The first hint I would like to share with you is a single beam setup that works great

Improved single beam setup

The setup gets the best from two worlds: The simplicity and large parallax of a single beam setup, and the brightness of a split beam configuration. Here is the improved single beam setup with assisted overhead lightning:

Above: A two-mirror setup for improved single beam holography. (Click image for larger view)

Below: A 4x5 BB640 shot with the above described method. Note the shadow under the silver cup caused by the assisted top illumination. The brightness in the shadow area is what you would get in a normal single beam setup.