Bottoms up

The main table that I use in the studio was actually a ‘bar-style’ table (originally with two tall chairs). It has a removable marble centre-section and so some time ago I found a suitably-sized piece of sheet glass that could replace it, when required, so that I could light subjects from beneath. I even have a mini-light stand for just that purpose.

Finally it was time to try it and the obvious choice of subject was some coloured glass bottles that I have in my collection of still-life photography props.

The glass was put into place with the two bottles positioned on top. A black background was hung behind. A single strobe was positioned on a light stand underneath fitted with a honeycomb grid and a set of barn doors semi-closed to minimise light spill onto the background. To create a bit of definition to the top of the standing brown bottle I positioned a piece of white foam board above held by a tripod & clamp angled away from the background so as not to add light to that as well.