THIRST QUENCHING CAPTURE

Introduction:

When Platypod invited me to participate in their food photography challenge, my first thought was, ‘What should I photograph?’ As a macro photographer, I knew this project would take me a bit out of my comfort zone. To keep things focused, I set a few ground rules: stay on a low budget, make no new gear purchases, and work only with the equipment I already had—which, luckily, is primarily for macro photography. As it turns out, macro gear can be quite effective for food and product photography, which gave me a great starting point.

I decided to capture an iconic image featuring a small, classic glass bottle of Coca-Cola. My goal was to create a striking, backlit shot of the bottle against a colored background for a dramatic effect.

Setting Up the Scene

The first step was finding the right Coke bottle. A quick trip to Tesco, and I had my subject in hand. Next, I needed a backdrop. I chose black and red paper from a local shop and settled on red to complement the iconic color of the Coca-Cola brand.

To set up the background, I used a Platypod eXtreme paired with a Platypod Elbow and a Platypod Mini Super Clamp to hold the paper in place, mimicking a seamless portrait studio setup. This setup helped keep the focus on the bottle, creating a clean, professional look.

Lighting the Bottle

For ambient lighting, I positioned two Soonwell MT1 LED strip lights—one on each side of the bottle—to add a subtle, even glow across the scene. Then, for a more focused highlight on the front of the bottle, I attached a Godox MF12 flash to the top of the left LED light using a Platypod Elbow, setting it to a low power to avoid overpowering the image.

To achieve a dynamic backlight effect, I inserted another MF12 flash through the paper backdrop and held it in place with another Platypod eXtreme. To blend with the red paper, I fitted this flash with a red gel, creating a cohesive and intense color scheme reflective of the Coca-Cola brand.

Adding the Final Touches

To introduce an element of movement and texture, I used a Nano Face Mist Sprayer from Amazon, a tool I often use for creating water droplets in macro photography. This sprayer added a subtle, misty effect that gave the photo a fresh, frosty look.

For the camera setup, I used a Canon EOS R paired with a Laowa 90mm f/2.8 macro lens, triggering the Godox MF12 flashes with a Godox trigger. In a playful nod to my macro photography specialty, I added one of my pet jumping spiders on top of the bottle—an unexpected detail that adds personality and a bit of humor to the final shot.

Post-Processing

The final stage was a light retouch in Adobe Photoshop, where I boosted the colors and contrast to make the image pop while removing minor distractions to maintain the clean, polished look I wanted.

Conclusion

This project was both a challenge and a delight. Experimenting with lighting techniques and creative effects took me outside my usual comfort zone, but I am thrilled with the result. The iconic Coca-Cola bottle, enhanced by rich color, dramatic lighting, and a touch of whimsy, turned out to be a striking image that beautifully captures the spirit of the brand. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!