The setup is called Dark Field Lighting which is great technique for photographing transparent objects like glassware, it gives amazing defined edges and looks really great.
To complete this exercise, I make some assumptions that you have:
- Off Camera Flash (e.g 580 EXII) or powerful light source like flood lamp
Digital SLR Camera with creative modes
Some Glass to photograph!
Black Piece of Card / Foamcore
Something to diffuse the light (5-in-one reflector / white sheet / paper)
Mirror (optional)
The image we are going to create is along these lines:
Image Courtesy of Kyle May
We achieve the effect by using the materials above setup in this manner
Take your speed light / studio flash / bright light and place it behind your diffusion material which could be the translucent part of your 5-in-one reflector, a large white sheet or even a large sheet of white paper.
I use a piece of black Acrylic Plastic to put my object onto, this gives a great reflection on the final image, although this is not required. you could however use a large mirror to achieve the same effect.
I then cut the black card / foam core to about 12 x 8 inches and place this between my subject and the diffusion material I mentioned above.
What we should now have is light being block from behind the subject.
Here's a birds eye view
Because the light is being block directly behind the subject it is forced to wrap through the translucent material and light the edges. Giving you the desired effect.
If you are shooting with Speedlights / flash heads, usually set your camera to its highest sync speed ) around 1/250 sec and about F8 to F11, if you are using tungsten bulbs you may have to adjust your settings as you mileage will vary.
Conclusion
An excellent non technical method to light glass and translucent objects giving them defined edges and really making them stand out.
If anyone tries this please post you results on your gallery
