The World in a Bubble
In a time when a fresh perspective is most certainly needed, my ultimate goal is to travel worldwide and capture recognizable natural and man-made icons within the reflection of an unorthodox and playful perspective: a floating bubble.
The circle. The sphere. The bubble. These shapes are so ubiquitous in the world around us and deeply rooted in our very own imagination and psyche. Bubbles are fleeting, fantastic, and other-worldly yet familiar. We can look closely and find momentary reflections, small worlds within these floating orbs that too quickly pass away, never to be seen again. Unless you have a camera.
While I was enjoying a street fair in Galway, Ireland in the summer of 2006, bubbles from a nearby vendor floated past me. I saw a reflection in the spheres and quickly took a few shots and moved onto other subjects. When I returned from my trip and reviewed these shots closely I found a whole world in perfect focus. Since that moment I now carry bubble solution with me when I travel.
I have been seen blowing bubbles by Neptune's fountain in the old town Gdansk, Poland; among the tall walls of Geiranger Fjord, Norway; in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; behind the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and a number of other locations across western and eastern Europe. People watch and stare as I follow these floating bubbles around with my camera pressed to my eye. Crowds form, and my bubble blowing partners (friends or willing strangers) do their part to help make sure I don't wander into traffic, for example, while in Times Square in New York City, or into the random passersby.
It's photography. It's is great social experiment. It's a show.
It takes time, patience, teamwork, and a light-hearted approach. The very act of capturing these reflections is a meditation on virtue.
I see icons such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pyramids and Sphinx, statues on Easter Island, and the Sydney Opera House within my bubbles.
In a time when a fresh perspective is most certainly needed, my ultimate goal is to travel worldwide and capture recognizable natural and man-made landmarks within this unorthodox and playful perspective.
248 Comments
AWESOME idea!!! I am already imagining some of the places back home photographed this way... If you check out Jeremy's pictures from last Summer's trip to PR you'll see what I mean; specially the pictures in Old San Juan
some of the best stuff i've ever seen... great work!
An absolutely awesome idea. Your photography is stunning!
Great idea!!!
Very creative and highly technical approach -- from getting the best lighting, to capturing color, to mastering wind conditions!
This is most definitely a fantastic idea! Your photography is stunning to say the least.
I don't see a link to the amazing bubble photos you've already taken: tomstorm.net
You know what they say, a picture is worth 1000 votes! :)
Nobody does this as well as Mr. Tom Storm. Good luck!
you inspire me... good luck senor storm!
you know how much i looove your bubbles!
i really wish for you to get this, you deserve it and so do all the bubbles in the world that have yet to be photographed:-)
let's go bubbles and let tom win!!!!
you have a personality that shows through your photos. good luck.
hi, great work. interesting thoughts. hi from Germany! :-) nathi*
Good Luck tom!
I love the bubble pics... and especially picking out the few you took in JT!! The one almost looks like broadway is on water! could you imagine?
(and the pic of mr. gunser is awesome!!!!)
-amber
Congratulations on successfully realizing a playful and innovative idea. Good luck, Tom!
These bubble pictures are symbolize our current economic climate and represent the fragility of the global economic environment. This project can grow to also encompass reflections of the world's major financial centers to really drive this home: Davos, London, Tokyo, Shanghai etc.
these pictures are the best i have ever seen i think you deserve it tommy
:-) love it!
Tom, Great work. Love it....good luck....cj
Tom ur the man and you know. you art is amazing and i envy that motivation you have to pursue the art you do.
Bubbles, Bubbles, Who has the Bubbles? Why Tom of course. I hope all goes well for you and if you need someone to help you with bubbles add me to the list. Love Marty
hey good luck little brother!
I love bubbles. I used to pass the time in amusement park lines blowing bubbles. It makes you a little lightheaded after a while.. But I totally love the photo idea. Good luck. --Robyn
Amazing, photos are amazing keep up the good work!
it's probably the first time I see such terrific sceneries in the bubble. Very very inspired work! Good luck!! =)
hello. good luck!
ahhh i love bubbles. you truley are an amazing, beautiful, and awe inspiring man tom storm!
bubbles! :)
your work absolutely stunning and motivating, and i've told you this before. i truly admire you for your ambitions to make this world look so much better through your art as well. love you much, and good luck! love!
This was amazing! You are such an artist. Your photographs are very clever and skillfully taken.
What a multi-talented artist-man you are! Your "world in bubbles pictures" reminds me of that saying that "Everything you need to know for life you learned in Kindergarden" I cannot quite explain why I connect the two but I do. Good luck on your adventures
THIS IS AMAZING, i love the photographs so much, please keep doing this!
your pics are AWESOME!! WOOOO
It's really awesome how you got the photos of houses so crisp, almost like a painting.
super awesome mannnn. good luck and keep going!
Good luck in your venture ^_~
woot woot. doing goood!!! keep it up Tom!! top 20 in no timeeee
<3
Awesome job, your almost there keep it up!
wooooo keep it up!!!
very unique i like it alot
wow...this is pretty fricken coool man, the bubbles are a great idea, you are really talented...good luck.
one word, amazing.
This is really, really amazing. I wish I had this much creativity.
Good luck!
i hope you win :)
your pics are amazing
great idea!!!
very interesting Tom and good luck
You're pictures are amazing! Can't wait to see more!
Great idea :)
The pictures are really nice!
i really like it! its coool
good luck.
keep it up!! looking goooddd
Hey! This is so cool! I really hope that you win!
Great idea and your photos are beautiful! Best of luck!
hey amazing pix! u deserve 2 win, good luck!!
your doing a great job! we all need to get the word out. Can't wait to see a "world" full of bubbles.
woooohooo. keep the comments comming!!!
getting there tom!! and you totally deserve it, your pictures are fantasticc! <3
Keep it up! Awesome job i wanna see some more pictures after this is over!
there were 59 comments...i just had to make it 60 haha, besidesss the more the merrier haha.
beautiful pictures. :D
Extreme amazing!!!
Successfully realize to capture the spherical environment mapping on a bubble.
(Spherical environment mapping is one of the technology used in virtual 3D real time rendering e.g game/simulation)
Best of luck Tom!
:) Tom Storm can capture my bubbles anytime!!
amazing idea...i'm impressed :0
Let the dream come true, good luck Tom!
>> dear Frank, thanks for sharing Tom's idea with me!
Good luck !! keep shooting !!!
Now thats what I call thinking "outside the box" or should I say "in the bubble".
This idea is truly creative and imaginative and I hope you go far with it and I'd like to see you win. Keep shooting the ideas are endless with this theme. It certainly created a spark within me.
Dave and Seth think the bubble idea is really cool and nicely done professional work. Visited Tom's site and other work is very nicely done as well.
Tom my favorite one is the blue one. Your bubbles are heartlifting..goodluck to bringing more of them to this world.
Bubble-licious idea!
yaaaaaaay tom!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's really neat to see that a small-town boy has such a broad view of this big, big world -- all packaged in a simple little bubble. Keep up the amazing work!
wooooo getting close to top 10!! lets do ittttt :D
Great stuff, best of luck!
(Michelle from Neuschwanstein)
:-)You got my vote. Blessings.
I love the idea, Tom. Beautiful and unique way of capturing scenery. I wish you the best! :)
I like your idea!
Will you vote for me? Let's do this and see how it turns out. Let's help each other!
Good luck!
Hi Tom ~ thanks for including me! What fun! I loved seeing all your photos...and kept asking "how did he do that!"....I am delighted to assist you in achieving a dream you have as you have assist us. I have sent your email out to my database...I am sourcing that you WIN! Kay
Awesome work Tom!! Bubbles!!
cool. gd luck.
The use of the bubble adds creativity. Quite ingenious. Great job!
I luv the bubbles. You go Tom.
Almost to 200 keep going!
here your vote bud...kmetz
woot woot closing in on 200! way to goooo!
if we all get atleast one person to vote, and then they get one person and so on...Tom could win!!! do itttt :D
A Digital Design student at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and Graphic Artist by profession. Also a lover of all things beautiful. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work and following you on your journey. Be safe and best of travels in this remarkable adventure. Lori
I'm mother of Frank You. I heard of your project from Frank and I very support you. So, I vote for you and I hope you win!
Good luck Tom!
Love the idea...goodluck! hopefully you'll win! ;) ~Vanessa
good luck
your stuff is amazing!! so great!! wish i could do that!! good luck <33
Several of my friends have already voted, woooo hooooo!!!! It's looking good baby!!!
good luck
tom i don't know how to vote! i clicked "pic it" is that all?
haha never mind!
haha
yayyy!!
keep it goinng!
well done everyone
:D
All your bubbles are belong to Tom.
Thanks for all your support guys! moving on to 300 and the top 10. "ALL YOUR VOTES ARE BELONG TO US!"
go, Tom. Go!!! Almost there!!!!
This is great. I love it like I love chocolate bubbles. You go Tommy.
halfway to 300 lets get it!!!!!
good luck tom
To a Truly Prolific Man,
The bubble, in all its simplicity, mirroring the shape and faces of our planet, wholly encapsulating the beauty, your beautiful view. Brilliant!
*Love, Ruthe
Tom, you truely are "The Man" I hope you get the votes needed for this great idea
Hey bro, those pics are amazing! I have you to thank on teaching me how to use my camera. See you soon. I'm spreading the word for you!
Hope you have a master bubble blower! Quite a difficult job you have capturing those floaters! Good Luck! Beautiful framework.
Yo Tom these pics are crazy. all the best from Dirt.
There are a lot of really good ideas for extremely good causes, however this is a PHOTOGRAPHY contest and I think your idea is the one that most closely showcases that. Take a picture of the reflection of something amazing in a bubble? WOW, just wow
This is wonderful and original. Good luck! Please check out my idea and toss me a vote :)
go get 'em Tom!!!! :D
come on peopleee keep it goinnggg!!!!! we're getting there!!!
Unite against the “network” that is scheming votes. Support ideas that are “lost” due to unworthy ideas using low tactics. “Insulin” is not the best idea. Something is wrong here and many fantastic ideas are getting lost due to the “network.” If you like my idea on “Vanishing Cultures,” vote for it.
tom has taken so many fantastic photo, his portfolio it is worth the time to check it out
I loved viewing your photographs and listening to your songs last night at Dorrie's cafe in JT. Good luck - I hope you win and can create bubble reflections from the four corners of the world!
I agree with amazonian, "Insulin" is NOT the best idea but is number 1... WTH? Juvenile diabetes is a worthy cause, don't get me wrong, but this is a PHOTOGRAPHY contest, people!!
Mr. Storm, hopefully I can find some more friends to push you over the top. Best of luck everyone in JT is pulling for you.
thanks kevin! keep spreading the word!
keep them comming!!!!
many comments hints you're a good photographer! where can i see your work?
I submitted my dream this morning, please have look! (documenting a very remote temple in Tibet)
good luck!
thanks wiseponey. I think someone put a link to my work in one of my comments so you may find it there.
just a heartfelt note of thanks for your imagination - God does give gifts and you certainly have one - may you continue to be richly blessed and may what you see be shared with many people of the same heart.
Hey. I voted from you. I heard about your idea from Perdie's blog and looked up your website. You are amazing, have you ever thought of photographing weddings like that? Anyways, if you have time, take a look at my project idea about marriage + hope to see you in the top 20!
Just read about your idea on sholsinger.com and I found it very creative. Good luck!
Thanks for voting. Good luck to you too. It would be cool to do bubbles at wedding but haven't worked out a reliable way to do it. Another thing on the list! Onward and upward! (to the top 10)
Thanks for voting as well Dima. please spread the word and keep tabs with our progress.
great work
Hope that 'bubble' will take you to new and fantastic places! Great project and good luck!
Natalya
Great idea!
:-) Love it! Good luck!
Excellent and visionary BUBBLES!! :)
good work!
Thanks Tom, for the support it was a lot of hard work for my wife "SRP" Deep in the jungle to climb the ladder but we are so thankful that people believe in our idea and I'm sure you feel the same about yours. Congrats on the top 20
Here is another vote for you
Good luck and have a great day.
Great Photos Tom. Please just none of you in that skirt. LOL
awesome take ?
keep voting!! tell your friends!!! <3 Tom totally deservess itttt
great idea best of luck with it
Good work Tom. I'll pass the word on about your art dude.
Good Luck!
SO close to 400!! great job everyone keep it goiiinngg!!!!
Fantastic! I'm sure such an innovative and unique project will capture the attention of the world. Sra Hauck
gracias Seniorita Hauck.
Good Luck! What a creative idea and photographs are great!
Good Luck! Loved the photos. How about "Garden of the Gods" In Colorado.....
Good luck!
woooo top ten in no time!!!!
Keep it up!
Your ideas come from the center of your soul, they are as special and creative as you are. Good Luck!
Very interesting idea and a great adea at that. GOOD LUCK
Great to meet you in the coffee shop today. Your photographs are fun and fantastic. Good luck!!
Cool pix! :o)
What a fresh approach to seeing the world. I hope you win and I can't wait to see the book of finished photos. Good luck!
Good stuff, man. I really appreciate the pioneering your work is doing.
Wow this is a really cool idea, I'd love to see the photos you have so far!
the work is a stunning statement within the context of the current global economy. I wish this project the very best of luck!
Global, Spherical, Wonderful! Good Luck Mr. Tom Storm!
I hope you have the opportunity to complete this wonderful bubble series by winning your dream assignment. It is a wonderful project.
This is an imaginative project that obviously requires great skill. Taking reflections of the world in a bubble is oh sooo timely!
This sounds like a really whimsical idea. Good luck. Of all the ones in the top 10, this one is the best. The others are a bit sketchy if you know what I mean
I can see this turning into a book...
Hi !you mentioned Neptune's Fountain - that's very cool you've been there. Check out my photo of it here. I am excited to hear someone else has been there on here. I come from Poland so when I went there to visit, took some shots.
http://www.behance.net/Gallery/Poland-Polska/99433
Czesc! Bardzo dobrze zdj?cie. It brings back alot of memories. Nice composition. I enjoyed your other portfolios as well. Your landscapes have great color. Poland keeps a special place in my heart. I really appreciate your vote. Dzi?kuj? Bardzo
yay! it's really good to see you in the top 10, where you belong :)
ps: will you come photograph our wedding? it would be amazing as a bubble wedding?!
You have my vote, If you get the chance, check out my dream "From Australia With Love" and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for it!
Thanks.
-Adam
Hi Tom,
Hope that you win and get to live out your dream. You have come up with a totally new vehicle for art.
FrannyK, congrats. where would this wedding be? perhaps I can fit it into one of the wonders of the world and do it on the trip! Thanks for the support.
Outstanding , Bubble away and Win your Dream.
Fiddler.
I love the impermanence of bubbles too, have been fascinated with them since childhood. Good luck, I like the fanciful and playful take on photography!
Brandom13: This a PHOTOGRAPHY contest.
Other ideas are WORTHY causes; nothing wrong with that, I have voted for them too. But the contest is looking for 'inspiring and creative' PHOTOGRAPHY ideas, which this one is.
If you think this is selfish then don't vote for it and move on, there are a lot of other unselfish ideas for you to support.
No need for your comment, if you ask me.
What an amazing idea, Tom. You're so talented!
lets go tom!! hang in thereeee :D
Keep it up!!
well done. noice pics. good luck mate
Great idea Tom, I enjoyed the pictures very much, Amanda was very excited to show me them. Good Luck!
amazing man, manda was sooo right.
good luck! there are other great ideas on here...but this is a photography contest. go get em.
Voted. Check mine out. http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/relentlsspursuit/capturing-asias-captured/
absolutely phenomenal!!!
Best of luck!
good luck, buddy
[always enjoyed your work, Storm, but the bubbles strike a cord with me. there's a network of travelers whom carry bubbles and i believe you've tapped that special vein.]
[may the magic of the perfection in the reflection of the sphere follow you far and be with you near.]
=]
original you got my vote..mine idea is lost in as i dont do facebook,twitter,mysepace etc...but please check it out and vote!
I saw your spread in the Times News.....amazing photos and awesome idea! Your idea sounds like so much fun!! Good luck and stay safe!
a monk i know has a great personal bubble story..if you win let me know
will do tigerlily, sounds interesting.
VERY INNOVATIVE. BEAUTIFUL IMAGES. ENJOYED IT.
DIANA
Go Tom Go!
Good Luck Tom!
From Shelli at Horizons:)
amazing how this has grown! keep it up everyone!!
good luck tom
<3
do it.
congrats on getting this far. i can totally see you winning. good luck man.
still pulling for you.
well done.
congrats mate. hope you win it.
I think your pics are so beautiful Tom! You got my vote!
what fun! child-like, in the best sense of that word.
Good Luck Tom!Your idea of pictures in bubbles is fantastic! The circular form is primordial throughout the entire universe, from the tiny sphere of a human egg, to the circular form of our great planet Earth,to the magnificent image of our life giving Sun as it beams briliantly within the heavens.
GOOD LUCK TOM!!
Fun idea! I'll have to try it! Good luck!
Your photos are amazing. I linked to you from a friend of yours on Ravelry--Milly. I signed up just to vote for you. Good Luck.
I really hope they pick you. Your dream assignment is truly a photographer's dream. You are not trying to push an agenda or a cause...you are taking beautiful photos of breathtaking places.
I totally agree with you, mushroommommy!!
Good Luck Tommy!
So freakin fetch, lol. jk. these pics are so awesome. keep it going.
Go Tom!
WOOOO 7th!!!!!
SHOW ME THE LOW NUMBERS!
(high numbers for the votes tho :D )
<3 keep it goinnggg
tomS from tomL
I wouldna thunk it...
but looking at it now, knowing what I know and seeing what I've seen... it makes sense.
I hope to see a whole exhibit someday... just bubbles from everywhere you've been
You got my vote! Make sure you check our blog out http://www.findagravemarker.blogspot.com/ and see our project evolve. We want to record every marker in pictures throughtout the US. Cemeteries are lost or abandond on a daily basis
Fun Idea, got my vote
Please check out my idea as well. a tribute to Vonnegut.
http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/gbaked/bringing-the-monkey-house-to-life/
pictures look great! good luck.
Love the idea and I wish you the best of luck!!!
Hey it's Mom,
I'm so excited for you and I know the pics are awesome. I'll pray that though there are other great contestants yours will stand out and win the contest. Judges, let us enjoy and experience the world of bubbles through Tom Storm eyes. “Many people look, but few that see.”
AWSOME BUBBLEICIOUSNESS
how do i see the pictures?
robby- http://tomstorm.net/portfolio/ go there and click on the world in a bubble :]]
Good luck --- really enjoyed your whole portfolio! from a jim thorpe neighbor
Yo dude its chris from guitar center, i'm likin the pic's dude and i'm trying to motavate these lazy bums here to give you some support. good luck dude...
IT'S ROCK'N DUDE
COME ON EVERYONE WE CAN DO THIS
if everyone gets atleast one person to vote n then they get one...and so on, we can get Tom back in the top 20
LETS DO IT!!!!!
Ahh what happened?? need to get more votess
amazing photos!
Best of luck!
Bubbles are the meaning of life - water bubbles, emotions bubble, bubbles pop and bubbles expand. Your work is incredible, I wish you all the best!
The world is your oyster young man. You have talent.
Voted! Good Luck!
keep goinnnggg!!!
keep it up. good luck.
do it.
good luck.
You're almost there...
coommmeee onn!!! we can do this!!!
Good Luck!
A perfect spherical metaphor for life and world events. Bubbles are contagious - in positive and negative ways. It is a remarkable project and I hope that you achieve your wonderful and worthwhile dream.
What an inspired project - to travel our spherical globe and capture spherical images from hither and yonder! We wish you the best of luck with this promising photography project.
You have such a creative mind. What a fascinating project and truly a dream assignment - this can do and say so many things from a global perspective. It is certainly the quintessential metaphor for the existence of man in this fragile global climate.
this was pretty cool
what a great idea. you have one creative mind! good luck (:
I voted. I'm helping!
keep the votes comming! gotta keep him in the top 20 until tonighttt!! we can do this!! <3
Hey Tom, Great Photos as always, see you at the next pancake breakfast.
Christina
great work tom. fantastic idea. im proud to say ive been a part of it!
I hope you win! Keep the votes coming!
amazing work! Love it! Good Luck!
1000! Awesome work!
over 1000!!! congrats!! WOW you have come SO far Tom, no matter what, i am proud of you and still believe in your work, you are amazing and so are your photos!!!
much love,
amanda <3
Congrats man only 30 mins left!!
keep the votes comminggg
i love this idea, have from the start! my idea is toast, as i only have 401 votes and it's zero hour, so i now i can vote for the projects ahead of me that i like! so go for it! very original!
COME ONNNN
GO GO GO!
AMAZINGG keep it up love the idea!!
amazing idea, i lovee the pics you have so far. cannot wait for more!
<3