Polynesian Cocktails
Friday, June 24, 2011 at 9:00AM
"Coffee Grog" Mai Kai, Ft. Lauderdale 2005
I'm not a food photographer. If you're looking for tips on food & drink photography I'm not the guy.
But, I just can't resist trying to get a really nice shot of a carefully crafted cocktail if I have my good camera with me. Drinks with a Polynesian flair are some of my favorites to photograph. Whenever I happen to get to a bar or restaurant that offers cocktails with a presentation, I'm usually traveling, and usually have my camera. I've done plenty of smartphone pics, but if you have access to the big guns why not use them?
"Dallas Star" Trader Vic's, Dallas 2007
There are few establishments these days that give any kind of drink presentation like they did in the heyday of Polynesian cocktails. To some it's silly and unecessary. A drink is a drink. However there are some cocktails that have very carefully measured ingredients to achieve a certain unique taste. When this kind of thought goes into a cocktail, why not dress it up and give it a proper presentation?
The color of the drink, the type of glass and the garnish all play an important role in presentation. It doesn't have to be gaudy and over the top. A simple visual layering sometimes brings out the same affect.
"Rangoon Gimlet", home, 2011
I'm not a food photographer and certainly not a cocktail expert, but there are plenty of great resources out there. I highly recommend Jeff "Beachbum" Berry and his latest book Beachbum Berry Remixed.
"Backscratcher" Tambu Lounge, Orlando 2010