Lindt Chocolate Bars - various

Lindt Chocolate bars of various types were photographed using differing background and props. Since the Lindt bars came in various wrappings I decided to try to shoot the range. Unfortunately, I'll have to eat my mistakes and my successes, at least I won't be a starving artist! Some worked and others didn't. An attempt to use gold reflective card for background left alot to be desired. Problems encountered with the gold reflective card were that every little mark on the card showed up in the photos and to be usable would require hours of post production, not going to happen. Lighting reflection on the card was too bright and distracting from the product. Specific comments will be made in the photo captions below.

Softbox was set up on the left to correspond with the lighting/design used on the label of the Swiss Gold chocolate bar. Small softbox to the right rear was to provide some depth to the product.

Lighting worked well to replicate the lighting fall on the mountain on the label. The easel and it's reflection on gold adds an artistic and sophisticated feel to the product and incorporates the gold from the product label. The reflection of the timber too mirrors the colour of the brown band and chocolate pieces on the label. Unfortunately the background scratches show up too well due to the reflected light. Not only are there scratches on the foil background but they are very noticeable on the product especially on the left hand side. Lesson: product shoots need to have perfect products and packaging. When viewed at 1:1 there are hundreds if not thousands of minor imperfections in the gold background card.

Slight movement of the lights from the previous shot added more distracting reflections on the right and left of the image.   

Shot the same as the preceding bar the problem with the background and lighting still exist. On the plus side the new product has a less reflective surface enabling it to be shot with no irritating scratches on the wrapping. Close examination reveals a couple of dust spots, obviously on my sensor that will need to be cleaned up.  

The easel removed and product shot from a high angle. Lighting from the left works very well  but the light to the high right rear cause highlighting on the right hand side of the packaging and again the dents and scrapes on the background board are too plentiful to consider to work on in post production. I keep reminding myself that this exercise is about the use of light and learning things that work and things that don't. 

Gold background removed and replaced with white card.  The chocolate bare is propped at an angle with the fore edge resting on the table and the back elevated slightly giving depth by the drop shadow on the right side. I like the gold reflection at the bottom edge of the product. White background much easier to use than the reflective surface. Still have the problem with the foil wrapper having scratches.

This product like the preceding one is propped up. The lighting works much better on this non-reflective surface as well as not being impaired by having foil wrappings that show rub marks.  I'm quite happy with this shot.

Similar comments to the preceding shot.  Again pleased with the shot. 

Product with bright read looks good. Noticed problem with lower right corner of packaging, box flap sticking out.  This should be fixed easily in post production but again Lesson examine product and packaging closely for flaws and either fix or replace before shooting have flaw hidden in shot. 

Happy with this shot. One criticism I could make is the the DoF is too shallow with the lower  third a bit soft although the product name "Extra Creamy/Cremoso" is very sharp. Shot at 1/100 sec f/11 ISO 100 @ 85mm.

Comments same as above. Same camera settings except focal length @ 97mm.

Comments as previous images, focal length @ 98mm.  Central are of image sharp and clear.