Fun with Soap Bubbles - Part Two of an Experiment

[Brownbear]

Well, I must admit to having fun photographing the reflections in soap bubbles but I think it is just a passing fancy...

The challenges are obtain the clarity of the reflection and that every speck of noise shows up inside the view of a soap bubble. As soon as the sun comes up to allow for enough light for a lower iso the bubbles are full of the reflections of the sun. Water seems to make for the best background.

All that said, they are colourful and fun, so to conclude this exercise of mine here they are... Views of downtown Vancouver reflected.

SS 1/640 f/4 ISO 640 focal length 300 mm

#1 (Darkened the background to make the bubble stand out using levels)



#2




#3 The Last Hurrah ISO 250 (my favourite and it's an abstract )



All that said, I'll likely try again on another day on a perfectly bright cloudy morning.

Thank you.

[KimC]

What fun Christina. I like the second one -- the city scape is cool, and it also looks like it has a clown's face - crazy colored hair on top... nose in middle... smile towards bottom :-)

[Brownbear]

Indeed it's been fun. The other challenge is that the reflections include every person in the immediate area.

PS The clown is not me, myself or I.

What fun Christina. I like the second one -- the city scape is cool, and it also looks like it has a clown's face - crazy colored hair on top... nose in middle... smile towards bottom :-)

[FootLoose]

It isn't you? But it is a bear. Ok, eventually I could see the clown, but the bear is the dominant figure for me.

So, to take these shots, you were standing in a city street at dawn, blowing bubbles? Only a photographer would do that

The results are well worth the effort, Christina.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, so perfect.

[Barbara Ponder]

Cool idea and well executed!

[Nicks Pics]

What wonderful bubbles! I do like the oof bubble in the first, though I like the tones in the BG in the second. Though you said you darkened the BG using levels, was the BG dark to some extent in the originals? Somehow shooting bubbles out of the air, and blowing them, sounds like a challenging feat, but it seems you did it!

[Mike Buckley]

I think it is just a passing fancy...

...to conclude this exercise...

I completely understand if both statements prove to be true. However, if you decide to pursue the concept with your usual rigor for eventually getting things right, I look forward to that happening.

[Stagecoach]

Hi Christina,

Photography for us amateurs as opposed to those that have to make a living from it should contain an element of fun at times and you have certainly demonstrated it here.

I admire anyone that takes on a challenge, learns how to accomplish what they want and produces quality results, well done.

Grahame

[chauncey]

So, to take these shots, you were standing in a city street at dawn, blowing bubbles? Only a photographer would do that

I've been told that they have medications for that type of insanity, but alas...hasn't done me any good.

[Mike Langdon]

You have done a great job with focusing at F/4 on a 300mm lens, not a lot of DOF to allow for error.
My fav one is number 2 as I like the way the bubble fills the frame and what looks to be a cityscape is visible in the bubble adding interest and depth.

[DonnaK]

I like the concept and you did get some rather cool shots, Christina. Did you have a bubble blower with you, or were you doing everything yourself????? I like the second one with the lighter background because it makes the eye go for all of the beautiful colors and images. Okay, I do see a pair of lips, tongue and an upper row of teeth, too, but admitting to seeing the cityscape makes me sound a little more sane. Your last shot of water ripples is a very neat abstract!

[Brownbear]

Thank you to all for your kind and encouraging comments, many of which are highly amusing.

As my friends seem to be far more enamoured with my bubbles than my eagles , I'll likely try this again, at least once or twice.

FYI I've recruited my husband to blow the bubbles for me simply because it is too much of a challenge to track and focus on the bubble. So I simply provide him directions on the size, placement and direction of the bubbles, and then a gust of wind comes along... He must be the clown that everyone is seeing.

Nick...
The bokeh was an unappealing non nondescript (to me) brown colour.

Greg, Mike and Grahame...
Thank you for your kind comments and encouraging words. I have to figure out a way to use a slower shutter speed and a lower iso, and have the bubbles floating over brighter water.

Mike Langdon...
I appreciate the critique. In hindsight in this bubble there are too, many clouds hiding the cityscape.

Chauncey and Greg...
No different than photographing birds at dawn except for looking like a complete fool in the city.

Donna...
lol... Thank you.

Also, thank you to John and Barbara...

I'm going to try and find a better bubble sometime today to post.

[Wavelength]

Very very lovely

[bnnrcn]

Hi Christina I like #2 and if you could rotate #3, 90 degrees anticlockwise, it might look better as an abstract

[Brownbear]

Thank you, kindly Nandakumar and Binnur...

Binnur, here you are and I think you're correct. I added another, also rotated but processed normally. (the original post I tried for a silvery artistic look)

Last Hurrah Rotated



#4 Add on (sharper droplets)

[bnnrcn]

They are both nice Christina. I prefer the silvery colors though, it looks more artistic as you say

[Brownbear]

Thank you Binnur... Good to know. I will revisit at a later date to process similarly and determine if I truly like these, or not. Could be that they are just new and different for me.