These Gurkha cigars are pre-embargo Cuban cigars. I forget the exact price on each of these cigars, but it was something like $175 – $200ish per cigar.
This product photography was for a local Phoenix client. This photograph ran in the New York Times travel section, as well as being used for advertising and commercial use. I arrived on location with a bunch of expensive studio lighting equipment in the car and went in to scout the photo shoot. I ended up using all natural window light and some reflectors to bounce light back into the set….all the strobes stayed in the car!
PS: All natural window light/ Existing Light with bounce reflectors… I left all the expensive lighting packed in the cases for this shoot! 
Adam Also received a Kodak Gallery Award in EI (Electronic Imaging) for this image at a Arizona State PPA print competition.
Here is the unprocessed, un-leveled, and un-edited photo.
So a lot can be done in post production using Photoshop and good digital editing skills, however, “Trash in = Trash out” Good lighting and composition is important and was used. The edit helped make the shot even better. Is this cheating? Not really. If photographed using film, I could have used Fuji Velvia, a super saturated E6 (color slide film) to show rich colors. I could have also used a vignette during capture to darken down the corners to draw your eye to the center of the image.
This is an example of a Deluxe ACME Edit.
Attention to detail in post production creates a more powerful image which is important in advertising campaigns and marketing pieces.
Adam Nollmeyer
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Commercial Advertising Photography
February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Looks very good, i don’t smoke but , if i see this i would start.
December 15th, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Incredible photo. Incredible post production.
The original shot is sharp and true. The post work added the ‘romance’ to the cigars. Smokin’ work and thanks for detailing your steps!
February 28th, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Great composition, excellent Photoshop post work. Fabulous final product. Excellent eye, Adam!