How to do Bubble Planets

Longimanus

Longimanus

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Lee
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I have been trying to do some bubble planets for my 12/ETC project for 2014, but have struggled a bit so was after some help/guidance. I did a search in the tutorials but could not find anything, which is why I am asking here.

Equipment used, D7000, 105 macro, SB600 speedlight with Stofen diffuser, all mounted on a tripod

I have got the bubbles to work in a saucer so I am quite happy with that.

I set it all up on a work top with the saucer quite close to a black background (Black pillow case), I tried the flash at 90 degrees and 45 degrees to the camera.

I found that the background came out very grainy even though I have the ISO right down and the bubbles didn't quite come out as I was expecting, I tried some different apertures but it didn't seem to change it. All focusing was done manually.

My first queries are the following:

Should I have the bubbles as close as possible to the black background, or should I have a specific distance between them? I think this may solve me lighting the background, but just wanted people thoughts?
From what angle should I light the bubbles?
Should I be using the flash, or is it better to use constant light?

I don't have any photos to load up as I am at work, I wanted to try and get some feedback ready for take 2 tonight

Any help is much appreciated
 
Ok, maybe I was a bit harsh on myself, I have just had the chance to look at my initial photos and they are not half as bad as I thought, but I still feel there is room for improvement. Here are some of my favourites:


DSC_6682.jpg by Shark Seeker, on Flickr


DSC_6684.jpg by Shark Seeker, on Flickr


DSC_6685.jpg by Shark Seeker, on Flickr

I did some editing in LR to up the exposure and play with the blacks, so I still need to get it right in camera, you can also see the noisy background, this was made better by playing with the blacks.

I had another tray today in the day, but the windows played havoc!

Any help would be appreciated
 
i'm not sure what you mean by bubble planets if my interpretation is right you mean this kind of thing





if thats what you mean these was done in shallow plastic carton the type you see on sweet stalls full of sweets for quid
placed on a black towel , camera on a tripod and 105mm macro lens at f2.8 manually focused
an off camera flash was used set manually for exposure placed in parallel with the side of the carton angled slightly down if i remember

i used warm water and clean engine oil for the effect

hope this helps
 
Longimanus said:
mmmm, that looks interesting, but I don't think its what I am doing, this is what inspired me
http://petapixel.com/2012/11/12/soa...ok-like-psychedelic-colored-planets-in-space/

I do like what you have done, I don't suppose you have any pictures of how you set it up?
Click to expand...

gonna have a go at those they look amazing :)

sorry i don't have any pictures of how i set them up it was done for a bit of fun back in 2010
it wasn't anything fancy basically a plastic tub similar to a Tupperware tub about 2 inches deep filled with warm water placed on a black towel and a bit of clean engine oil
photos taken from above with a speedlight shot through the side of the tub

there isn't really much more to it i'm afraid
 
Many thanks for explaining again, I think I have it. Would be good to see your go at the planets, I will post some more up if I get the chance again soon
 
had a go at this last night here are a couple of results







you really need a large softbox firing from above to get even light across the bubble the soft box a used wasn't really big enough and ended up being as close as i could get it with a 580EX on full
i might try it with a studio head next time i would say the 580EX isn't really up to the job at anything above F22

the biggest problem is selecting where to focus it's impossible to get all the bubble in focus and stacking is out of the question because the pattern on the bubble is constantly changing

it's good fun but i wern't half getting some funny looks off the kids photographing bubbles :)
 
Last edited:
Mark they are superb.

I don't have any sort of a soft box, maybe I can google and have a go at a DIY one?

Lets see how I get on over the weekend, if I get the chance!
 
Longimanus said:
Mark they are superb.

I don't have any sort of a soft box, maybe I can google and have a go at a DIY one?

Lets see how I get on over the weekend, if I get the chance!
Click to expand...


theres a few ways of making a DIY diffusion panel for not a lot of money
you can make a wooden frame about the size you need and cover / staple a translucent shower curtain to it or iv'e seen tracing paper used
the best stuff mentioned by Garry Edwards in another thread is ripstop nylon which they use to make the diffusion panels for softboxes
basically any white / neutral material that is translucent should do, it would be just a case of getting enough light through it to do the job

then it's just a case of suspending the frame with a couple of stands or whatever you have that works
 
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