NEWBIE Question on lighting/flash (beer question)

[devils4ever]

Okay,

So, I just got a T2i with kit lens and a 430EX II flash. I've been experimenting with it a bit, but I'm still learning. This is my first DSLR. I owned and used a Minolta X-700 in the past, but that was a long while ago!

Let's say I want to take a picture of a pint of ale on a table (kind of like a still life). With only the one flash, what would be the best procedure. I can't do multiple flashes or off camera flashes.

TIA.

[sigma pi]

Kind of a creative question. There are tons of ways to light it. Can you fire the flash off the camera? what do you have to trigger it?

[devils4ever]

Originally Posted by sigma pi

Kind of a creative question. There are tons of ways to light it. Can you fire the flash off the camera? what do you have to trigger it?

I only have the flash itself. Can I use white paper reflectors or normal household lamps?

[sigma pi]

DOH! I didnt read the OP close enough sorry. You can aim the flash to a big foam core board and flag it so no direct flash goes onto the beer. That would give you the option of giving some directional light to it.

[CosmoKid]

of course. use a piece of foam board from Michaels and bounce the flash off of there. depends on the look you are going for but just experiment.

[gonzogolf]

Lots of options, none more valid than another. I would try a large bounce card (foam core) to the side and somewhat behind the subject to bounce a bit of light in from behind. Beer looks best when light shines through it.

[JakAHearts]

Put the camera on a tripod, take two exposures and blend them in photoshop. One with the flash head in the beer and one to get the ambient without your arm/flash in it. Blend them in photoshop for a glowing drink photo.

[devils4ever]

Originally Posted by gonzogolf

Lots of options, none more valid than another. I would try a large bounce card (foam core) to the side and somewhat behind the subject to bounce a bit of light in from behind. Beer looks best when light shines through it.

I'll have to get this bounce card to try this. Should I aim the on-camera flash up or directly at the beer? Or, I can just experiment. At least I'm not wasting film!!!

[gonzogolf]

Its easier to imagine the shot as vertical in my head, but adjust as necessary. I would start by aiming the flash at a 45 degree angle and then using the card to redirect the light back toward the camera (from behind the beer). You can either put an index card on the top edge of the flash to kick a bit of light forward onto the front of the beer as well. The problem you will have is that most of your light is going to be coming from one side of the scene.

[devils4ever]

Okay, I think I'm going to need a another flash for this project and the future.

From what I've read, I will need at least one more flash and a way to trigger it. The 580EX II looks real nice, but I don't want to spend another $450+ right now. I will probably get one eventually.

I'm thinking of getting a cheaper flash unit for a slave. Manual is fine for me, I don't need ETTL, etc. I will probably learn more this way as well. So, can someone recommend a decent flash? Perhaps a Yongnuo or Vivitar?

The more uncertain area for me is the way to trigger them. Wireless seems the easiest. I'm looking for recommendations here, too. The RF-602 and RF-603 seems popular. Are these good for triggering 2-3 slaves? Or, are there others someone can recommend? Can I place my 430 EX II on top of the camera with these units? I'm a little confused if this is possible.

I also found the Nissin Di466 or Di622 flashes which claims to trigger as a slave even with the 430EX II. Is this true?

Thanks.

[sigma pi]

I have a 580EXII, I also have a youngnuo. The youngnuo is close enough for me.

[Wilt]

Lighting beer in a glass and doing it well is not a simple task for a beginner, especially one with speedlight(s)!

My suggestion to ANYONE learning lighting, when tackling this kind of job, is to go to the hardware store/office supply store, and buy yourself two inexpensive shop lights or desk lamps, and to use these...

... in conjunction with multiple large white foamcore boards 2'x3' (minimum) to experiment and immediately SEE what reflections do for delineation of the glass vs. illumination of the beer.

You will discover that what delineates the glass does not illuminate the beer...you actually need to cut out a small piece of white cardboard the shape of the glass and position it behind the beer to bounce light back thru the beer to the lens!

Decades ago, I shot this student exercise during a product lighting workshop using a large format film camera. It used softboxes and foamcore sheets to the sides, and white cutout behind the wine glass. If we had more time (this single shot took 4 hours to make the set, experiment with lighting placement and lighting levels and make the shot!) I would have done the same technique to the wine bottle as was done for the wine glass...but the point of this was a lighting and shooting exercise, not a true product shot which requires perfection in the whole shot (not merely to certain selected parts of the shot)

[TeleFragger]

how close do you want to be?
do you want the background included/
i too being new to it.. dook a pic.. with only available light...

so first to answer your question..
did you try any yet?

if so post them up...

i put my t2i on the counter... and put a beer bottle and glass in front of it...
I didnt realize i had the iso at a lower number which gave a second or 2 shutter...
i poured the beer.. saw it ready to overflow and was like... oooops got to take the shot...
so i did and actually liked it....
i grabbed this off of my facebook for ya... i can look at home for the edif data if you want... i did not use a flash...

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by TeleFragger

(photo)

And one can see that the 'light through the beer' is the light which is striking the chairs behind the beer, reflecting back to the lens.

[TeleFragger]

Originally Posted by Wilt

And one can see that the 'light through the beer' is the light which is striking the chairs behind the beer, reflecting back to the lens.

not really sure... but i edited out a lamp that was in that pic above the chairs... at our kitchen table...

then there is a 4' cf dual light behind this in the kitchen... still i may have used flash...

just asking OP what his end result is... just a blank backround (well done by U) or one like i had.. im not saying mine is great as it isnt.. hah...