Up, up, out to the sky
A simple soap bubble, floating up. Beautifully simple, and simply beautiful.
Simple as it looks, it is a complex structure emerging from simple molecular components and organized by basic physical rules. We can understand the soap bubble, how it arises, why it looks the way it does... and why it bursts. Understanding it helps us understand other physical phenomena, and encourages us to learn more, understand more.
Complex as the soap bubble is, it is simplicity itself when compared to the environment in which it floats. But we are curious and ambitious, and we keep learning and understanding more and more of the complexity.
And with that understanding, comes a deeper appreciation, which makes it even more beautiful. Sure, we all love the mystery and the magic, and take delight in observing the mysterious beauty of nature, and partaking in cherishing it. But how much more satisfactory it is to do this out of knowledge, not ignorance. To wield the magic: to predict and confirm, and to create, instead of floundering in superstitious guesswork about the hidden ways of a creation by an unknown.
And as the multicolored bubble rises, to share the joy with the delighted happiness of the children, and pass onto their young minds the tools for questioning and learning by experimentation, and the joy of knowledge, so they can develop their natural wonder at the natural world.
A photo of a simple soap bubble: the ephemeral creation of a moment, best appreciated in good company - yours.
Time to go make more bubbles. Upward and onward.
[Spanish version in a response below.]
Comments and faves
m.a.x, Crfullmoon, mimbrava, Apocaplops, and 138 other people added this photo to their favorites.
BenODen (97 months ago | reply)
Man, that's really cool color and nice shot. Did you have to amplify the color any?
I was trying to come up with an answer to yesterday's question, but the closest I could come was somthing having to do with critical angles, refraction and related to rainbows, but I couldn't string it together. I could probably find it on the web, but what fun is that!? :D
I keep wondering if some adapted bacteria or animal could build us carbon nanotubes out of atmospheric CO2, but that's probably WAY above our abilities for the moment.
Shari DeAngelo (97 months ago | reply)
Wait... you mean sometimes a bubble isn't just a bubble? ;-)
Cool shot. Is it filled with smoke, by any chance? ;-0
mimbrava (97 months ago | reply)
Bravo, GustavoG, for this wonderfully symbolic and poetic 1,000th Flickr image. I hope you will share many more thousands of shots with us.
You should add it to this group, 10^3:
www.flickr.com/groups/52644591@N00/
Esther17 (97 months ago | reply)
Beauty and knowledge; wonderful.
Garnite (97 months ago | reply)
Refreshing words, when the leaders of the most industrialized nation on earth are doing what they can to discredit, or at least distort, science. How about your for president? Oh, and hell of a shot, G. Congratualtions on the 1,000th. I'm delighted I stumbled across you.
... has left the building [deleted] (97 months ago | reply)
This is pure magic ...
jamie B (97 months ago | reply)
Good image, but your metaphorical discourse makes it great.
zen (97 months ago | reply)
Very fitting 1000th, Gustavo. You are about a deeper appreciation whether you are photographing or putting relationships into visual schemes or text or whatever. You are an amazement, passing on the wonder of your vision on to us.
We thank you!
cobalt123 (97 months ago | reply)
As soon as I saw the thumbnail in "My Contacts" page, I knew it had to be "the one" Congratulations! You are one in a zillion.
nobleviola (97 months ago | reply)
bravo on 1000, and for making it such a special shot!
Weaving The Web (97 months ago | reply)
Beautiful photo and words...
ΞLLΞ∩ (97 months ago | reply)
Ooooh - so beautiful!!
Emmaline (97 months ago | reply)
beautiful colors & nice description. i love bubbles...
congrats on 1000.
Drift Words (97 months ago | reply)
I love the limb-darkening, as solar physicists would say, of this object. Nice words too.
chaim zvi (97 months ago | reply)
My son's science fair project was on soap bubbles.
aliciav (97 months ago | reply)
I have no words to say, because who did this 1000 picture is my son!! he is really someone very very special! (proud mother)
zen (97 months ago | reply)
You should be proud, Alicia! He's one of the most amazing young men here on Flickr (and there are many!)
... has left the building [deleted] (97 months ago | reply)
I second Zen on this!
Shari DeAngelo (97 months ago | reply)
I third Zen on this! Gustavo, you're certainly a bright and shining light on here! Congrats on your 1000!! ...and thanks for the many smiles along the way!
suertudo (97 months ago | reply)
amazing Gustavo...simply Beautiful as you wrote..thanks
CaritoJames (97 months ago | reply)
A simple bubble that you turn amazing with your words :) Bello!
nep (97 months ago | reply)
Way to make it to 1000!
fubuki (97 months ago | reply)
congratulations! great capture, but the description really makes one think about what we see (but rarely process beyond the surface level) bravo Gustavo
ibarak (95 months ago | reply)
lindisima la foto, lastima que no entiendo lo escrito
GustavoG (95 months ago | reply)
Una simple burbuja de jabón, elevándose. Hermosamente simple, y simplemente hermosa.
Parece ser simple, pero es una compleja estructura que emerge de componentes moleculares simples, organizados según reglas físicas básicas. Podemos entender a la burbuja de jabón, cómo surge, por qué se ve así... y por qué explota. El entenderla nos ayuda a entender otros fenómenos físicos, y nos alienta a aprender y a entender más.
Parece ser complicada, pero es extrémamente simple en comparación con el medio en que se mueve. Pero somos curiosos y ambiciosos, y seguimos aprendiendo y entendiendo más y más de su complejidad.
Y con ese entender llega una apreciación más profunda, que la hace parecer más hermosa aún. Ciertamente, a todos nos atrae el misterio y la magia, y nos gusta observar la misteriosa belleza de la naturaleza, y festejarla. Pero esto es mucho más satisfactorio cuando está basado en conocimiento, no en ignorancia. Esgrimir la magia: poder predecir y confirmar, en vez de adivinar torpemente los inescrutables por qués de una creación arbitraria por un ente desconocido.
Y mientras la burbuja multicolor sube, compartir la alegria del conocimiento con los niños, y transmitir a sus jóvenes mentes las herramientas de investigación y de aprendizaje por experimentación, para que puedan desarrollar un deleite natural al ver al mundo natural.
Una foto de una simple burbuja de jabón: la creación efímera de un momento, para ser apreciada en la mejor compañía - la tuya.
Hora de ir a hacer más burbujas. Seguimos adelante, mejorando.
Tampen (95 months ago | reply)
Caramba.
Vida Morkunas (seawallrunner) (94 months ago | reply)
beautiful work!
saint magenta (94 months ago | reply)
sharing breath with heaven
GustavoG (94 months ago | reply)
I don't know about that. I'm talking to people about the natural world.
Patri_cia (92 months ago | reply)
beatiful words...
Charissa May Borroff (91 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot and as Patricia Pepperell said, Beautiful words. This is a very touching and special observation.
dclement007 (91 months ago | reply)
another winner!
SouthernBelladonna (91 months ago | reply)
very nice!
Monica Arellano-Ongpin (86 months ago | reply)
Something ethereal, set against another ethereal element - clouds. Brilliant!
WisDoc (86 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous capture!
(Seen in Scientist Photographer's pool)
.Ashkan (86 months ago | reply)
Hey Gustav, thanks for posting this... I had time to go through your profile in flickr... thats great we have somebody with your capacities in our group... if you want to know more about what is going on in the group please go to the front page and give us your suggestions....
You will find a link there to introduce yourself if you want and see other people in your field, if it is physics... (Seen in Scientist Photographer's pool)
vvt (85 months ago | reply)
just floating on by...
can you please add it too lotsofbubbles ? thanks.
D*aria (85 months ago | reply)
It's seems a flying hoola-hop!
optick (84 months ago | reply)
like it!
tomatoe (83 months ago | reply)
there's no place like home Dorthy :)
marylea (82 months ago | reply)
I like your mother's comment! (Oh, and this is an excellent shot...)
;-)
Go Sox 33 (78 months ago | reply)
That is GORGEOUS! Thank you for posting!!!
abstractnumbers (78 months ago | reply)
The simplicity of this is great :)
s pa c esi nb e twe en [deleted] (77 months ago | reply)
beautiful. so complex yet so simple, you're right. wonderful photo!
dbz885 (76 months ago | reply)
Please post your lovely soapy photo to: Soap Group
www.flickr.com/groups/soapgroup/
heatherlynchriza (75 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Soap Suds Inc., and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
GustavoG (75 months ago | reply)
"This is a group for photos of cleaning products,soap detergent etc. More specifically interesting product containers and bottles color combos etc. Anything vintage would be welcome as well."
I'm somewhat confused about how my photo fits with that theme. No product containers here, nothing vintage... and the soap is being used for making a bubble, not for cleaning in any way.
I mean, if you want a group about anything related to soap... fine, but then why not join one of the existing groups for that? :)
zen (75 months ago | reply)
Gustavo, do you think the "Invite to group" is getting a bit spammy?
GustavoG (75 months ago | reply)
No, not really.
heatherlynchriza (75 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Soap Suds Inc., and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
So beautiful!