As a photographer, you learn that lighting is what makes up your photograph, whether it is natural outdoor light or indoor, artificial light. Artificial lighting is an art in itself. It sets the mood and overall setting of what you are trying to display or sell to the audience. Being able to achieve proper highlights and/or low lights, in camera, while knowing the proper equipment to use is crucial. Although, it could be done in post-processing, it can be faster and more efficient to have this done in the actual setting and have your image, in camera, look as perfect as possible.
These photos below demonstrate the differences between direct reflection and diffuse reflection and how a photographer can use their understanding of these differences to manipulate the appearance of a shot. These shots show a diffuse reflection from the backdrop on one of the sides of the object, top or front while the other side is dark.
Either the light is bouncing to the object to the camera or away from the camera.
Here I used two strobes, and black flags to block the light on specific areas of the object.
Below, are examples portraying how to make an object appear flat and the other portraying how to have something portray volume.
These last two images show my examples of working with glass and showed me the importance of the surroundings of your objects. When shooting on a white backdrop, black paper or flags can be added on the sides (out of shot) that will reflect on the sides of your glass surface. The same goes for the bottle on the black backdrop, which included white paper on the sides (out of shot), which also are a source of light, to create highlights. In order to create a spot of light on my label, giving it a more dramatic effect, I poked a hole through black aluminum foil, put it over the light, and pointed it to the label.
Below is an extra image I shot of a magazine that I admire.
