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millsware · 11-10-2013, 03:15 PM

I would love to be able to take good beer photos. Here is a picture I took today. There are definitely some issues that I recognize and didn't have time to fix. I produced the backlight with a handheld off-camera flash with a cereal box snoot.

1: Glare on the bottle and glass. This was taken in front of a window with sheer blinds. I should have put something up to diffuse the light more.
2: Background is boring and isn't different enough color from the table the beer is on.
3: I need to learn how to do the fake water drop.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

**Ex Finn.** · 11-10-2013, 03:47 PM

Not enough head...I would shoot more from upper right maybe.
edit: some OOF taps could make for an interesting background.

**Miguel** · 11-10-2013, 04:46 PM

A good first attempt with room for improvement.
I like the general tone of the shot and the color palette. Inducive to drinking ale certainly.
The background is too much and overwhelms the product. Remember, the ale is the hero here and it should dominate the shot.
The angle of the beer in the glass is weak and the presence of text on the glass manages to be distracting and make the viewer think that you made a mistake in not showing it. So a totally clear glass, or one with an unmistakable symbol (like a flag) would work with you.
Regarding the beer I suggest you research some tricks to make it stronger visually. Warming it, and salting it prior to the shot are cheap and easy.
One of many good things about this subject is that you have leftovers.

M

millsware · 11-10-2013, 05:48 PM

Thanks, I don't have any regular glasses without logos on them. I was hoping that the logo would be obscured by being turned to the back, but that wasn't the case.

What do you mean by the angle of the beer in the glass?

Colbyt · 11-10-2013, 06:48 PM

From an expert beer drinker but not photographer.

A very clean, no logo glass, get closer, let the glass sweat of mist it, a neutral background lighter than the beer. I also find a strong overhead light brings out the bubbles.

More later I need to get a beer now.

**Schraubstock** · 11-10-2013, 10:42 PM

Hi

Better softer light, experiment with better backgrounds, put dew and drops on the glass with a nebuliser, and a better head.

How to make a cheap nebuliser:
Take two thin straws, Araldite on straw at right angle over the top opening of the other so that it covers half (or a little les or more, experiment) of the hole.
Then dip the bottom straw in a glass of water and blow through the other you have just glued on top for all you lungs worth. Voila, fine mist.

To get a better head or refresh an old one, again take a straw, block off one end, put a few needle pricks at the end of the straw, dip into the beer just below where you want the head and, you guessed it, blow hard.

To make a head last longer make sure the glass was not washed with detergent. It is said the minute amount of detergent remaining on the glass wall will ruin a good head of beer.

Greetings

bezuidar · 11-11-2013, 03:54 AM

Would not mind a pint of beer now :-) Good comments above.

BATMON · 11-12-2013, 11:50 AM

Nice shot. The actual pint needs a little bit more drama.
I like the blurred out rocking chair.

Louicio · 11-17-2013, 10:53 PM

Best. Subject. Ever.

sam-joseph · 11-17-2013, 11:45 PM

I wonder how a really cold glass might look (ie, in the freezer for 10 minutes)? Could be some good condensation on the outside of the glass.

Regards

dcBear78 · 11-18-2013, 01:00 AM

I want 2 beers now. One to photograph and one to drink while photographing.

sam-joseph · 11-18-2013, 01:58 AM

Beers are normally sold as a set of 24. You'll have to drink 23 and photograph one.

Regards

dcBear78 · 11-18-2013, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by sam-joseph

Beers are normally sold as a set of 24. You'll have to drink 23 and photograph one.

Regards

In that order.... Should provide for some interesting photos.

RockvilleBob · 11-18-2013, 05:52 AM

I suggest photo-stacking using a good macro lens and a focus rail. Photoshop automatically picks the best in focus area of each frame and then merges it nto one 'shot" that is how magazine adds for liquor are produced. You get the excellent in focus detail of a macro lens plus you get as much depth of field as you are willing to invest time to produce. A lot of small increments will produce a startling shot of in focus DOF from the front of the glass and bottle to the rear of the glass and bottle.

MADDSNIPER · 11-18-2013, 12:18 PM

Have a look at this page:

Professional Photography Courses by Karl Taylor Photography

You should find the whiskey shot video useful.

11-10-2013, 03:15 PM	#1
millsware Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 70	Beer photography Lens: FA 50mm 2.8 macro Camera: K-01 ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 2s Aperture: F2.8 I would love to be able to take good beer photos. Here is a picture I took today. There are definitely some issues that I recognize and didn't have time to fix. I produced the backlight with a handheld off-camera flash with a cereal box snoot. 1: Glare on the bottle and glass. This was taken in front of a window with sheer blinds. I should have put something up to diffuse the light more. 2: Background is boring and isn't different enough color from the table the beer is on. 3: I need to learn how to do the fake water drop. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

11-18-2013, 05:52 AM	#14
RockvilleBob Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Lewes DE USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,780	I suggest photo-stacking using a good macro lens and a focus rail. Photoshop automatically picks the best in focus area of each frame and then merges it nto one 'shot" that is how magazine adds for liquor are produced. You get the excellent in focus detail of a macro lens plus you get as much depth of field as you are willing to invest time to produce. A lot of small increments will produce a startling shot of in focus DOF from the front of the glass and bottle to the rear of the glass and bottle. Last edited by RockvilleBob; 11-18-2013 at 06:19 AM.

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11-10-2013, 03:47 PM	#2
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Not enough head...I would shoot more from upper right maybe. edit: some OOF taps could make for an interesting background.

11-10-2013, 04:46 PM	#3
Miguel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Near Seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	A good first attempt with room for improvement. I like the general tone of the shot and the color palette. Inducive to drinking ale certainly. The background is too much and overwhelms the product. Remember, the ale is the hero here and it should dominate the shot. The angle of the beer in the glass is weak and the presence of text on the glass manages to be distracting and make the viewer think that you made a mistake in not showing it. So a totally clear glass, or one with an unmistakable symbol (like a flag) would work with you. Regarding the beer I suggest you research some tricks to make it stronger visually. Warming it, and salting it prior to the shot are cheap and easy. One of many good things about this subject is that you have leftovers. M

11-10-2013, 05:48 PM	#4
millsware Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 70 Original Poster	Thanks, I don't have any regular glasses without logos on them. I was hoping that the logo would be obscured by being turned to the back, but that wasn't the case. What do you mean by the angle of the beer in the glass?

11-10-2013, 06:48 PM	#5
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,418	From an expert beer drinker but not photographer. A very clean, no logo glass, get closer, let the glass sweat of mist it, a neutral background lighter than the beer. I also find a strong overhead light brings out the bubbles. More later I need to get a beer now.

11-10-2013, 10:42 PM	#6
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Hi Better softer light, experiment with better backgrounds, put dew and drops on the glass with a nebuliser, and a better head. How to make a cheap nebuliser: Take two thin straws, Araldite on straw at right angle over the top opening of the other so that it covers half (or a little les or more, experiment) of the hole. Then dip the bottom straw in a glass of water and blow through the other you have just glued on top for all you lungs worth. Voila, fine mist. To get a better head or refresh an old one, again take a straw, block off one end, put a few needle pricks at the end of the straw, dip into the beer just below where you want the head and, you guessed it, blow hard. To make a head last longer make sure the glass was not washed with detergent. It is said the minute amount of detergent remaining on the glass wall will ruin a good head of beer. Greetings

11-11-2013, 03:54 AM	#7
bezuidar Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Centurion, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 380	Would not mind a pint of beer now :-) Good comments above.

11-12-2013, 11:50 AM	#8
BATMON Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 207	Nice shot. The actual pint needs a little bit more drama. I like the blurred out rocking chair.

11-17-2013, 10:53 PM	#9
Louicio Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 432	Best. Subject. Ever.

11-17-2013, 11:45 PM	#10
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	I wonder how a really cold glass might look (ie, in the freezer for 10 minutes)? Could be some good condensation on the outside of the glass. Regards

11-18-2013, 01:00 AM	#11
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	I want 2 beers now. One to photograph and one to drink while photographing.

11-18-2013, 01:58 AM	#12
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	Beers are normally sold as a set of 24. You'll have to drink 23 and photograph one. Regards

11-18-2013, 04:15 AM	#13
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Originally posted by sam-joseph Beers are normally sold as a set of 24. You'll have to drink 23 and photograph one. Regards In that order.... Should provide for some interesting photos.

11-18-2013, 12:18 PM	#15
MADDSNIPER Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 108	Have a look at this page: Professional Photography Courses by Karl Taylor Photography You should find the whiskey shot video useful.

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