Glass: from cracked to broken

[Digital]

Mike, My suggestion would be to place the glass at more of a 45 degree for this pic.


Bruce

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for the suggestion, Bruce, but I tried that and didn't come up with a pleasing composition. One problem is that the glass rolls unless I put some modeling clay at the base of the glass to prevent it from rolling. Every time I came up with a composition that I liked, I didn't like it as much as the one shown above. Even then, I would also have had to deal with some reasonably difficult cloning to remove the clay and its reflection from the image.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike, may I ask what that horizontal line in 1/3 of the third image is I have no idea about the compositions with glass but isn't it a bit distracting?

[Mike Buckley]

The horizontal line is the the horizon of the glass tabletop. There are many choices to be made regarding the use (or not) of the horizon:

• Whether to include it; if so...
• What material to use for the tabletop because each material results in a different appearance of the horizon;
• How sharp or blurred it should be;
• Where it is positioned within the overall composition; and
• Where it is refracted in the glass subject, if to any significant degree.

As you can now imagine, I thought all of that out very carefully and consider the horizon to be an important element in the photo, though my design skills are the weakest of all the skills required to do this kind of photography. I understand that not everyone will like my use of the horizon.

I like this use of the horizon because the two straight parts provide a nice contrast to the other curves in the image and complement the straight lines in the stem of the glass. The position of the horizon also helps emphasize the slight angle of the stem. I also like the way it enhances the three-dimensional feeling. Most important, I like the subtle refraction of the horizon in the bowl of the glass, without which that area of the image would be a bit boring.

Just my thinking.

[bnnrcn]

Transparent glass is really an interesting material and I have never thought what kind of compositions can be created with it. Because you are experienced in it , may I ask if dark BGs like black suit shots with glass ? For instance does #3 look fine with a dark BG ?

[Mike Buckley]

Black backgrounds work great, Binnur. Check out these.

[bnnrcn]

WOW ! This is exactly what I meant. Thay are great Mike Transparency adds a lot to the compositions , especially with dark BGs.

Black backgrounds work great, Binnur. Check out these.