Hey gang, I particularly love this photo and I want to share the lighting setup with you; it's a fairly simple set up, really, as you can see from the diagram below: only one light source positioned @ approximately 10 o'clock high camera left ( the " hot spot " on the wine bottle gives away the exact position ).

The backdrop is about 1,5 metres from the table, and the " gobo " blocks most of the light from spilling onto it.

The light source is a Profoto D1 diffused through a large softbox : it's a soft and warm light that wraps around the subject; there's no need for a fill, as the quality of the light is very " real " and its direction creates a nice contrast to the scene.

The white bounce card is used solely to produce the diffused highlight on the right hand side of the bottle and glass, which generates extra contrast against the darkish background ( especially if you consider that the bottle itself is also very dark ).

The green leaves bottom right break catch a nice back light and become partially translucent, adding mood and drama.

Tip: what cheeses to choose?

• hard or semi-hard cheeses are easier to work with


• a blue cheese is almost a must and it is usually paired with fruit jellies, mustards and other dried fruits that add interest to the photo


• a cheese that crumbles can make the scene look more real


• cheeses with an interesting crust can become the hero : cheeses with holes, cheeses wrapped in leaves, wax and nettles...


• cheeses with different shapes make for a more interesting composition - if possible buy a cheese whole instead of just a piece

Enjoy the cheese when the job is done !!

Dario Milano, food stylist and food photographer in Sydney

Posted in Food, Photography, techniques

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