Forms and textures of a browning leaf and yellowing algae along Old Lampasas Trail on March 3

with 33 comments

For details of some bubbles in this brew,
Just click below to get a closer view.

Written by Steve Schwartzman

March 19, 2016 at 5:01 AM

Posted in nature photography

Tagged with algae, Austin, bubbles, leaves, nature, patterns, Texas, water

33 Responses

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My daughter, when she was young, would have said, “There’s Biology in there.” Indeed. Whatever was living in that mix was surely thriving … just look at all that oxygen! Where would we be without photosynthesis?

Pairodox Farm

March 19, 2016 at 5:37 AM

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- And where would I be without photographesis?
  
  Speaking of biology: have people tested the bubbles in a situation like this and determined they contain oxygen? You spoke of “that mix,” so are other gases produced as well?
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 19, 2016 at 6:57 AM
  
  Reply
  - The mix I referred to was one of plants, algae, bacteria, cyanobacteria, diatoms, and who-knows-what-else. The oxygen produced by photosynthesis (and the gas in the bubbles) is pure oxygen (20.95% in ‘air’). As far as the balance of the air we breathe … respiration produces carbon dioxide (0.033% in ‘air’) and nitrogen fixation produces nitrogen (78.08% in ‘air’). I have no idea where the argon comes from (0.93% in ‘air’)!
    
    Pairodox Farm
    
    March 19, 2016 at 7:08 PM
    
    Reply
    - I’m familiar with the general distribution of gases in the atmosphere, but what I meant to ask was whether processes are going on in or around the algae that add gases other than oxygen to these bubbles.
      
      Steve Schwartzman
      
      March 19, 2016 at 7:31 PM
      
      Reply
      - I don’t believe so.
        
        Pairodox Farm
        
        March 20, 2016 at 5:09 AM
        
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        Then that raises the question of whether a mat of bubbles like this is combustible. No one is likely to put a lighted match to one, but I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if someone did.
        
        Steve Schwartzman
        
        March 20, 2016 at 7:49 AM
        
        Reply
        
        That’s an empirical question. I would guess that the experiment would be tough to do in such a highly aqueous environment.
        
        Pairodox Farm
        
        March 20, 2016 at 9:18 AM
        
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        I’ve wondered if we’d get a brief blaze atop a creek, a small version of the way polluted rivers (notoriously the Cuyahoga in Ohio) sometimes used to catch on fire.
        
        Steve Schwartzman
        
        March 20, 2016 at 9:31 AM
This is one that became even more interesting when enlarged. The bubbles are cool, but I really like the strands that are woven through them. Or, perhaps the bubbles have (appropriately enough) bubbled up through the strands. In either case, it’s a great image, and the addition of the lightly-laying leaf is perfect.

shoreacres

March 19, 2016 at 7:48 AM

Reply
- The strands that run through and on algae bubbles have always appealed to me too. No doubt scientists have studied the formation of bubbles of this sort, but I have no idea how they form, how long the process takes, and what conditions are required.
  
  As for the leaf, I assume it fell from one of the nearby live oaks. It was important for the little area of contrasting color it provided.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 19, 2016 at 8:01 AM
  
  Reply
This one is edging around my previous favorite from your algae images. Quite an interesting mix of textures and very appealing with the leaf for a textural contrast.

Steve Gingold

March 19, 2016 at 10:12 AM

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- It’s good to hear that this image is raising the bar. As you see from the enlargement of a little piece, there’s lots of detail here, considerably more than in your other favorite from a decade ago, thanks to advances in sensor technology.
  
  The leaf was a bit of good luck, offering extra color and different texture.
  
  Speaking more generally and thinking of some of your recent images: what I lack in ice I try to make up for in algae, and I don’t have to freeze my extremities off in the process.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 19, 2016 at 10:31 AM
  
  Reply
  - Lucky you. Tomorrow morning my extremities will freeze and then tomorrow night we are due for some early spring snow. Out like a lion, it seems.
    
    Steve Gingold
    
    March 19, 2016 at 6:08 PM
    
    Reply
    - We have confidence in you as a lion tamer.
      
      Steve Schwartzman
      
      March 19, 2016 at 7:25 PM
      
      Reply
Fantastic! Love the close-up of the brew.

Lemony (Gr)Egghead

March 19, 2016 at 11:40 AM

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- You’ve made me wonder what this would like through a microscope.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 19, 2016 at 12:21 PM
  
  Reply
This is amazing. And of course, a great photo as well!

Nandini

March 19, 2016 at 10:06 PM

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- Thanks, Nandini. I keep being fascinated by algae bubbles.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 19, 2016 at 10:19 PM
  
  Reply
The science of this picture is interesting and the close-up, extremely beautiful. I could look at those bubbles and filaments for way too long, Steve. 🙂

Jane

March 20, 2016 at 5:17 AM

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- Sounds like there’s a smartphone app in there somewhere, Jane. I can see the newspaper headline now: “Pedestrian creates own bubbles falling into fountain while absorbed in algae bubbles phone app.”
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 20, 2016 at 7:54 AM
  
  Reply
  - 🙂
    
    Jane
    
    March 20, 2016 at 8:12 AM
    
    Reply
    - Maybe by rights I should expect one happy face per bubble.
      
      Steve Schwartzman
      
      March 20, 2016 at 8:35 AM
      
      Reply
      - Sounds fair to me, Steve. 🙂
        
        Jane
        
        March 20, 2016 at 9:05 AM
        
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Beautiful composition, Steve!

Lavinia Ross

March 20, 2016 at 10:27 AM

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- Thanks, Lavinia. The bubbles extended broadly enough that I could maneuver the camera to keep the fallen leaf off to one side.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 20, 2016 at 10:31 AM
  
  Reply
Must be in honor of the sparkling water and slightly effervescent [Texas] Muscat Canelli we shared last night at dinnertime….

kathryningrid

March 21, 2016 at 11:56 AM

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- And yet you wouldn’t want to drink any of this brew, with its quite different effervescence.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 21, 2016 at 9:57 PM
  
  Reply
  - It does make me think…wonder…would algae have any of the health benefits of seaweed? Hmmm…
    
    kathryningrid
    
    March 21, 2016 at 11:33 PM
    
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    - Good question. There are many kinds of algae, and even if some of them are nutritious, I have no idea how palatable they are. The water in this pictures was becoming stagnant, so I don’t think we’d want to ingest anything that came from it.
      
      Steve Schwartzman
      
      March 22, 2016 at 12:01 AM
      
      Reply
These photos are unique and beautiful!
It is a fascinating glimpse into a beautiful and special world you are giving us.
Thank you!!!

Truels

March 23, 2016 at 6:37 PM

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- You’re welcome. I’ve been doing lots of abstractions this year, especially with algae but also with lichens and rocks.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  March 23, 2016 at 10:56 PM
  
  Reply
SUPER!

absengeralois

April 4, 2016 at 10:34 AM

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- Thanks. There’s a beauty in complexity.
  
  Steve Schwartzman
  
  April 4, 2016 at 10:59 AM
  
  Reply