I am so glad I didn't post my shot that I attempted like this. Need a bit more skill to make that happen... Would you like to share how you did it? You could PM me if you would like. You were also right that this is similar to the other glass shot. Very different but both very very nice.....Well done as usual Jim.
Steve S, Steve R, Jason, John, and Julien (and Chad) - Thanks all for the comments.
I want to be clear that the inspiration for this shot came from Dave Nitsche's Weekly Assignment #262 winner. While I was attempting the shot, Dave was posting another wonderful image that is very similar to mine, and I was unaware of his post. After Dave won WA #262 I checked out his galleries, and they are superb. Dave shared that he lit his from underneath the glasses, but I lit from above. Two soft boxes, two reflectors and one strobe with a grid on the background radius of paper.
My priority was to protect my gear. The plexi was on top of the white paper...my camera on a tripod far, far away from the light table, softboxes were away as well...and reflectors were foam core boards that I was willing to destroy with the colored liquid. I managed to splash stuff on only the reflectors...Had I dropped stuff into the liquids as Dave did...I would set up an even larger surface upon which to do the shoot. As it was...the area used for this shoot was 60" inches wide x 72" deep. I also did not do the dropping of ice, or whatever Dave drops into the liquids (compressed air?). If I had - I would have worn a raincoat, and covered my softboxes with cellophane...I don't think there would be anyway to protect the paper roll...so I would have assumed it would cost at least part of a roll...it not the whole thing. I chose to pour the liquids.
So, I spent about twenty frames setting up the lighting with empty brandy snifters. Then I practiced pouring, and found that brandy snifters are weird containers that resist letting liquids sloshing about - unless you hit the radius near the bottom, but not directly in the center of the bottom of the glass. Then it was self timer at ten seconds, and shoot while pouring two pitchers at the same time plus staying out of the frame. In all I shot 62 frames...about half of which were set up tests. The rest were just a matter of timing my pours correctly.
Karen, and Endre thanks for the comments. Thanks for noticing the back lighting, Karen. That was one of the things I wanted to do - to get an almost chrome look to the liquid.
Jim, as always, you've impressed and amazed us! Just the time and thought involved in your setup makes my head spin. Great job, and thanks especially for sharing your process. You're a master!
Much admiration to you for setting up such a complex shot oin such an improvised way.