Much better IMHO. The mushroom gets less "lost" in the image, as it's more about the mushroom and less about the table and space in which the mushroom sits. We also get get to see more detail in the mushroom. If it were just about aesthetics, I'd prefer a lot less space above, but I'm sure you left it there deliberately for stock text placement or something else.
Now, if this is a lighting experiment, I'd suggest that you post the details of how you lit it, and with what settings, so that (a) the discussion can be richer and (b) others around here can also learn from your experiment instead of just critiquing the result thereof.
Thank you for the insightful reply, Rodolfo. I'll gladly share my setup, however amateur it is, haha.
Lighting the Mushroom
500 watt, 5600K spotlight with diffuser mounted to the barndoors of the lamp.
High key, bounced off white ceiling.
Lighting the Background: (1.5 foot gap between surface top and background)
60 watt Ikea lamp standing upright, adjacent to the backdrop, diffuser placed on top of shade.
Below is my latest experiment. Like the previous photos, I'm pleased with the illumination, and general balance, though I'm displeased with the distracting reflections on the glass. This is most likely a limitation of my minimal lighting scenario, but any suggestions on how I could achieve uniform reflections, and a bit more definition in the liquid (either with additional lamps, or techniques I can apply to my existing equipment) would be greatly appreciated.
Lighting the Glass:
1000 watt, 5600K spotlight with diffuser mounted to the barndoors of the lamp.
Lighting the Background: (1.5 foot gap between surface top and background)
60 watt Ikea lamp pitched on a 35° angle underneath the glass surface, top of shade facing the backdrop (like a cannon).
Starting to work out the highlight and reflections. I think I need larger diffusers, and more white deflectors, in general. Please share your thoughts.
I like the larger, smoother reflections in that last snifter.
I was also just thinking that it would be interesting to see what would happen if you fired a tightly-focused beam of light into the mushroom's top from behind and below, so the light would spread out and refract from inside the mushroom as seen from the camera's POV. I like the thought as it appears in my mind, but reality's mileage may differ.
