Bubbles don't POP, they RIP, SPLIT, TEAR, CRACK!!!

There's a minimalist kind of purity to this shot, as the bubble is almost colourless and Sarah's hand is coming in right at the side. So, the unzipping action of the bubble is just, well, so clear. Look at the dying reflections inside! The corona's about to die too!

This shot is also a tribute to how clear the Nikon D90 is at high ISO (800 here).

You can really see the film tearing, ripping, splitting, breaking. This shouldn't be termed 'popping' at all!!!

(LOL (much later). I was actually very wrong about the splitting and cracking, because bubbles do pop into droplets, it's just that the speed of the shot makes the tiny droplets look like trails. I'm sticking with my original title though, just because I like it!)

Comments and faves

  1. DianneB1960., LawPrieR, europeanasian, InWaves, and 686 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. GaryJS ™ (48 months ago | reply)

    Awesome is the word!! I guess you've nailed you technique now!
    --
    Seen on my Flickr home page. ( ?² )

  3. richard.heeks (48 months ago | reply)

    Thanks Gary. Yep, I've nailed the technique, but I still need a lot of luck, good weather, and Sarah's patience (she's the hand model).

  4. colors98 (48 months ago | reply)

    Kudos to you for all the efforts you have made to elevate your bubble shots into an art form! I enjoyed the process as well. We'll be around waiting with bated breath for the next steps!

  5. DianneB1960. (48 months ago | reply)

    WOW. This is awesome. Cannot believe how much detail you have picked up.

  6. Fifi 1968 (48 months ago | reply)

    Awesome capture Richard...just when I thought you had reached the pinnacle of perfection you come up with this! :-))

  7. the water watcher 05. (48 months ago | reply)

    very nice,lovely picture.

  8. zhenneman (48 months ago | reply)

    nicely done Richard! did you know that if Sarah's finger is wetted first, that she should be able to put her finger inside the bubble? surface tension is a funny beast. keep up the good work.

  9. InWaves (48 months ago | reply)

    incredible!

  10. jeffrey.mills (48 months ago | reply)

    oh wow! that's some great timing and a steady finger you have :-) nice work.

  11. TDSLR (48 months ago | reply)

    WOW. :oD

  12. heaths_pics (48 months ago | reply)

    I love all your bubble photos, I want to favorite each and every one! :)

  13. TomFalconer (48 months ago | reply)

    Wow, you really nailed the timing on this one. it really is amazing how they tear apart, I wouldn't have ever known about that if it wasn't for this series. This sure does look nice at 800 too, I don't even know why my camera has 800, it's pretty much useless!

  14. richard.heeks (48 months ago | reply)

    Thanks all. Thanks heaths_pics - you've got me feeling 10ft tall after that compliment.

  15. TDSLR (48 months ago | reply)

    Again - WOW!

  16. laurahalekoa (48 months ago | reply)

    I now have a new appreciation for the destruction of bubbles.
    This is terrific.

  17. barbhogan (48 months ago | reply)

    Stunning!

  18. werklife (48 months ago | reply)

    this is amazing..

  19. chromax (48 months ago | reply)

    I put it simply "wow"..

  20. Nicholas Goodden Photography [deleted] (48 months ago | reply)

    mad! It's cool to see life in slow motion! :)

  21. purplepleaser (48 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful image - Seen on Explore

  22. *kazuna* (48 months ago | reply)

    Lovely!! wow :)

  23. Vanpaul2 (48 months ago | reply)

    One of your best yet - very cool

  24. zeppo_7 (48 months ago | reply)

    beautiful!

  25. berto.caste (48 months ago | reply)

    awesome split-of-a-second shot!

  26. glub.glub (48 months ago | reply)

    hermosaa!!!

  27. Fiona in Eden (48 months ago | reply)

    I am in awe! Utterly remarkable shot and supremely pleasing.
    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. ( ?² )

  28. flegos (48 months ago | reply)

    WOW!! Very intresting! Cool capture!!

  29. Sodabowski (48 months ago | reply)

    Now all you have to do is try again with SMOKE inside the bubble (BUT I'm not telling you to actually smoke to do that!)

  30. Emmanuel_D.Photography (48 months ago | reply)

    nice pic...looks great

  31. * Rhonda * (48 months ago | reply)

    Amazing shot!

  32. PUBOXER_1998 [deleted] (48 months ago | reply)

    Wow amazing timing

  33. marklessard (48 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful picture! Congrats on Explore
    Have a great day!

  34. •·.·•ë£ï§å•·.·• (AWAY) (48 months ago | reply)

    Awesome cool! Well done!
    =)
    Nikon D90 rocks!

  35. @lauren (48 months ago | reply)

    this is amazing

  36. StephenCotterellPhotography (48 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called flickr experiment in 6 degrees of connection, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  37. s3supimpa (48 months ago | reply)

    WOW! Is this for real?! I loved!

  38. greeblemonkey (48 months ago | reply)

    oooooohhhh
    myyyyyyy
    worrrrrrd!

  39. © Paula [deleted] (48 months ago | reply)

    Wow! I've never seen anything like that before!

    Balloons yes, but never bubbles.

  40. richard.heeks (48 months ago | reply)

    Thanks Paula. That's kind of how I felt when I first captured a bursting bubble. I just hoped I could get one clear enough to show everyone what it looks like - which I have now!

  41. Andrea Kollo Photography (48 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Applauding Talent Around the World SWEEPER {Invite}, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

    Great job ... such an interesting science experiment captured.

  42. bonakaze (48 months ago | reply)

    WAAA!! trop cool !! J'adore !!!

  43. Kristian_B (48 months ago | reply)

    I've got to try this myself!

  44. raven mother ran them over ~ man the rover (48 months ago | reply)

    So freakin' cool! Truly must go to ORIGINAL to fully appreciate!

  45. stairsteps. (48 months ago | reply)

    This is incredible!

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