I’ve been teaching a product photography workshop this quarter. The unique aspect of this workshop is that I am not using traditional strobe lighting. Every image is being illuminated by either LED filmmaking lights or in this case by a small LED flashlight using a technique known as painting with light.
Yesterday my student and I made this image. They brought in a plastic bag full of partially smoked cigars and we made a series of experimental exposures that lasted 10 seconds each. During those ten seconds my student would take the small flashlight with a 45 degree attachment and bring it as close to the surface of the cigars and draw a zig zag line up and down each cigar. When compared to a traditional image that uses a diffusion flat, we could see so much more texture and dimmension. In post production we chose the appropriate color background which in this case was a deep green that reminded us of a pool table felt.
I love cigars and used to collect and smoke them prior to having a lung clot. I still enjoy part of a cigar once in a blue moon with two special friends who live in Long Island and the Bay area. When the three of us get together there is always one night for a good glass of whiskey and a good cigar.
In my early years as a professional photographer I did a lot of product photography. One of my clients was a man from New York city named Jay who was a cigar importer. My studio was next to a shipping store and Jay would drive up in his large Caddilac that would sag on the drivers side under his massive body. He came at least twice a week to pick up a shipment that smelled delicious. One day it would be the fragrant cigar shipments and the next it would be a deli sandwich that seemed to ooze out of the box. Even though he lived in Spokane he still wanted to have his favorite deli in New York send him sandwiches.
Jay was a memorable character who introduced me to fine cigars. I am grateful for that and for the many good memories associated with enjoying a evening slow burn.
Cheers,
Ira
