Triptych of colorful bubbles

[Mike Buckley]

I don't derive any pleasure from reinventing the wheel, but I do take great pleasure in taking advantage of what others have learned and passed along to me. In this case, I'm referring to a September 2013 article in Popular Photography magazine.

Important: The images are displayed automatically in the thread at the same width. To view them in their real widths relative to each other, click the first image and view all three images in the LyteBox.

Setup (To be ignored unless you are really interested in the details.)
The setup explained in that article is very similar to a setup I have used often in my makeshift studio that produces a black background and defines the shape of clear subjects with bright lines.

The parts of my setup that are the same as in the article are the glass tabletop and the narrow chamber to hold the soap and bubbles (in my case, a modern flower vase).

The rest of my setup is different from the setup explained in the article: Rather than using a huge piece of translucent Plexiglass placed behind a black background, I use a circular, fabric diffuser that isn't nearly as large. Also, rather than using four strobes fitted with reflectors positioned around the black background, I use one speed light positioned behind it. I also use no power packs, as my lighting equipment works fine using only standard electrical outlets.

My setup also includes a medium continuous-light lamp positioned to the right or above the scene, depending on the photo, not included in the article's setup. Without that lamp, I was unable to get enough of the bright, colorful tones displayed on the sides of the bubbles.

There is one other teensy weensy difference between my setup and the setup explained in the article: mine costs about $300, about $9000 less than the setup explained in the article. That doesn't include the difference in cost between my inexpensive circular diffuser and the outrageously expensive sheet of Plexiglass used in the article's setup.

I tried using the article's suggested mixture of soapy liquid used by children to blow bubbles, glycerine and water but that didn't work for me. I settled on a mixture of the children's liquid and Windex, mostly because the Windex adds the blue tones to the liquid shown at the base of my photos.

[Mike Buckley]

One more detail: Followers of Islam believe only Allah makes things perfectly. So, to weave a perfect rug would be an offense to Allah. Instead, Persian rug makers leave a mistake in their rugs. All three of my photos display the same mistake, which I could have very easily eliminated. I decided to leave it in place as an affectionate nod to that time-honored tradition of weaving handmade Persian rugs.

The first person to identify the mistake in my photos gets a virtual gold star on their forehead. My wife has me on a strict photography budget. Otherwise, the prize would be more significant.

[Manfred M]

Getting into the suds now? As always, you post some very interesting images.

I assume the "mistake" is that some of the bubbles are holes rather than bubbles.

[Mike Buckley]

I assume the "mistake" is that some of the bubbles are holes rather than bubbles.

Nope. You don't get the gold star, at least not yet.

[TonyW]

I can see some little isolated bubbles which look as though they might be on the outside.

It is interesting that at the junctions of the big bubbles there are three edges coming together at an angle of 120 degrees. Some sides of the bobbles are curved, which indicates a pressure difference between the adjacent bubbles.

What causes the colours? Is it refraction or interference? In any case, it is all very pretty.

[Stagecoach]

The first person to identify the mistake in my photos gets a virtual gold star on their forehead. My wife has me on a strict photography budget. Otherwise, the prize would be more significant.

Apart from trapping cartoon Willy and his dog in No 2, no.

[IzzieK]

All of them have that blue water at the bottom...which of this ones did you put in the April competition?

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[Mike Buckley]

I can see some little isolated bubbles which look as though they might be on the outside.

That's an optical illusion. All of the bubbles are inside the vase.

What causes the colours?

I found the following, which I excerpted from this piece:

"Fundamentals of Interference - The seemingly close relationship between diffraction and interference occurs because they are actually manifestations of the same physical process and produce ostensibly reciprocal effects. Most of us observe some type of optical interference almost every day, but usually do not realize the events in play behind the often-kaleidoscopic display of color produced when light waves interfere with each other. One of the best examples of interference is demonstrated by the light reflected from a film of oil floating on water. Another example is the thin film of a soap bubble, which reflects a spectrum of beautiful colors when illuminated by natural or artificial light sources."

[Mike Buckley]

All of them have that blue water at the bottom

The children's liquid is fundamentally clear and the Windex that I added to it is blue. I believe the "layers" of dark blue are where there is more of the clear children's liquid than the Windex; it is more clear, so more of the black background is seen. Similarly, the "layers" of light blue are where there is more of the Windex than the children's clear liquid; it is less clear, so less of the black background is seen.

which of this ones did you put in the April competition?

The second photo

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

These are wonderful... For me the 3rd image is absolutely exquisite for the combination of the beauty of the suds at base, the colours and simply for the bubble formations.

I wouldn't refer to it as a mistake but as something special... I can see the reflection of a wine glass in the bubbles... Just the base in the lower half, and the whole glass or part of the glass in the upper portion, and others here and there.

I wonder if you would be inclined to create one giant bubble and photograph the reflection of some glasses or a bottle of wine or similar as seen inside the bubble?

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Christina. I don't have any bubble-blowing skills as of yet, but I've got a few ideas about photographing them. I'll add reflection of wine bottles and glasses to my list.

[Brownbear]

Thank you, Mike. Truly appreciated as I intend to try photographing bubbles again. If for any reason I miss it please let me know when you post it, as I know I'll learn a lot just by viewing it.

No gold star? (: What is the mistake?

Thank you.

Thanks, Christina. I don't have any bubble-blowing skills as of yet, but I've got a few ideas about photographing them. I'll add reflection of wine bottles and glasses to my list.

[Mike Buckley]

What is the mistake?

Be patient, Christina. I will eventually bring it to everyone's attention if someone doesn't identify it on their own.

[Rebel]

These are very nice shots Mike, no idea what the mistake is though?

[Brownbear]

Your eyeglasses are reflected in the bubbles.

At one point I also thought I saw you ( or a person weaving rugs) reflected, too but lost that person. If it is not your eyeglasses, I give up. The harder I look the more things I see.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

I give up.

Good idea! However, if you want a retry, I'll give the hint that the "mistake" has nothing whatsoever to do with anything you or anyone has mentioned. I'll also mention that the mistake is easiest to identify in the first photo. Once you've identified it in the first photo, finding its location in the second photo will be easier than in the third photo.

[Mike Buckley]

Nobody wins the gold star. The "mistake" is shown within the red enclosure. It's a blemish in the vase. The vase was inexpensive at the full price and cheap at the sale price, so I can't complain.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

I think I am worthy of double gold stars... That is the base of the wine glass that I was referring to..

Plus I found a wine glass and a set of eyeglasses!

The eye glasses are especially apparent in the 3rd image... Can you find them?

[Mike Buckley]

Good for you for identifying the mistake. Too bad you didn't show it to us. Also too bad that you found it only in one photo. So, no gold star.