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TEST SHOT FOR
PHOTO 200: LIGHTING: REFLECTIVE ITEM

  

 		 (There are 4 Images in this series.  Scroll down to view them in sequence from camera original to finished version.)  
Lighting Demo 03/11/09

The object is a flat bladed cake server.  The goal is to light the object (here a reflector card over the item) that is being reflected in the blade.

THe shot needs a piece of cake on the plate but we did not have one handy so added a granola bar as a stand-in for the demo...

Room has been left for copy since the assignment as for a catalog cover shot or advertisement.

 There are three lights, a large reflector on top and a small mirror reflector for the food item being used. 
  1. A large 12" scoop is aimed up at the reflector board.  This is the "light" being seen in the blade. 
  2. A small scoop as a bottom light is on a low boom shining up through the light table and flagged to create a fall off behind the item
  3. A soft box as a side light to give some life to the food item and also to illuminate the bent portion of the blade
  4. A small mirror is set in front to put some light back onto the leading edge of the food item.

This was shot on a Canon 5D using a Canon 85mm f1.8 lens.

 
Here is the results of the bottom light only.  There is some light shining up on the overhead reflector which is putting a little light on the blade.  The dark area as the blade joins the handle is caused by its reflecting the studio walls.
Here the light aimed at the reflector board is added.  It illuminates the blade, food and adds light onto the lace covering the light table . 

The light was feathered so that there is a slight fall off on the blade so it does not simply look like a white painted blade.
A softbox was added to the right side of the set.  This put some light onto the part of the blade as it joins the handle and also adds some life and shape to the food item.
Here a black shape was held over the blade to create a sense of "shine" to it.  This shot shows the torn edges so for a real example I'd either carefully cut the shape, probably into a soft "S" curve, or simply "photoshop" the edges into something I liked better.

This is a stylistic issue: some like the added element to make the blade look more polished, others like it without.  You would offer either to a client/director and let them choose.

     
     

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