Another Food Shoot (Wine and Cheese)
I thought I’d post this as part of Lighting week, as I used a Westcott Spiderlite as my main light for this wine and cheese shot for my wife’s cookbook (she did the food styling for the shots you see above—click on them for a larger view). The shot on the left was taken with a 70-200m f/2.8 VR Nikon Lens. The shot on the right used the same lens, but with the screw-on Canon Close-up lens attached (it’s the only Canon product made for deliberately for Nikon cameras).
Above is a look at the simple lighting set-up I used to get these shots. There’s a little bit of natural light coming from a bank of windows behind the wine and to the left, but it was late in the day on an overcast day, so it didn’t add as much natural light as I would have liked. The main light seen here is a Spiderlite TD-3 (little brother of the TD-5, with less power and brightness), with a small 24″x32″ softbox.
The only other part of this set-up is the white cardboard reflector, held up by my high-tech reflector stand (also known as “another bottle of wine”).
Now scroll down for my week-end wrap-up of “Lighting Gear Week.” 
Hi Scott. Just a heads up on some link issues on your site. Under the “Also Check Out…” section… the “My books” and “Photoshop DVDs” links are pointing to the wrong URL.
Cheers!
Zeke
Could You tell something about this “Canon close-up lens” for Nikon? Reference number? What does it do?
TIA.
I enjoyed the weeks theme and articles Scott – thanks very much. i would like to plant the seed of an idea that you might like to discuss/mention in a future article and that is as concerns the use of filters.
Do you think that in this day and age of excellent optics and with applications such as CS3 wanting for nothing it seems, that there is still a need for the use of filters? I am of course not referring to special effect filters but to filters such as Polarisers and Neutral Density/Graduated Neutral Density.
Hi Scott,
The shot above has your laptop tethered to your camera. You have a short video on your Kelby Training sight as to how to acheive this. I have always thought of myself as fairly technilogically savvy, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how to get this to work. I have installed the software from my Canon, I have both Lightrom & Photoshop CS3 Extended. I know this question could have a multitude of possible answers, but what could I be doing wrong?
Oh Yeah, I was blown away by the quality of MPix.
Mike
Great week of info Scott!! I was just telling Jeff by email that I should trade in my 80-200 for the 70-200 after this weekend in
Adams Morgan with you 3 hand holding your big guns. It was a pleasure to meet you, any tips on workshops June, July, Aug? BTW the printing tip was dead on – THANKS
What a fantastic week of information. Loved every morsel, and it dovetailed wonderfully with your book and some of the videos in Kelby Training. The checkbook is draining with lists of what to get (haven’t ordered yet but building the wish list) especially since my D3 arrived two weeks ago.
Love the theme for the week idea, I’d love to see you do it again!
Can we see and video on Photoshop TV or something of how you edited the wine pictures after shooting it?
Very Nice – Love that high tech set up! It’s good to see how its done so us new people don’t have to freak out wondering how to set up shots like this.
Love it!
Cynthia
I love these how-to posts Scott. Thanks for taking the time to share them.
Some time back I saw a comment from someone asking you to do a photography podcast. Please add me to the list for that request. There are a few out there but they just aren’t that good. You’re a fabulous teacher and I’d love to learn more on the photography side from you. I’m sure you’re incredibly busy already with all that you do but what’s one more thing?
Nice shots!
I just bought a Nikon D200 and a 70-200mm f/2.8.Reeeally nice stuff
I didn’t thought the lens was to good for close ups. That’s maybe why you used a close-up lens attached for this purpose?
Any tips for portraits with this lens?
Scott, you have an incredible amount of energy and drive. Incredible images and examples for us to learn from!…
So nice to see the full layout as well, thanks for showing this.
I am curious as to the best tool you have found to remove the CA of the close-up filter. I see NO CA in your images, yet have not been able to get it out of my shots with LR or PS. Is the Canon close-up filter that superior?
WOW WOW WOW! I haven’t checked your blog all week and I can’t believe what I’ve been missing!!! Scott, you are so incredibly generous with the knowledge that you offer. Thank you soooo much for focusing on lighting for a week. Oye vey…now I’ve got a lot of reading to do!!
Yes, this past week was very informational. I actually have a couple of AlienBee strobes coming and I had 3 pocket wizards in my cart for B&H. I quickly swapped them out for 4 Skyports for a fraction of the price. They should be on my doorstep when I get home today. If it weren’t for the Strobist seminar tomorrow here in phx, I would be spending the entire day playing.
Thanks again Scott for the extensive info and education.
Scott…. Will You Please Get ahold of me. I have A great offer for you & have no way to contact you!… I posted I comment In another blog But recieved no resopnse forom you!
Thank you!
Susan
Hi Scott,
A fantastic week of posts .. nice one!!! … Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend
)
Cheers,
Glyn
Awesome article.
Two Questions:
1. How would you photograph a dark bottle with red wine, dark label for a light stock photo for print media?
2. What type of photo gallery did you use to enlarge the view of the images?
thank you.
–s
Okay, the Canon close-up LENS as two elements, that is why it is so superior to my existing close-up Filters. Lens versus filter, makes a big difference. Shouldn’t have asked a question I was able to get answered with a little more digging.
great stuff scott as usual !
“the screw-on Canon Close-up lens attached (it’s the only Canon product made for deliberately for Nikon cameras).
Scott would have a model number or link to B&H ?
Scott I got the Canon 500D for my 70-200 and WOW it this this awesome. Thanks for sharing. The best 140 dollars I every spent. Cant stop running around the house taking pictures of anything. The spring time and flowering in the Northeast this season is going to be that much more fun to capture with this add on.
Some one asked fo the link. I got mine at B & H http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/87503-REG/Canon_2824A002_77mm_500D_Close_up_Lens.html
Make ure to get the proper size for your intended lense.