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I'm still playing around with off-camera lighting, and starting to wish I had a second flash ... DAMMIT!

But I had this idea of taking a backlit shot of an espresso pour, so that the machinery would be all silouhette, on a white background, the espresso pour being the only colour in the image.

I took some test shots, with just water coming out of the machine into the cup that looked promising, but when it came to a simple espresso, the pour was too dark and not see-through enough, so everything was just black.

So then I thought I'd combine the two elements - water pouring looked good but boring (who wants a cup of hot water?), espresso pouring looked bad but tasty. So then it hit me - espresso pouring into water, like making a Long Black.

so here it is - the first drops of espresso pouring into the water. In a wanky/arty moment, I titled it 'infusion'. click to enlarge.

Any tips? thoughts? criticisms?

I like the concept of this - I'd crop a bit off the top, so that just the base of the group head is showing. The pour into the water looks really cool, especially when you look at the bigger version

I'm going to have to have a play soon - when I stop drinking all the coffee I'm making

Matty, I like this. I would actually keep in the group as it is integral to the shots (and gotta love that LM handle- right?). I would have given the glass a quick wipe to get rid of the condensed water around the rim, if you could. Well done.

I think you are heading in the right direction. I agree about cleaning up the glass but do not worry about intoducing a second flash, I think it would take it away from an original idea, good work. Has me thinking about other types of retail/food or industrial concepts.

SteveB wrote:...but do not worry about intoducing a second flash...

The other reason for not introducing a second flash is because, in all likelihood, the flash would provide a reflected light source that the camera will see. Unless you use a large soft box or reflector, what you will get is a small reflected light source from the chromed metal which would not be appealing.

What you have at the moment is the backdrop acting as a large light source, hence the relatively soft reflected parts on the spouts and the underside of the PF. The rest of the PF is dark/black as it is not reflecting any other light.

As Steve said, a second flash wouldn't add to the photo (depending on what you were trying to achieve, of course).

what I had originally wanted to achieve was a bit more illumination of the espresso drips hanging from the spout.

But the comment about wanting a second flash was originally me expressing my flash lust out loud, rather than anything necessarily to do with this image.

Hey Matty

If you already have 1 flash, and you are looking for a second for 'home studio' work, you may want to consider Poons studio lighting kit. I am not sure how much you would be budgeting for a second flash, but at $350, you get a lot of gear with the studio flash kit. Granted, a second flash is a lot more portable, but it may be worthy of consideration.

I have a similar set to this (including other bits and pieces) and will be writing a thorough review with pretty pictures over the weekend (hopefully). That's my father's day present to me!

DAMMIT!!! I miss out on fathers day this year by 4.5 weeks. Do you know any secrets for inducing the baby? Thai Green Curry gave her contractions a few months ago...

mattyjacobs wrote:DAMMIT!!! I miss out on fathers day this year by 4.5 weeks. Do you know any secrets for inducing the baby? Thai Green Curry gave her contractions a few months ago...

Yeah, but this is a family friendly forum.

Surely you would be entitled to an ante-natal father's day present or two?

ok, I've got a question ... the background was a sheet of A4 paper (taken out of the printer), and taped to the side of the machine, with the flash sitting about 20cm away, facing at the paper.

How can I eliminate the grain of the paper, to get a cleaner white background? I was thinking that baking paper would provide a smaller light source as it is more see-through. Is it just a matter of better PP?

oh, and if you're offering Pat, a few beers wouldn't go astray as a pre-natal fathers day pressie!

mattyjacobs wrote:ok, I've got a question ... the background was a sheet of A4 paper (taken out of the printer), and taped to the side of the machine, with the flash sitting about 20cm away, facing at the paper.

How can I eliminate the grain of the paper, to get a cleaner white background? I was thinking that baking paper would provide a smaller light source as it is more see-through. Is it just a matter of better PP?

oh, and if you're offering Pat, a few beers wouldn't go astray as a pre-natal fathers day pressie!

Firstly, I don't think you want a smaller light source.

Secondly, you can try to reduce the effect of the grain of the paper by moving the paper further away (as long as it still fills the appropriate part of the background), shining more light on it or opening up your aperture (being mindful of the higher amount of light this will let in). This will throw the detail in the paper more out of focus.

Thirdly, do you mean the flash is firing through the paper or reflecting off of it?

Fourthly, you could try alternative background material like slightly reflective cardboard (just gotta watch the angle at which you aim the flash relative to the camera).

Fifthly, I would love to send you some pre-natal beers, but, you have to stay sober in case you have to rush to the hospital, y'see So I may just keep them.

Reschsmooth wrote:Firstly, I don't think you want a smaller light source.

Fair enough.

Reschsmooth wrote:Secondly, you can try to reduce the effect of the grain of the paper by moving the paper further away (as long as it still fills the appropriate part of the background), shining more light on it or opening up your aperture (being mindful of the higher amount of light this will let in). This will throw the detail in the paper more out of focus.

Next time I play with this shot, I'll try taping the paper to something further away. The paper is literally next to the hot water tap (strategically placed so that you can't see it), so it is quite close to the cup.

Reschsmooth wrote:Thirdly, do you mean the flash is firing through the paper or reflecting off of it?

The flash was firing through the paper.

Reschsmooth wrote:Fourthly, you could try alternative background material like slightly reflective cardboard (just gotta watch the angle at which you aim the flash relative to the camera).

ok, that would be for reflecting light, right?

Reschsmooth wrote:Fifthly, I would love to send you some pre-natal beers, but, you have to stay sober in case you have to rush to the hospital, y'see So I may just keep them.

dammit. Surely driving herself to the hospital would help to take her mind off contractions and such?

mattyjacobs wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Fourthly, you could try alternative background material like slightly reflective cardboard (just gotta watch the angle at which you aim the flash relative to the camera).

ok, that would be for reflecting light, right?

yep

mattyjacobs wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:Fifthly, I would love to send you some pre-natal beers, but, you have to stay sober in case you have to rush to the hospital, y'see So I may just keep them.

dammit. Surely driving herself to the hospital would help to take her mind off contractions and such?

And you will find she will speed at 200kmh for 500 m and then brake suddenly (and she won't be too happy with you!) [oh, a hint, when it does come time, keep in mind which is your writing/tamping hand, and let her hold onto the other one ]

Reschsmooth wrote:[oh, a hint, when it does come time, keep in mind which is your writing/tamping hand, and let her hold onto the other one ]

haha, I'll keep that in mind.

I don't know how good looking or sexy you are, but at my age I think a good coffe is best!

By the way, I like your picture so much that it is making me to have some coffee now.