Sherry (port) glasses: Spilled! -- thanks to L. Paul

[Mike Buckley]

After reviewing the photo in this thread that displays the fallen glass, L. Paul suggested that I add spilled sherry to the image. I took his suggestion but treated the scene completely differently by adding a bottle of sherry, pouring sherry (actually water) into the upright glasses and adding sherry (mixed with glycerine) inside the fallen glass and to the tabletop. Rather than personifying the glasses as in the photos in the other thread, I went for a simple still life in this photo.

Thank you to L. Paul for the idea!

[Kris V]

Don't have the set-up for still life - but it's tempting to try.....
I like this one better than the first one.

[FootLoose]

This is a good composition, Mike, as it opens the door to various narrative possibilities.

I'm not sure about the reflection of the horizon line on the bottom left side of the bottle. The rising diagonal line looks a little odd to me. But then again it seems to align with the horizon between the two darker glasses on the right...

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Greg.

I suppose I'm so used to seeing curved glass distort a reflection that the distorted horizon line on the bottle of sherry seems perfectly natural to me.

[Shadowman]

Nice image, spillage needs a bit of color though or at least a gradation of tone to let it lie flat on the surface .

[Brownbear]

Another beauty. I especially love the composition.

The water doesn't look real to me, the edges seem a touch sharp/stiff especially on the foreground side. Likely just preconceived expectations of sherry to be red or more golden coloured but perhaps that is not important to the image.

[Mike Buckley]

John and Christina: Interesting to see your reaction to the spilled liquid. I may have used a bit too much glycerine to thicken it for your taste. It has the exact look that I was going for: lots of definition and separation from the tabletop. As for the color, pale sherry is almost perfectly clear when there is so little liquid, so I added just a hint of color during post-processing to separate it from the color of the tabletop. If you don't see the differentiation of color, I wonder if it's because of the browser you're using or perhaps a monitor that isn't profiled and calibrated.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

I can see the hint of colour. And I likely haven't had a taste sherry in 10+ years (a one time thing so no experience drinking sherry), so perhaps it is just my memory of what sherry looked like and tasted like on that day. (Firefox and calibrated)

I poured some water on a white counter top and a dark table, and it took on the colour of the table/countertop... There were also some errant water droplets around the major spill.

John and Christina: Interesting to see your reaction to the spilled liquid. I may have used a bit too much glycerine to thicken it for your taste. It has the exact look that I was going for: lots of definition and separation from the tabletop. As for the color, pale sherry is almost perfectly clear when there is so little liquid, so I added just a hint of color during post-processing to separate it from the color of the tabletop. If you don't see the differentiation of color, I wonder if it's because of the browser you're using or perhaps a monitor that isn't profiled and calibrated.

[Shadowman]

John and Christina: Interesting to see your reaction to the spilled liquid. I may have used a bit too much glycerine to thicken it for your taste. It has the exact look that I was going for: lots of definition and separation from the tabletop. As for the color, pale sherry is almost perfectly clear when there is so little liquid, so I added just a hint of color during post-processing to separate it from the color of the tabletop. If you don't see the differentiation of color, I wonder if it's because of the browser you're using or perhaps a monitor that isn't profiled and calibrated.

Monitor is profiled and calibrated, using IE 11 for browser.

[pnodrog]

Well I have to like it don't I ? - luckily I do. It provides a hint of a story rather than just an elegant design.

The viscosity of the spill does not worry me but I think I would prefer the spill to be a deeper colour maybe a pale wine red or tawny port tone. Blood red if you want to be in keeping with the viscosity.. Now there is a ghoulish thought - and don't cut yourself breaking a glass.

[IzzieK]

Well I have to like it don't I ? - luckily I do. It provides a hint of a story rather than just an elegant design.

The viscosity of the spill does not worry me but I think I would prefer the spill to be a deeper colour maybe a pale wine red or tawny port tone. Blood red if you want to be in keeping with the viscosity.. Now there is a ghoulish thought - and don't cut yourself breaking a glass.

That is a good thought -- maybe he should have broken the glass for the spill to be more realistic...

[Mike Buckley]

using IE 11 for browser.

That could be a problem. Internet Explorer is notorious for inaccurate display of colors. If the colors of your photos are different when displayed in your post-processing software than when displayed in IE, that's surely the explanation. I've gotten to the point that unless someone is viewing my images using Firefox, I don't concern myself with their perception of color.

[Mike Buckley]

Glad that you of all people, L. Paul, like it! After all, it was your idea that inspired me to make the photo.

I would prefer the spill to be a deeper colour maybe a pale wine red or tawny port tone.

I chose the sherry because I keep a bottle of it handy for cooking. That explains why I didn't choose a port. Red wine wouldn't be served in such small glasses, so that wouldn't work.

[Mike Buckley]

maybe he should have broken the glass for the spill to be more realistic...

I don't suppose you've noticed that I'm following the thread.

[pnodrog]

We are prepared to cast aside your safety, comfort, wealth and even feelings in assisting you in the pursuit of art. (albeit all at a very safe distance)