[SI] Refelctions - my shot

I'll wait a few days to post comments on the collection.

In my shot (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/36669126) I wanted to work with
backlit reflections off of glass. I was more interested in how to meter the
shot. My objective was to have a reflection of the object showing through the
mesh of the object itself. These shots worked, but a bit unappealing overall.
(eg: http://www.aliasimages.com/images/si...ctions0002.jpg ) I think a wider
angle lens would have been a better choice but that would have led in turn to a
lot of distortion (close up) or cropping.

The setup was:
http://www.aliasimages.com/images/si...ctions0001.jpg
A glass topped "breakfast" table (you will recognize the je ne sais quoi Ikea
construction).
Two softboxes: one to provide the backlighting and some rim lighting, the other
for side/contrast and a bit of reflection off the subject. The second had a
large grid in it to constrain the lighted area which in this case did little to
contribute to the shot (eg: I was too lazy too remove the grid).
A third small spot flash was used to put more highlights on the subject from the
front.

In the end I moved everything (v. the photo above) around and placed one softbox
above shining down, and the grided softbox in the back. The deepest DOF version
is shown (and is at the near edge of focus at the subject) but this also makes
the grids on the softbox part of the composition...

Metering: I took readings with the flash incident with each light alone and with
the combo. I wanted the softbox to appear 'white' in the reflection, but that
reflected light was a stop and half below the direct path light. So, hoping the
subject would be properly exposed for the top light (its dome-to-lens reading
was for the chosen aperture) and for the highlight light, 1 stop under power
which was supposed to lighten up the handle more than appears here. (Next time
I'll set it for f/8 in this situation, the highlight is weak in any case).

Maxxum 100 f/2.8 macro; grocery store ISO 100 color negative film.
tripod.

1/250 f/8
(rear flash (dome to flash) was f/13; reflected of glass: f/7.1)
(top flash was f/8 dome to lens at the subject)
(highlight flash was f/5.6, dome to lens at the subject)

Cheers,
Alan.


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