The structure and evolution of the laser-induced vapor plume and shockwave were measured from femtosecond time resolved shadowgraph images. By changing the wavelength of the probe beam (400 and 800 nm), differences in the opacity of the vapor plume were measured as a function of delay time from the ablation laser pulse. The evolution of the temperature and electron number density during and after the ablation laser pulse were determined and compared for ablation in argon and helium background gases. A laser supported detonation wave (LSD) observed for ablation in argon, blocks the incoming laser energy and generates a high-pressure region above the vapor plume. Published by Elsevier B.V.