Maes Zer0% (2007/05/14)

So my partner-in-crime is off to Prague, leaving me here all by myself. I’m not exactly bored, but somehow I think she’s having a bit more fun than I am, right now. Plenty of stuff to do over here, updating my (our) blog, for example. Plenty of (meaningless) stuff to write about, really. I think my photographs are a good excuse for meaningless writing. Then again, my meaningless writing might be a good excuse to show my photographs.

Anyway, there’s this brewery in my home country, called Maes. Well, Alken-Maes, to be completely correct. The nice folks at Alken-Maes recently launched a new product line. More specifically, a new beer brand called Maes Zero (but spelled Maes ZerO%) which contains -you guessed it- exactly zero percent alcohol. Somehow, the kind folks came across my partyphotos and decided to invite me over for a little shoot during the launch event of their new product. Being the faithful type, I called in the help of my lovely partner-in-crime. I had no idea what to expect, but the nice folks at Alken-Maes gave us carte blanche, so we could do pretty much what we wanted. We played it safe and gave them what they were expecting. Well, at least I hope that’s what we gave them, the nice folks haven’t given us any feedback yet. But, judging from the fact that they published the photos on their official site, it would be safe to say that they’re satisfied. I hope. :-)

Anyway, the event took place at the La Rocca Ballroom in Lier, so let’s take a look at the mess we made:

1/125 f/2.0 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Ahhh, the obligatory Maes logo. The tap was ice-cold to the touch, and shiny drops of water populated the surface. I felt like drinking a nice cold beer. And I did, consequently.

1/25 f/5.6 15mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Lights went out, promo girls stood on their designated spots,every one of them holding a platter of the brand-new Maes Zero. Floodlights were activated, a confetti cannon blasted millions of shiny paper strips into the air, chandeliers rocked forth and back, a huge fan messed up everyone’s hair. You try focussing correctly under these circumstances :-) That would explain the f/5.6, of course. I set it myself, just to be clear about this. I’m always having trouble finding the correct exposure with the 15mm fishy, at least when combined with the bounce of the 550EX.

1/15 f/1.8 50mm ISO800, shot by Jorid

Ah, a shot my my partner-in-crime. I largely ignored the record-spinning species that night, I was too busy trying to make the perfect beer-shot. Luckily, my partner-in-crime decided to steal this DJ’s soul with her trusty old 10D.

1/15 f/1.8 50mm ISO800, shot by Jorid

She didn’t forget about the lovely promo girls either. I was still busy trying to catch the perfect beer-shot. Check out the bad case of lens funkiness on the first girl. She was standing in front of a bright LCD-screen and it looks as if we cut her out of another picture using bad photoshop skills, and slapped her onto this one. This phenomenon has a name but I’m not entirely sure what it is so I’m not going to risk making an ass out of myself. Purple fringing, maybe? It’s because of the f/1.8 against the bright lightsource of the LCD-screen, no? Maybe I should call in the expertise of Artis.

1/125 f/1.8 50mm ISO800, shot by Jorid

So, while I’m running around trying to get the perfect beer-shot, my partner-in-crime keeps rackin’ up the good shots. I love the exchange of glances these two girls are having.

1/125 f/1.8 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Not to be outdone by my lovely partner-in-crime, who I will henceforth refer to as my lovely competitor-in-crime, I caught these two manager-types taking apart their product. “Hmmm well whaddaya know, Bill, these labels come apart too easily. Maybe we should revise our production process.” ;-)

1/15 f/2.0 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Let’s just say that I’m going to defend myself with the phrase “sometimes, out-of-focus is a wanted effect” :-) I guess the 1/15 without a bounce accounts for this result. However, I just like it.

1/250 f/2.2 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Frustrated by the fact that I couldn’t find the perfect beer-shot, I created my own in Photoshop :-) This one took seventeen minutes and consists of four separate photographs. A photoshop god would probably need only three minutes while drinking beer at the same time.

1/200 f/1.8 50mm ISO800, shot by Jorid

I’m not worthy of shooting alongside my lovely competitor-in-crime, who came, saw, and composed this nice metaphor/allegory/spitting image at lightning speed.

1/15 f/1.8 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Guess what? I’m still running around, trying to get the perfect beer-shot. Maybe too many people are getting in my way :-)

1/100 f/2.0 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Let’s have a dance now, shall we? The crowd generally consisted of working-class, business-type folks. This didn’t stop them from letting it all loose and doing some a-hip shakin’. Yeah!

1/15 f/1.8 50mm ISO800, shot by Jorid

Time for some water, perhaps? This pale angel was captured by my lovely partne… ehm, my lovely competitor-in-crime. I’m not sure who plays the starring role in this photograph. But I like it nonetheless.

Oh, and guess what….

1/125 f/2.0 85mm ISO800, shot by Melvinkobe

Guess what I found? :-) Haha… It may not be the perfect beer-shot but this is the closest I could get.

Allright, enough clowning around, I have another blog entry to complete so let’s wrap this one up!

MK