Wanted to try to create a semi-transparent layer without (obviously) using Photoshop. Experimented with the Nikon Speedlight on stroboscopic mode with 5 bursts. Hand held the camera and moved it slightly between each shot. The bottle was placed in front of a black backdrop and I found I had to photograph in complete darkness so as to get sharpness. If there is any ambient light the movement of the camera during the 3 second exposure results in a softness and blur. So I was literally working "blind" and took several dozen shots until I found one I liked. It is a single bottle of vintage port given to me for Christmas!
I rotated the shot and cropped it, adjusted levels then ran through Neat Image, resized and sharpened.
Once it was in this state I felt it was still too dull so played with the already adjusted shot, converted to greyscale then to duotone. Selected a sepia tone then converted back to RGB. Sampled a tone from the label as foreground then selected gradient map which gave a nice effect which I then adjusted again with levels.
The effect is nicer now as the labels are darker in the overlapping areas which is more realistic, I think. Didn't originally intend to make the labels "float" but the dark bottle faded nicely into the background and I like the effect.
Really just a lot of experimenting and playing both at the production stage and in post processing, hopefully keeping within the rules by not using any filters or layers and adjusting the complete photo at all times. This is really breaking new ground for me in may ways, and I hope it might actually do pretty well.
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For me at least, this is definitely new ground and I think you've met the challenge topic well. For some reason, though, I don't find it special in any way, except I really do like the color you've chosen with the port. Hmmm... sorry to not be more constructive - wish I could be a better commenter.
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