Making Colourful Abstracts

Using a good light source will ensure the vibrancy of the cosmic-looking colours on the surface of the bubble. Photograph/Ramakant Sharda

Even though we have all grown up playing with soap bubbles, I bet that none of us have really paid attention to the beautiful colours produced by it. This photograph is an extreme close-up of a soap bubble, shot just before it could burst. The vibrant colours and patterns inspired me to create this image.

I used a 100mm macro lens and an Elinchrom beauty dish to make this photograph. I set the camera on a tripod, focused manually and blew the bubble in a small plastic bowl. I waited for some time, and just when I knew that the bubble was about to burst, I captured the shot.

There are a few tips and tricks to making such photographs. You need to ensure that you are in a cold room, because if the temperature is high, then the bubbles are more likely to burst quickly. An alternate technique is to use soap with glycerin to extend the lifespan of the bubbles. Also, use a narrow aperture like f/16 or higher to get a large depth of field.

—Ramakant Sharda

This article originally appeared in the January 2017 issue of Better Photography.