Firewater

[Loose Canon]

I have had this bottle of whiskey for over a year! I have not even so much as had a taste. Very uncharacteristic!

It is (at least for me) a very expensive bottle of whiskey. Especially considering whiskey is not my preferred libation! I got it pretty much for photographic purposes! The cork (and it has a cork) is incredibly aromatic! Make you salivate!

I have been looking at a ton of examples of happy wine and accouterments from happy grape yards around the world, so I thought it might be fun to give an example of how they do it right here at home!

One thing in common?

This is “sippin’” whiskey!

Have a fire extinguisher handy!

[Mike Buckley]

I sure do like how the lighting displays the embossed signature so nicely, especially knowing what a challenge that can be.

I do wonder though why Jack didn't center his signature. Perhaps he had enjoyed too much Jack.

[Shadowman]

Nice concept.

[Loose Canon]

Thanks guys!

I'd say it wouldn't take much of this Jack for Jack to get a little off-center!

[Loose Canon]

I had to take a minute to work up the specs on this one!

It was kind of a complicated shot and I had to take a minute to remember everything! Not so easy considering I have no memory I can call my own!

This was two separate shoots. One for the bottle and one for the fire.

The bottle was shot at f/11, 1/200th shutter, ISO 100 at 58mm FL. It is a three shot composite. Base shot, label shot, and a shot for the bottom of the bottle. The label was tricky due to it’s detail. It has a tendency to photograph black (except of course, for the lettering) if you aren’t paying attention! Shot on clear plexiglass.

Three lights wearing strip boxes were fired for every shot. A fourth light wearing a 10* grid was handheld and used for the label and the bottom. Various reflectors and flags were also used. Two of the boxes were set horizontally on each side of the bottle. One horizontally above and behind the bottle.

General set-up. There is a flag wrapped around the boom arm that I used to hang the bottle neck from to get the angle I wanted in the composition. I used the only silver one I have not even thinking that it would bring about some unwanted reflection on the bottle! But it sure did! So note to self on that one! I should have known!



There is a flag on the top, back strip box that can be seen in this shot. This light was responsible for the top shoulder, neck, and the embossing and there was too much of it so it got the flag!



This is the camera left strip box wearing a flag to shape the primary highlight on the CL side of the bottle (the inverted “L” shaped one). The white reflector on the box is giving the secondary highlight (straight, less bright highlight). This to help define the shape of the bottle. There is also another reflector underneath the bottle to bounce some light back into the liquid.



Then, to get the flames I set the studio ablaze! Boy howdy did I ever hear it from Wifey-Poo on that one! Apparently she didn’t see the humor in that! Who knew! She hid all the matches from me!

The interesting thing about the fire is that I needed a minimum of 1/500th shutter to stop the licking flames and that was barely fast enough! The faster the better. I had to “jack” (pun intended) the ISO to 2000 and shot them at f/5.6.

The flames are seven shots composited with the bottle.

I would like to make a comment on the embossed signature. It takes both the highlights and the deep shadow, and everything in between, to make it look dimensional. It also takes both to give a glossy look. I consider this extremely important and is a basis for studio work. Especially if you are shooting glossy subjects, or translucent subjects. Here there are both.

[NorthernFocus]

That's awesome. Well done.

[John 2]

Lighting something like this is beyond my comprehension. That's an incredibly good image.

[Brownbear]

Indeed an incredible image! I've never met a whiskey I'm fond of but I'd be tempted to try a glass if I saw this as an ad.

Creative and gorgeous! Do the flames mean that this whiskey is too hot to handle?

I'm curious as to how you managed to impart what appears to be a hint of the reflection of the flames/lighting from the flames in the the bottle?

Thank you for sharing the SS needed to capture fire. The flames certainly don't appear to be that fast moving. I've tried photographing the flames of a fire just once with a super slow shutter speed to keep the iso at 100 but I intend to try again one day so helpful to know.

[KimC]

Beautiful... thanks for sharing the photo set-up as well.

[JBW]

looking good. Just curious why you chose to not have flame all around?

[Mike Buckley]

I would like to make a comment on the embossed signature. It takes both the highlights and the deep shadow, and everything in between, to make it look dimensional. It also takes both to give a glossy look.

That's very illuminating. I had never consciously thought of it that way but, of course, it has to be true. Now I feel better in my thinking all along that embossed glass (actually, embossed anything) is very challenging.

You mentioned that all of that is required to make it look glossy. Is that not so when the material isn't glossy? I ask because I would think all of that would be required even when the material isn't glossy. Maybe the brightest portions of the direct reflections aren't required when the material isn't glossy?

[Loose Canon]

Do the flames mean that this whiskey is too hot to handle?

Christina, from what (little) I know about the making of quality whiskey fire is an essential ingredient. It is brought to alcohol by firing the mash. Moonshine! It is brought to whiskey by charcoal filtering. They make the charcoal by lighting a huge fire with the chosen wood. Aged in white oak barrels.

I'm curious as to how you managed to impart what appears to be a hint of the reflection of the flames/lighting from the flames in the the bottle?

It was lit that way with the bottle bottom I mentioned that was part of the bottle composite.

Just curious why you chose to not have flame all around?

Thank you Brian.

I thought a lot of fire on the side of the only side of the bottle photographed would take away from the subject. I thought the fire is secondary to the subject. I thought just a touch of flame on that side was enough and the shot doesn’t seem unbalanced to me. I also like the side of the bottle the way it came out. I think sometimes less can be more, but I have often been wrong.

Does it seem like it should have something more in the way of fire to you? I’d be very interested in your opinion here.

I have a ton of shots of my studio burning down to add!

You mentioned that all of that is required to make it look glossy. Is that not so when the material isn't glossy? I ask because I would think all of that would be required even when the material isn't glossy. Maybe the brightest portions of the direct reflections aren't required when the material isn't glossy?

Mike, I also said that is necessary to make it dimensional.

You have to have the highlights and the shadows. Otherwise it is going to appear flat.

You have said, and I believe, that texture is best side lit. Highlights on one side, the texture (raised) throws a shadow on the unlit side.

Light illuminates. Shadow defines it Brother!

[Mike Buckley]

Light illuminates. Shadow defines it Brother!

Amen!

[JBW]

Terry, Top and bottom left there are single flames. Perhaps if they had a little company that quickly diminished in size? On the other hand perhaps if those two flames weren't there at all?

I don't have the skills needed to remove the bottom left flame but here is your shot without the top left flames. I truly believe that it is personal taste at this point. In my drinking days single malt rather than single barrel was my preferred sipper.

Same deal with the flames I just might prefer a few less. Perhaps with some added reflections in the bottle to hint at more flames outside the frame. But that would just be me.

And by the bye I did this at 400% and and the picture was still amazingly clear. Not only to hot to touch but sharp enough to cut!

[Rebel]

I love the way the bottle is shot, but I'm not a fan of the flames. They just don't look realistic to me, they remind me of the fire filter on a plugin I had for Photoshop called Eyecandy years ago.

[Marie Hass]

Your lighting on the bottle of whiskey is beautiful. We can appreciate the detailing that shows because of your technique.

What was your thinking on adding the fire?

Marie

[IzzieK]

If I light a fire in the fireplace at like 83°F outside like yesterday here in Missou, I'd probably get a good talking to from hubby-do... Anyway, just a thought...have you thought of doing this effect while the bottle is standing, not leaning down? I suppose it ain't gonna work that way because you want the bottle to be the star of this shot instead of the fire engulping it?...

[Loose Canon]

Thank you guys!

Brian I like your edit! Maybe you’re right about less being more in this case. I actually went around about the lower left flame and in the end just kept it. It is on a layer so easily removed.

Matt, fair enough! Thank you for commenting.

Marie I was just wanting to do something a little different. No other particular reasoning for the flames except fire is used in the making of whiskey.

Izzie, I shot the fire outside in a fire pan! Its nice to be able to finally say it is too warm for an indoor fire.

While I was at it I did save a shot of the bottle in case I changed my mind about the flames.

In post I put the bottle together first and after I got it the way I liked it I added the flames later to keep my options open. I also cut the bottle out to have it on a transparent BG (or anything else I wanted).

[Rebel]

Love the bottle Terry, interestingly there are claims that the original recipe for Jack Daniels was written by a woman who lived a few miles down the road from where I am:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddr...-remedies.html

[Loose Canon]

Interesting article Matt!

I guess alcohol has a long history of being used medicinally! That is of course the only reason I have a taste every so often!

Makes me wonder if it really is the original recipe. I’m not a big whiskey drinker and I didn’t really research anything much for this. I think that someday I’d like to visit the distillery for the tour.