Perfume Bottles Magazine Style

[aakash_vakil]

Hey Folks -

This is my first try of shooting objects like we see in advertisments and magazines. Here I use my wife's perfume bottles.

I placed a meter long white card paper to create a backdrop and placed it such that the light coming from balcony passes thru it and creates a soft light on bottles.

No flash, no softbox....basically no studio gear - just shot in balcony with available light.

I feel, it does not look glamorous....something you are tempted to buy as soon as you see it.....

I am not able to make out what is missing. Please comment and share your views.

Regards,
Aakash

[RussHeath]

Aakash -- Good job using limited lighting resources. I think it would be hard to get a better photo using the setup you describe.

That being said, one way to add something to this shot is with more interesting lighting. If you're not interested in buying an off camera flash, there are still lots of options. Check out this DPS blog entry from a few days ago about building a light tent.

Also, go to Strobist.com for more lighting info than you'll know what to do with. Even though the site focuses on using off camera strobes, there is a lot of info on making home lighting studios from things you would find at the hardware store. Check out their DIY Macro Studio (go to strobist and type that into the search field).

Finally, the DIYPhotography blog has lots of useful resources for taking shots like these.

Ultimately the thing that is "missing" in your photo is more interesting light. Check out the above sites for lots of information on ways to get great lighting for not much money. Hope it helps, and thanks for sharing!

[jiminyClickit]

aaksh_vakil,

In the US, when a witness is brought in to identify a suspect in a crime, they are lined up with other people to be shown to the witness, who then picks out the person they believe is the one they saw. These bottles remind me of that.

Compare that to a gathering of four friends, turned just a little towards each other, randomly placed (without blocking each other from the camera) and comfortably having a conversation. Can you imagine the perfume bottles that way? Some extra lighting would also add highlights, maybe create more interesting color? A little backlight to make the liquids glow some?

[clockdoc]

Nice work. I agree with the comments offered by newbie and jiminy. Do you have the boxes to any of these bottles? Occasionally you will see a "box and bottle shot" such that the external box is readily identified when seen in a store setting. Try working with pairs of the bottle along with its box for a variation on this theme. You did well with the limited lighting resources you had.

[aakash_vakil]

Hey thanx guys....I did visit the DIY site and indeed it has got some nice ideas for doing such shots on a budget (read no budget!!). I am reading on the light tent blog entry....thanx for sharing that :-)

@Jiminy - yes, now that you gave that idea, I am thinking of bottles more like a group of people !!! thanx for that different take on still subject :-)

@clockdoc - I do have boxes for all these bottles....will try that.

Thanx again.....I have got lot of reading and trying stuff for a week or two !!

[RussHeath]

You're welcome! If you get a shot that you like, be sure to post back and show us.

[FocalFrenzy]

Thank you for the informative links. I will be starting on my DIY Macro Studio before the day's out. Very Helpful!