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04-MAR-2005 Helen Betts

Lion's Milk
by Helen Betts

Ankara, Turkey

This is a glass of raki (sorry, there shouldn't be a dot over the "i" but I can't use Turkish fonts here), Turkey's national drink. It's a perfectly clear liquid, but it turns milky white when mixed with water. Has an anise taste and really packs a wallop! The glass itself is clear with blue running through the bottom of it, reflected into the liquid by the light.

Sony DSC-F717
1/8s f/4.5 at 9.7mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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roberta10-Mar-2005 02:32
Beautiful lighting Helen.
Katherine Stanback's Photos08-Mar-2005 03:17
Looks like a toxic drink - I love the glowing lighting and bluish color!
Guest 05-Mar-2005 16:57
Simple yet effective image. Love the gradient and subtle change in coloring. Well done.
Guest 05-Mar-2005 16:29
Beautiful and simple, and the lighting is just perfect...Penelope
Sony Forums Challenges05-Mar-2005 13:31
Helen, I really like the simplicity of form here...and nice background contrast. Neat how your perspective "mirrors" the gentle curve at the top of the liquid with the gentle curve at the top of the glass. The lighting in this blend is very effective and gives the "tower" a frosted-glass appearance...nice catch of highlights to reaveal the form of the glass. Clear & well done, Helen. Geeesh...glad you didn't drink it! MFC
Helen Betts05-Mar-2005 10:01
Linda, yes, it's alcoholic and is pretty strong stuff. It turns pure white when mixed with water but I somehow managed to angle my light just right so that the blue from the glass base reflected into the upper part (which is actually clear). Raki is Turkey's national drink and people drink it in large quantities everywhere, especially with meze (hors d'oeuvres). Unfortunately, this past week something like 12 people have died from drinking 'counterfeit" raki that had an excess of methyl alcohol in it. Needless to say, although the aroma was wonderful while I was shooting this picture, I had to pour it all out since the brand of raki I had bought was the same as the one that's been killing people in Istanbul. Helen
Netgarden 05-Mar-2005 06:53
Very interesting Helen! Is it alcoholic? I love the way you got the light to fit through the glass so perfectly. Would love to try a sip!
Tajinder 05-Mar-2005 04:10
Helen: I know what you mean by "really packs a wallop." Tried this once myself..The picture is nice..."A TALL glass" will make anyone tipsy...Tajinder
Irish 05-Mar-2005 00:35
I love your Monolithic Milk.. Beautifully EX-O Perpective in opague blue ..Its more like an Elixer..we cant see in at all..Mysterious Liquid..should we dare drink it? Really like the contrasting background to the hint of highlights [especially] on the rim. Great Shot/Eyed Helen..~Irish