We want a "beauty shot" of these eight wines NOW

**brucep** · 12-12-2008, 02:17 PM

I got a phone call from our corporate headquarters this morning asking for a "beauty shot" of eight of the wines made by our Sanford Winery. I didn't have the bottles on hand, but I'd shot them individually in that white room I've mentioned, so I combined those individual shots.

For the background I used a photo I'd taken of their barrel room a couple of years ago and I made a table out of an eliptical selection filled with brown. Then I "reflected" (and distorted) the bottles on the "table surface" and added a screw pull from my three-bottle Chimney Rock photo. An hour after the phone call, they had their beauty shot. I was told Anthony Terlato (founder and chairman of the board) loved it.

C&C welcome as always.

**marshall2** · 12-12-2008, 02:35 PM

Great job Bruce. This is my favourite of all your bottle shots, composite or not. The reflections and 'table' look so real. The arrangement of the bottles is pleasing.

Are the reflections in the bottoms of the green bottles intentional?

**brucep** · 12-12-2008, 02:43 PM

Brad, if this hadn't been done so quickly, I'd have taken the time to copy the background behind those green bottles and distort it "through" the glass.

I think what you're seeing as "reflections" in those bases are the inverted "punt" in the base of all of these bottles. They were all originally photographed on a dark wood table with a white paper background.

The grouping of the bottles is intentional. The middle two are from specific, well known vineyards at Sanford. The four at the left are special vineyard designate wines available only through the winery and the two on the right are distributed nationally.

**JimA** · 12-12-2008, 03:41 PM

Well done Bruce, no one will ever know.

**yellalablady** · 12-12-2008, 03:46 PM

Excellent.

**Bishop** · 12-16-2008, 03:12 PM

I'm just amazed. You really made a photo, and it works flawlessly. Nice job Bruce!

**Pixels** · 12-16-2008, 03:26 PM

Fantastic job, Bruce! Had I not read the post and just viewed the photo, I'd have thought it was taken in the barrel room just as pictured! Very nice original shots and great post and composite work!

**JFW61** · 12-16-2008, 03:29 PM

One hour - man I couldn't do that ever!! Very nice...Now, may I please have a glass of Chardonnay?!

**JimL** · 12-16-2008, 05:53 PM

Very nice joins Bruce. Even with my mouse magnifier they are clean.
JimL

**Sage** · 12-16-2008, 06:40 PM

Fabulous job, Bruce. You just keep the amazing photos coming. Did you get a nice Christmas bonus for doing this and in such a short amount of time?

~~Peg

**brucep** · 12-16-2008, 07:22 PM

Thanks for your comments, everyone. At work I've learned that I'd better remove the background from any product I shoot (I can always disable the mask and show that background later) or any stock shot I buy. Even if a shot is "just for the web," I try to make the first version the highest possible resolution because who knows what they'll eventually want me to do with it.

Having already retouched the bottles and removed their backgrounds, this was just a job of assembly, copying, warping and masking. A little preparedness paid off (it usually does).

Originally Posted by Sage

Did you get a nice Christmas bonus for doing this and in such a short amount of time?

It's all part of what they've come to expect from me, Peg. I've found a good niche and the company and I appreciate each other. I'm not getting rich, but I get a decent salary and I have some creative lattitude.

John, just come on by Rutherford Hill and I'll pour you some of our Chardonnay. Heck, if you're going to Santa Barbara, I'll have the folks at Sanford pour you some of theirs.