How to Photograph Liquor Bottles Using Dark Field Lighting

Article by: Many Ayromlou

Dark field lighting is one of the best methods to light glassware, especially liquor bottles, let us take a look at some of the setups that produce excellent results yet does not require many lights and expensive modifiers.

Here's a bottle of Courvoisier shot using dark-field lighting.

how to photograph liquor bottles using dark field lighting
how to photograph liquor bottles using dark field lighting

 And here's the lighting setup i used for the shot. SB26 @ 1/2 behind black background card pointing at larger white background card. White cards on both sides as reflectors.


how to photograph liquor bottles
how to photograph liquor bottles

Lighting setup for the beer can shots. 2xSB-26's, first one behind black card (background) @ 1/2 power, pointing at the larger white background. Second SB-26 is snooted with a grid I made out of LEGO pieces (works great) @ 1/16 power, used on the arm for front highlight/spotlight. Used a piece of glass over the black foam for reflection. I needed the black foam sides since I noticed reflections from the white wall (not in pic). It also helps the contrast a bit.



photography lighting technique for liquor bottles
photography lighting technique for liquor bottles

tips for photographing liquor bottles
tips for photographing liquor bottles

using dark field lighting to photograph liquor bottles
using dark field lighting to photograph liquor bottles

Camera must be on tripod and you need a zoom lens. You need to basically get the black card (background) to fill the width of your shot exactly (view finder lies a bit, even on 5D) and if you have a fixed lens it's quite difficult.


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