I love this jar o corks that sits on our kitchen counter. I shot it back when I got my TTL cord for my little SB400 flash and I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. When I read the Strobist Lighting 102 exercise about specular highlights I said “Snap, I can try that out on the jar o corks.” (I didn’t really say “snap.” That would be stupid.)
I know there is a great shot to be had involving this jar and the corks. I just don’t think this is it. I did learn a great deal about moving the highlight around and making it bigger or smaller, however. I tried to use a desk lamp diffused with some tracing paper to provide some backside fill. To balance the light from the lamp, I tried a CTO gel on the flash, but I couldn’t get it right. The lamp made a specular reflection of its own, compounding the problems. I seem to remember reading on the Strobist something about bouncing the light around with mirrors to fake like there’s more than one flash. Maybe I’ll try that.
Strobist info: Vivitar 285HV camera left at 1/16 through a sheet of typing paper.