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Whilst BBQing some pork chops last night, I hastily set up the lights to take a shot of some of our 2006 Penfolds, being the year in which Alicia & I married.

I think the black background is a little boring, but would appreciate comments.

Very nice wines Patrick but I feel that the labels are just a wee bit too dark. Seeing as how the label is so important I thought I would point this out

Patrick
There is something wrong with those bottles........they are full.

Chris, agree - I was trying a range of reflectors that would jot be reflected in the glass too little avail.

Matt, they are but babies, due for consumption over the next 20 years.

Labels are a real challenge. Especially the metallic ones

Either a VERY large light camera front, dialled down so it just contributes a little. or a gobo set so just the label gets light.

Patrick
The trick to lighting wine and other bottles of liquid is to source some aluminium backed cardboard...the type they put cakes on....cut them out to the shape of the bottle, but a bit smaller so the edges can't be seen, and stick them on the backs of the bottles with blue tac or a hot glue gun or tape.They reflect the light forward back through the wine giving it an ethereal glow. Cut some smaller pieces and use them as side reflectors to catch a little light and throw it across the embossing on the labels. They should be just out of the picture space. By manipulating these reflectors it is possible to bring bottles of wine to life and make them jump off the page. These small, credit card size home made reflectors are trade secrets used by still life photographers. Use a little dry ice in the background to create a fog and use long exposures to turn that fog into a beautiful mist.

how about light painting them with a soft box? this coupled with a hairlight flash (similar to what matt was saying about the lighting the BG) might be a goer?

Patrick nice set. Wow, it would be a job to keep these babies at constant temperature through Aussie summers for 20 years!

I agree with the underexposed labels.

1. I think you might want to try double diffusion for the sides.
2. For labels, snooted light (either direct or to the side)
3. For #1, separate shots of bottles if you wanted to avoid some of those reflections
4. combined exposures if you don't want to light the labels separately. As Gerry mentioned, you can lightpaint the labels until you are satisfied and blend them in.

Thanks folks, I will try these techniques next time. I did notice that these images are darker than on the Mac.