherry in the last photo and will try a variation on your theme that also includes the drink in each of the rear glasses. I'll also try it with just one of glass and with the bottle in the background.

Peter: You mentioned the reflections in the first photo. Thanks especially for noticing the reflections in the stems. I added to my shot list to rent a macro lens so I can shoot the reflections in the bowls as a series of abstractions. I'm also considering changing the tabletop to black acrylic, which will produce a stronger reflection. Making that change might make it possible to produce an interesting cacophony of refractions and reflections in the glasses and tabletop.

[Mike Buckley]

BTW what does your makeshift studio consist of?

Makeshift Galactic Headquarters measures a total working floor space of 6 x 9 feet (2 x 3 meters) not including storage space and a black false ceiling that lowers on pulleys to 5 feet high (less than 2 meters). The center of HQ is this custom-built stand. Three of the four sides of the space are draped in black fabric and a black carpet is on the floor. The fourth wall is painted white for use as a large reflector. The stand is now painted black and has 30 items hanging on it, the most important item being the cup holder.

The environment is black because clear glass will reflect everything that isn't black. To ensure that I am not reflected in the subject, I stand behind the black fabric and release the shutter by pointing an infrared remote control toward the camera.

Other items include several continuous lights with small, medium and large reflectors housing compact fluorescent bulbs, two speedlights, two background light stands that also function for use underneath a clear tabletop, three regular light stands, one boom that is not cantilevered, three tabletops (clear glass, mirror and black acrylic), several translucent background materials (mostly vellum and white acrylic), one strip softbox, translucent material stretched tightly across a light wooden frame that is 2 x 3 feet for use with the softbox to produce gradient highlights on the sides of glossy subjects, assorted reflectors and flags, clamps of various sizes and styles, gaffer's tape and -- as a reminder -- the all-important cup holder.

Aren't ya sorry you asked?

[ST1]

Not sorry at all Mike, I enjoyed reading the description of your HQ and the content of the link to the image of the stand. I wish I had space for such a set up, after all I have the beginnings (100mm macro) of an off shoot planet here