Glass object on a metal stand -- Series of 3

[Mike Buckley]

I already displayed the first image shown below in an earlier thread. After creating that image, I got the idea of creating two more images of the same subject to create a series. For the sake of continuity, all three images are displayed below.

My concept is not that we would select one as a favorite over the other two; instead, the three images are intended to be viewed as a series.

If you're not interested in a description of the three setups explained below, simply skip to the images.

Setup of Photo #1 (Copied from the earlier thread)
The background and tabletop are a single sheet of translucent vellum. First capture: A medium continuous-light lamp shines on the background from the top left area of the scene. That lamp is fitted with a flag that simultaneously prevents two direct reflections from appearing in the glass subject (which later became a moot point) and adds the shadow underneath the subject. A polarizer controlled direct reflections appearing on the left edge of the glass (which later also became a moot point). Second capture: A speedlight set at full power (because the glass is dark) was on the right side shining toward the background at an angle that bounced the light back through the glass subject toward the camera. The glass subject from the second capture was merged with everything else in the first capture.

The merger rendered the direct reflections in the first capture mentioned above to be irrelevant; if I had known at the time that I was going to use two captures, I would not have bothered with the polarizer and would not have cared about the two direct reflections created by the continuous light source.

Setup of Photo #2
The background and tabletop are a single sheet of translucent vellum. First capture: A medium continuous-light lamp is at the front left and above the scene. Second capture: A speedlight on the right side on the tabletop is shining onto the background to reflect light back through the glass subject toward the camera. The glass subject in the second capture was merged with everything else in the first capture.

Setup of Photo #3
Same as the setup of Photo #2 except that the lamp is at the left and above the scene rather than at the front left and above the scene.

[Wavelength]

WOW; first one is the best...really marvelous!!!

[purplehaze]

That is a great piece of glass, very nicely presented, Mike.

[Manfred M]

Very minimalist... Nicely done, Mike.

[bje07]

excellent lighting management

[selig1656]

As already stated I prefer the first one , the others do not fill the frame enough and for me is less impressionable .

[Shadowman]

Nicely done all three, I think the orientation of the glass object and legs make a big difference, first one for me.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series Mike

[terrib]

I think it is a great series. I think not filling the frame in the last two photos is the point, giving the object a sense of moving away. That may not have been your intent at all but it's how I see them together. If it is your intent, you might consider turning the second one slightly so that it appears it's part way to it's final position in the last one.

You always put such thought into your work and it shows. Nicely done!

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

I'm delighted that I decided to check in today as I wouldn't have wanted to miss this series for anything... Beyond exquisite! To my eyes this series represents true artistry (beautiful images that convey a story) and technical perfection... Truly inspirational photography!

I love them all but the 3rd is my favourite for the tales behind the image.

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone!

I think not filling the frame in the last two photos is the point, giving the object a sense of moving away.

Exactly my intent. If I were to display these photos on a wall, they would be displayed side-by-side with the first one on the far right and the third one on the far left. If I had the opportunity, I would ask people to view them from right to left.

[GrahamS]

Mike, masterful lighting control! IMHO the "neck" of the glass object could be rotated towards the camera in the second image, to give a sense of rotation when viewed 3-2-1.