How to Make and Photograph Frozen Soap Bubbles

[@andreak4280]

wow those ice bubbles are amazingly beautiful!! 🌟🌟 ❄️🧼❄️

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Thanks Karen, couldn’t agree more!

[@mariannatomkova6200]

Terrific!!! It is amazing to watch how science and art unite. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Thank you!

[@louiselafontaine9825]

I have previously tried other bubble solutions and different ways of making bubbles but this is the first time I use your formula with glycerine and placing some solution on a surface and lo and behold... It worked !!! Thank you !!! Your method, explanations, video and step-by-step instructions were perfect. Well done ! Thank you again 😊👍🏻😊

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Congratulations, great to hear!! ❄️

[@k_steele]

Thanks for this - the video of the process was especially helpful!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Glad to hear - best of luck!

[@debmurray52]

Thanks Mike!!! Great video-I can’t wait to try this now that it’s getting colder out!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Awesome Deb! Let me know how it goes!!

[@kchaddah2595]

Thank you for this wonderful demonstration. I have only just discovered this artistic magic from a member of the Grey Bruce photography group. I need to buy glycerine and then I’m going to try it. I only have my iPhone camera so I’ll do my best with that.

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Excellent! Good luck!

[@jizman82]

Thank you for posting this! We have some cold Idaho days coming and plan to give it a go! Merry Christmas

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Have fun!

[@Ristichr]

Thank you for sharing your method! It's cold enough here today in the Boston area so going to try it!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Good luck Ruth!

[@Ristichr]

Where do you buy glycerin? It's difficult to find around here. I used to buy it in pharmacies, but they no longer carry it. frown!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Ruth, you can also try corn syrup. Agree with glycerin, I found a quart on Amazon.

[@ReadyToGoHome777]

I tried it today too here in the Berkshire mountains, Western Mass but that was BEFORE I saw this video and just used my son's bubbles... It didn't work. Did this method word for you? Going to try it on Saturday when we're back down to single digits again.

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Amanda, I have not tried kids soap solutions for ice bubbles.

[@Pianomam]

What a perfect video, Mike! Thank you for posting it on my Facebook page, Freezing and Photographing Soap Bubbles!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Thanks Debbie!

[@yinngsunga4081]

There are four TBSP in one quarter cup. So 8 TBSP in one half cup, which is your base unit. So two TBSP in this recipe is 2/8 of a unit. Two eighths of a unit. Or 1/4. I mean for the glycerin, one quarter of the base unit. Worked great for me, thank you for all the tips. :)

[@jasondashney]

I'm amazed how fast yours freeze. Might have something to do with the lack of sugar in the mixture (about the same amount of sugar as glycerin). Sugar slows evaporation so indoors you can have much longer lasting bubbles. Not sure how that effects things outdoors but my bubbles take much longer to freeze so that might be the reason (and I'm doing them in even colder temps). I've never shot them in daylight before so I wanted to see how that works before freezing my fingers off ;-P

[@emeyedeejay]

Awesome video - love your style... excellent balance between "oh ... you know ... whatever works" and detail of e.g. camera settings, and importantly, explaining them. No there's just one problem ... how do I do this living in South Africa :)

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Thanks for the great comment! Enjoy your warm weather...!!

[@ethelramos8225]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@MikeShawPhotography]

My pleasure!

[@mary30585]

Thank you so much!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Glad it helped!

[@davidbeecher9143]

Mike, do you use a dew heater to prevent the front lense from frosting over?

[@MikeShawPhotography]

David, actually no, I’ve found that frost isn’t a problem. But that’s a great suggestion. I definitely tape.disposable hand warmers around my lens in winter for my night photography. I suppose for the ice bubbles, it’s SO cold I’m back inside before my camera cools down enough for frost to form!

[@davidbeecher9143]

@@MikeShawPhotography Mike, I live in Las Vegas but have experienced 2 Minneapolis winters. Coldest I’ve ever felt btw. Can you freeze soap bubbles using dry ice? Thinking a 4 sided metal box with the dry ice on the outside. Cover the open sides until chilled, add light and your mixture and shoot away. Any thoughts?

[@MikeShawPhotography]

@@davidbeecher9143 worth a try! Things that help are high humidity and a very still environment with little to no breeze. I have been asked this before but I’m not aware of anyone actually trying it, please keep me posted if you give it a shot and how it turns out!

[@Mrkozbo]

I tried using dry ice one and failed. I needed a better box and humidity. I now own a humidifier so I need to try again. Let me know if your attempt works.

[@javajack-1]

Hey, thanks so much for this video. You really explain this well. I’m in Canada and trying this today but I don’t get ice crystals. Do you have any idea why? What is the catalyst that starts the crystals. Really appreciate any tips you have.

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Jack, how cold is it?

[@javajack-1]

@@MikeShawPhotography -30 Celsius which I believe is -22 F

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Well that’s certainly cold enough! After you create the bubble, when it pops do you get little shards of ice? If so it has frozen. Sometimes the ice crystals are not very obvious

[@javajack-1]

@@MikeShawPhotography I’ll try again when the wind goes down. It didn’t pop. It just sort of implodes, like areas start to collapse. It’s very frozen but clear and no crystals. I thought maybe baking soda or sugar or something was added as a catalyst. Maybe it’s too cold here right now, but thanks for helping. Quality of the water?

[@javajack-1]

My friend just sent an article that says sugar helps make the crystals more visible so I’ll try that and if it works it could be a good addendum to your video. Very well done, by the way. I’m on the business of producing videos, not performing, but know when someone has done a good job. :)

[@j.e.711]

Can this also be done by pouring soap water over a crystal sphere or lens glass?

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Great idea! Let's try it out; I have used flat plate glass and that works well - just watch the sharp edges.

[@anonymous-ep2bz]

so is that 3 cups of water? 3/2 cups of water is to scientific for me!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

That would be one and a half cups of water!

[@Artchick1972]

but I live in South Florida :( :( Great video!

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Well, sending lots of Arctic cheer!! ❄️⛄️❄️

[@Artchick1972]

@@MikeShawPhotography haha! Thank you 😊

[@xiaoneewoo1780]

Wow

[@renatosilva6670]

Amanzing

[@MikeShawPhotography]

Agree!

[@franceslee766]

Bro what’s up with the shirt

[@Jstech139]

Tablespoons, not televisions!

[@Jstech139]

2 TVs glycerin equals 1/8 cup

[@ricksantiago6716]

OoooooooOOoooo