Some look like feathers suspended in time, others like geometric patterns or tiny CDs floating in space.
These beautiful frozen bubbles are tricky to photograph, taking from 20-30 shots each time to get it right in freezing temperatures from -20 degree Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) and below.
But even the slightest wind or change in conditions affect them.
Mawson Station chef and photographer Justin Chambers knew he was up for a challenge when he saw videos of people blowing soap bubbles in cold climates and decided to make it a visual project.
“I experimented with locations out in the open, but the slightest breeze would collapse or pop the bubble before it had frozen,” Mr. Chambers said in a statement.
“Then I tried using snow and ice walls and setting up tables at the same height as my tripod.
“After a lot of trial and error I eventually got the knack of placing equipment in the right spot, quickly, allowing me to get the shot before everything, including myself, got too cold.”
The photos are the culmination of just the right amount of light, temperature, and bubble mixture.
“At various times, I had cold hands, a broken lens, and problems with the light and getting the focus right,” Mr. Chambers said.
“It would often take 20 or 30 shots before I got close to what I was looking for.”
Speed was essential, with the ice crystals usually forming within two to five seconds of the bubble being blown.
To capture their development, Mr. Chambers used a macro lens with a wide aperture and fast shutter speed, in what he described as an “exhilarating, stressful, and rewarding” process.
The photographer experimented with day and night shots, which each had their challenges.
“With the night shots I experimented with various torches, with different lumens, set at different distances from the bubble,” he said.
“With the day shots, the sun was often obscured by cloud, it wasn’t in the right part of the sky for me to use it as a backdrop, or it wasn’t the right brightness for me to get the shot I wanted.”
Mr. Chambers’ beautiful photos belie the challenges.
“My favourite shots include a setting or rising sun,” he said.
“The colours combined with the crystal structures on the soap bubble mesmerise me every time.”
