Learn How This Stunning Photo of a Whisky Bottle Balancing Between Two Tumblers Was Created

Whisky bottles are a favorite subject for product photographers and this shot adds an interesting twist: the bottle and tumblers are impossibly balanced on one another. How was it achieved?

Product photographer Thierry Kuba runs you through the entire process of how he captured this image, from creating his own fake whisky through his various lighting setups that allow him to get a perfectly illuminated bottle.

The choice of a blue background is no accident as if you have even a vague knowledge of color theory, you’ll know that it works as a direct complement to the deep orange and brown of the whisky. You’ll find out how to bring some extra life to the color of the whisky as part of Kuba’s detailed walkthrough. 

A bit of trivia for you: France drinks more whisky per person than any other country by some considerable distance, with French drinkers preferring it to Champagne or Cognac. The Scottish blended whisky chosen by Kuba is owned by a French company, Pernod Ricard. According to Forbes, the average Frenchman drinks just over half a gallon a year.

Have you tried stacking glass using Kuba's ingenious technique? Let us know in the comments below.

Andy Day's picture

Andy Day is a British photographer and writer living in France. He began photographing parkour in 2003 and has been doing weird things in the city and elsewhere ever since. He's addicted to climbing and owns a fairly useless dog. He has an MA in Sociology & Photography which often makes him ponder what all of this really means.

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4 Comments

Good question! Maybe head to Thierry's youtube channel or give him a shout via his website - https://www.thierrykubafilms.com/contact. Alternatively, you could drop him a comment on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/COeVP8lAGEH/

When I shoot beverage for alcohol brands I use some of that special effects plastic glass silicone and moduled in to ice cubes. They float like ice cubes and look correct. My big peeve about the acrylic is how fake they look due to being too perfect.

Sad that his channel is a pure copy of Botvidsson Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/botvidsson) ...same lighting, same coffee gimmick...

Nice explanation. Is the glue something special that it can be removed from the glass base? A lot of gear required and space. He knows what he is doing.