This is a new feature on Lighting Essentials. We take a look at images and how they were made.
We will be doing these posts as often as possible, and if you follow along you will get a heavy dose of instruction in lighting, composition, and the finesse of solving problems in the image making process.
John McAllister is a product, people, and commercial photographer in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK.
Here he is using a unique way to light these two products and is happy to share them with you here.
Kraken image:
John used several different lights to create this shot, but his unique use of a snoot behind carefully cut holes is exceptional. These two holes are ‘aimed’ at parts of the image to create a sharp edged shadow on the glass and a heightened contrast that makes the color pop.
Studying the lighting diagram and the BTS shot, we can see John’s meticulous attention to detail and manipulation of the reflective areas of the subject.
Ciroc image:
You can see the work of John’s lighting taking shape in how the bottle is presented. With long, beautiful speculars on each side of the bottle and the small circle of light around the label, the bottle is shown as a unique product. Adding a bit of light on the bottom of the bottle and the glass, the bottom hole in John’s cuki makes a very subtle change to the way the label is presented.
Study this incredible lighting scheme. Note the way John angles the strip box behind the scrim on the right side of the shot. This gives the specular a subtle gradation that adds dimension and snap.
(I hope you enjoy this new feature on Lighting Essentials.
