Pre-Columbian Fizz by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
Strange things happen when you listen to the soundtrack to Avatar making sure that you avoid the final song. Even stranger things happen as you avoid the Celine Dion stylings of that final track while drinking a tall, cold glass of…Inca Cola…one of those marvelous off-brand carbonated soft drinks aimed at a very specific ethnic market. Things get positively surreal when you come to the realization that Inca Cola (a “golden” beverage) isn’t cola at all. It’s cream soda with artificial colors. I learned this while avoiding “I See You” sung by some woman who believes that emotive hiccups are an appropriate means of conveying intense feelings in a song that gives “My Heart Will Go On” a fair run for its money. It’s a 10 on the Musical Saccharine Scale. The Musical Saccharine scale only goes up to 8.
Needless to say, I was more interested in my “golden” beverage than I was in a song I wasn’t even listening to. It was close, however, as the most haunting of musical selections available on the soundtrack album was nearly over. And so, with haunting “ethnic” music blasting out of my laptop speakers, and Corey doing Corey things with his own laptop, I found myself fascinated by the idea that something non-cola could be called a cola, if the Incas were invoked. I found myself looking at the stuff in front of my laptop screen, amazed at how much it resembled fizzy absinthe. Okay, in all honesty, I found myself looking at the stuff, entranced by the bubbles that clung to the side of my drinking glass. As I had my camera close at hand, I nabbed a few shots. They didn’t turn out so well, so I waited until Corey took a pause in the Corey things he was doing, then turned off the room lights, nabbed a few more shots, and liked them immensely. This is the best of those shots.
I’d thought to say something profound and of great existential importance in regard to this shot, but I find that my mind goes blank when Inca Cola is involved. I do wonder how much more of the stuff I’ll drink, and if real Incas (or at least their descendants) have anything to do with the apparently secret formula involved in the creation of so “golden” a carbonated beverage. I didn’t check the fine print on the label, but for some reason, I get the feeling that Inca Cola comes from somewhere like New Jersey, rather than anywhere south of Texas. Oh well…at least it makes for interesting bubble shots.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week. Things are a bit hectic around here, and so I hope to actually catch up fully on comments soon.
Comments (25)
Orinoor
When you stop looking at this as bubbles clinging to a glass, I start thinking about how curious it is that they seem to huddle together in groups, much like teenagers at lunch break or cows in a field. It also reminds me of the ocean depths, as it gets darker toward the bottom, more intense. Fascinating!
mbz2662
Very cool image :) If I drank sugary soda, I'd sure give Inca Cola a try, because Cream Soda is one of my favorites!
danapommet
Super multi layered bubbles and colors. As always - I enjoyed the story that goes along with the pgoto. Dana
jac204
Great capture. I checked out the song you menioned on Youtube, found a guy covering it, and listned to as much as I could stand of it. Yes it was as sugary as a tall glass of Inca Cola.
MrsRatbag
Carbonated absinthe? Never a good idea to investigate too closely when there are suspicions... but what a great shot!
auntietk
I have great news for you, my friend! I did some research (I'm sure you're not surprised) and discovered that Inca Kola was invented and bottled in Peru beginning in the 1930s. Eventually, of course, it was bought out (or partially bought out) by Coca Cola, so that whole New Jersey thing might be right after all. However, it really IS an authentic South American drink! (Although not invented by the Incas.) They say it's bubble-gum sweet, and is an acquired taste. I say your photograph is outstanding. What a great experiment, with a fabulous result!
mgtcs
Wonderful photo, loved the colors, excellent story Chip, very well done!
minos_6
This may be connected to my colour blindness, but this drink actually looks quite toxic to me, in an attractive, carbonated way of course. Quite appropriate considering it's resemblance to absinthe..... I was very amused by your story, and it's good to know that I'm not alone in deriding the Power Ballad With Straining Vocal Chords And Earnest Expressions that accompany many movies. Fake emotions over electric piano. Nice. This is a great capture though, with far more mystery and appeal than the product could possibly warrant. I'm sure it'll help the Incas not to spin out of control in their graves!
bimm3d
wonderful capture!!
bmac62
Gas pains:-) Like the light reflecting in each and every bubble... Sounds like I might have the beginning of an Inca Kola ad going here.
helanker
AWESOME! Capture of your Inca cola LOL ! Not sure it is very healthy though :D
kgb224
Outstanding job done by you my friend.
durleybeachbum
I watched a documentary last monthabout the machinations of the cocaine trade in South America and at some point we were in a plant making this stuff!
mariogiannecchini
Grande movimento di pensieri per un'immagine apparentemente semplice , che dalla semplicità trae la sua bellezza ! Great movement of thoughts seemingly simple image, which derives from the simplicity of its beauty!
marybelgium
fantastique !
Meisiekind
To drink - it does look toxic. As photography matter - fantastic! You did a great job with this Chip... Love it!' I happened to watch Avatar on Sunday night again and had to fight my way through said song! :))
flavia49
Wonderful image. My first meeting with Inca Cola was in Ollantaytambo (Urubamba Valley) in 1981. Sandra and I were there for the 1th Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples of Cono Sur. Inca Cola was an insanely pink, yellow and greenish sweet soft drink. It was so similar to a Italian medicine for liver that we disliked it on the spot. The Peruans told us Inca Cola was their autarchic answer to Coca or Pepsi Cola and as Italians we dilike all autarchic stuff (it reminds us of the Fascism). I remember that we liked much more the mate and other herbal drinks.
beachzz
Amazing what you can find just sitting around having a drink. Anything called Inca Cola would appeal to me; I'd wonder if I'd start seeing strange visions, hear ancient words or speak in some very foreign tongue. My sister (who things taking fotos of crackers is odd) would never get this!! We do though!!
Sepiasiren
I love the color gradient and fizz bubbles are dizzing! Lovely shot--how did u capture this I might ask?
sandra46
WHILE i QUESTION THIS COKE AS PRE-COLUMBIAN, I LIKE THE IMAGE!
evielouise
It reminds me of the song I'm forever blowing bubbles GRRRRRRRRRR___eat work
CoreyBlack
Wouldn't that make this The Other Un-Cola? Hmmmmmmm. Cola that isn't cola, and music that isn't music. Never have cared for Ms. Dion's song stylings. For some reason I always think of Pat Nixon's pink polyester pants suit when ever I hear one of the Canadian Warbler's manderings.I'm not sure what that means... Anyway, I like this a lot. The bubbles look like glass beads to me and there's a strangely omnious sci-fi vibe amid the pretty (and slightly toxic looking) colors as if the monster is begining to take shape out of the bubbles. I like this a lot. Great, inventive work.
praep
Cool shot - my children love to watch them coming up in a glass of water...
KatesFriend
Of coarse the first thing that popped (great choice of words eh?) into my mind (built from surplus pin ball machine parts and a mouse exercise wheel - without the mouse) was the Sylvester McCoy era opening to Doctor Who. So much like fizzing soda escaping after a good vigorous shake by the Controller of BBC1. A most under appreciated era of the series. Ah! Sofie Aldred and her explosions.
-seek-
wow, thats really bright. i like the contrast and colors here. great work chipka!