Back to basics...

[Jehu]

I've been "cheating" on my studio shots recently. I would shoot the setup with digital until I got the results I liked and then use the exposure settings to get the real (film) shot. This time I was determined to use only careful metering and light arangement. Here is the result:



There's a complete description of the setup on the flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17555839@N03/4069940644/

Tell me what you think. Any ideas for improvement?

Thanks for any comments.

[ronk]

Nice. Before digital, many photogs used a Poloroid back for the exposure set ups before commiting to "REA: FILM".

[Jehu]

Originally Posted by ronk

Nice. Before digital, many photogs used a Poloroid back for the exposure set ups before commiting to "REA: FILM".

It's kind of ironic. The poloroids were a cheap way to verify a composition before taking the money shot. Now people are paying several times the cost of film to get useable Poloroid film.

[peirceman]

Great shot. My only nit would be the fact that the fluid in the glass has no depth, thus rendering almost 2 dimensional.

Scott

[Jehu]

Good point Scott. If I try this again I'll put a little less color in the liquid.

[Narsuitus]

Originally Posted by Jehu

I've been "cheating" on my studio shots recently.

I consider this smart instead of cheating. Why waste time and expensive medium or large format film when you can use a digital camera (or Polaroid) to set up the composition and confirm the exposure.

[Jehu]

Originally Posted by Narsuitus

I consider this smart instead of cheating. Why waste time and expensive medium or large format film when you can use a digital camera (or Polaroid) to set up the composition and confirm the exposure.

I'm just trying to develop my metering skills. I figure that it will be a valuable skill in the field when I don't have a DSLR with me. Also, being a large format shooter, I often make adjustments to the film latitude with push/pull processing. Being able to meter a composition precisely is a valuable skill for that.

I also don't really consider digital proofing cheating. (note the quotes in my original post). I think it's a legitimate tool. I'm a film junkie, not a film snob. You'll find plenty of digital shots on my Flickr page. Well... at least 4 or 5.

This is a hobby for me. Final product isn't as much of a concern to me as technique and experience.

[WRon]

Jehu, you're so right about the necessity of accurate metering, especially when using sheet film, which allows you to give plus or minus development to control the range of light the film is capable of recording. However, I think accurate metering pays off in virtually any photographic situation, be it film or digital. So, I think honing your exposure skills is an excellent exercise. Good going.

As for the picture, I think you got a good shot under difficult lighting conditions. I agree that a transparent or translucent liquid would make it better. One other thing that may improve the shot is to get a pure white somewhere - maybe in the stem and/or in the reflection of the bottom of the glass.