I really don't know what I'm doing...

Test of AnyPost

Grad Show Setup

Assess Wk2 - Assessment Setup

Assess Wk1 - Another 13.5 hours on the Plinths...

I went to Bunnings and got some more braces for the front of the plinths, also some strips to cover the exposed particle board and the screw holes on the top.

After 13.5 hours... a total of 28.5 hours here are my plinths:

Completed plinths in approx. arrangement for assessment.

Assess Wk1 - 15 hours = blisters, swelling, bruising.

Basic plinth structure.

I've successfully built my plinths.  I think they still need one more brace on the front so I'll go to Bunnings again this morning to get those extra bits.

Bruised, swollen and callused.

I was working on them from 1:30pm - 4:30am.  My right hand is very swolen, I have a couple blisters on that hand and it's really bruised.  I likely need medical attention for it.

Worst part of the process, other than the hand... realising after puting together frame 5 that the last four had been constructed with the left and right side panels on the wrong side... thus requiring deconstruction... Melamine particle board chips very easily when being unscrewed.  They don't look near as neat as they did.  :(  Oh well.

Assess Wk1 - Plinth = Milk crate of the art world

Now that my assessment for Video is done and the majority of non-major tasks are behind me, I decided today to chase up plinths again...

Today I went from Build My Own to covered Milk Crates to Build My Own... this is what I've decided to do.

On the milk crate idea... I had considered these previously but I was concerned about stability.  I went to Music School Cafe who said I could borrow the 23 crates I'd need from their stash... Unfortunately, they'd been recently collected and had none... I called Capital Chilled Foods who collect them and they stated categorically that they do not lend them out... that I should try Scholle, the company they purchase them from... I checked their website... it became too hard so I went to Bunnings instead.



So, design-wise...

Plinth design sketches/calculations

1)
Four sides plus a top at about 1200 high, 30-40cm wide...  I found the following at Bunnings:

Dressed Pine: 1200 x 290 x 19 = $13.18
((6 x 4) + 2) x $13.18 = $342.68

Melamine White: 1200 x 295 x 16 = $7.30
((6 x 4) + 2) x $7.30 = $189.90

2)
New Design... 3 sides, one top...
Melamine White: 1200 x 295 x 16 = $7.30

((6 x 3) + 2) x $7.30 = $160.60

Worried about stability, being weighted wrong...

3)

Only two sides but a top and bottom with brackets for bracing...

((6 x 2) + 4) x $7.30 = $116.80

Decided design

Now, that's only for the panels, not screws and brackets... But it's looking much more affordable.

Just want to run the design past a few others before I start construction... hopefully tomorrow.

Assess Wk1 - New picture of both my Mandelboxes

Left: White, Strong and Flexible. Right: Sandstone.

Assess Wk1 - 'Silhouette' on YouTube

So, I've finally got an edit I'm reasonably happy with...  I think this is it...

Break Wk3 - 5 Year Career Plan

That was an interesting experience.  I've written my 5 year plan.  It clarified that I still really don't know what I want.  I'm sure that will eventually crystalise.

Break Wk3 - I'm going mental! The Birds! The Birds!

Just a quick note to highlight that my schedule at the moment is mental and as a result, I'm going mental.  I'm finally back to the bird transition.  It's nice working in Nuke.  But with 32 frames, all offset and mirrored to produced different shapes and with 52 feathers... this final sequence it doing my head in.  Argh!

Break Wk3 - 6 minute length

A quick note that I asked Alistair and Lucien today about the 6 minute length... I was concerned that it was to long for ARC.

They both advised that it wasn't too long and they agreed that the 2min 30second lead-up/tension was good.

Break Wk3 - Met Alistair re new version of Sound.

The new version of my sound is ready for Alistair's opinion.

I've normalised the base sounds, re-recorded the spacial movement and in the end had to replace what I call the 'clash' sounds... I ended up using my voice. :)  I'm pretty happy with the result, though I do feel that it's still missing something.

...

Thus, I met with Alistair today.  He said he liked it but if I had more time, he had a few changes worth looking into:

1. a) high harmonics, b) Evolve  , c) should be consistent throughout, not off and on.

2. Active sound - change over time, show progression.

3. Add some panning, nothing too drastic

4. 3D Sound

I can't do anything about these suggestions yet...  Will definitely do it later though.

Break Wk3 - Catalog DVD Render uploaded to Vimeo

In preparation for the Catalog DVD, I've finished my latest render and uploaded it to Vimeo.

Break Wk3 - Recolour/Reformat/Tweak Multi-screen Render

Worked out the kinks with my single-screen render and adjusted the colouring to make the distance parts pop a bit better.  I attached the sound and now it's ready for uploading and getting the opinion from others.

Break Wk3 - Grad Show AV Requirements

Chris has asked for our requirements from an AV requirement perspective.  My e-mail:

I'd require the 5 iMacs on plinths (still organising plinths... I hope), with associated power... minimum 1 keyboard and mouse for setup...  iMacs will communicate with each other via a wireless connection with each other.  An additional plinth will sit nearby to display my two objects.  I'd prefer to have sound coming from the installation but if headphones are needed then that's fine... Otherwise, I'd like to connect my 2.1 speaker setup, thus meaning 6 power points.

From a location perspective, if it out in the open, I'd like it to be in a corner, not facing a light source (ie, window) so that I avoid glare.

If you require more info or to discuss further, please advise.

The response:

We are going to to have to be creative, as I don't think we have 5 iMacs. I understand we have 13 for the entire show! Can you outline a possible alternative?

We will get your work installed and looking impressive, somehow.

The logistics of moving from 5 to 3 seems impossible in my head.  Apparently I need a backup though... I don't know.

Chris said to have a look at the spot he thinks will work for me... I've taken a photo of it:

Wk13 - Online Profiles/Identities

I've tidied up and updated my various online profiles... Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Google, etc. Not finished yet but getting there.

Wk13 - Artist Statement

I submitted my 3 copies of my Artist Statement today.

My Artist Statement:

‘Tglad’s Formula” – Terence Craig

Tglad is the father of the ‘Mandelbox’, an exciting 3D formula-based object which eluded mathematicians and computer scientists for 30 years.

I create video that explores scale and texture.  I have been inspired by the Mandelbox.  This is also my first experience-based video installation and the first work I’ve produced which crosses from the computer into the physical world, in the form of an accompanying sculpture.

The Mandelbox is based on a 3D fractal formula.  In simple terms, a fractal is a recursive (self referencing) mathematical equation that produces shapes, built by parts that are similar with itself at an infinite scale.  Tom Lowe (Tglad) discovered this particular fractal formula in 2010.  The name Mandelbox is derived from the name of the man who developed the 2D formulas in 1979, Benoît Mandelbrot.

By changing the numbers that the formula needs, you can produce your own forms.  The aim for my work entitled, ‘Tglad’s Formula”, was to investigate this area of fractal geometry and find a form that is both visually interesting to experience as a fly-thru and is also capable of being realised in physical form using 3D printing.  Unfortunately, these two concepts are mutually exclusive.  The more interesting Mandelbox forms are far from solid, yet to produce something physical using 3D printing techniques, it needs to be in one piece.

Due to its complex nature, theoretically, the Mandelbox cannot be realised in physical form.  Balancing and compromising on form and fly-through requirements has been difficult but rewarding.  The five screens produce an immersive experience and the physical objects reinforce the scale, complexity and beauty of such fractal-based forms.

---

Wk13 - Test 5 screen setup

JP helped me organise 5 screens to confirm whether a 5-screen installation will work.  Ty helped me with setup.

I set up a shared wireless network and had all 5 running from the same machine's network.  Worked a treat.  No lag on playback.

Very happy.

Wk13 - Met with Alistair re: Audio/LFO's

I've been working on sound for the Mandelbox for the last couple days.  The base sounds are only LFO's... It seems though that it is always too quiet despite what I do... I'm not sure what was going on.

I met with Alistair and he thinks that either the speaker thingy isn't centred or more likely that the base sounds needed to be normalised... something I forgot to do.

Wk13 - Working on the multi-screen render

I came up with a better version of the calculations for the single screen render.  Been working on it for a couple days now.

Calculations for single screen version.

Because the fractal appears differently depending on the angle you view it, stitching the five angles together is proving difficult.  I've done relatively well with it though.

Node Graph for my single-screen render.

The merge continually changes but because it is projected onto the back of a sphere, the resize isn't noticeable.

The stitched together version of the 5 screens.

Stitched screens projected onto a sphere.

Wk13 - Honours Proposal Prepared & Submitted

Finished the honours proposal and showed it to Martyn.  He happily signed it.  :)

Wk13 - Decision time - Flower + Bird = Flird.

Looking back, I've enjoyed playing and experimenting with various cameras and perspectives but there comes a time when you much decide what you're going to submit... thus after the whole fishbowl incident, I've decided to go with the footage I already have of the flower since it's interesting and with limited success, I'm going to attach the birds to it... Cross fingers.

Wk12 - GoPro saved by Shoelace!!!

So, I have a bit of a story to tell today - I attached the GoPro to the side of my car today... just thought I'd check out the perspective... anyway... teach me to clean the surface first... I was about 3 minutes into my drive, doing 80km/h and the GoPro suction cup gives way... luckily I've been using a shoelace as a safety-rope... it luckily held and the camera didn't go flying but two lessons: 1) be paranoid 2) clean a surface before using a suction cap on it.  Hmmm.

Wk12 - Broke Toad Hall Fish Bowl. Brilliant. :(

In an effort to use a larger bowl with the flower as Riley suggested, I borrowed the Toad Hall one... yeah, broke it before I could use it.  Brilliant.  Not.

Wk12 - Proof Catalogue & Plinth -> a big No!

I went to the gallery today to proof my catalogue picture.  It looked good but I changed the label a bit.

While I was there, I asked about plinths, and why no one had replied to my e-mail request (which I sent on 20th)... Apparently, they've been sick and even so, they'd wouldn't be keen to lend plinths and without even looking, decided that they were all different heights and would likely be useless.  Annoying.

I think it's a bit odd that plinth availability at an art school is limited and that gallery staff are unwilling to reply to e-mail or help in any way...  Why do I pay art school fees when I use no equipment an that $240 could have gone toward plinths for me... ridiculous.

Wk12 - Portfolio Site done.

It took five days but I've got a functional site that I like now.  It can be seen at http://www.isrealmathew.com

Wk12 - Graduation not for you!

Turns out I'm one of the others who aren't going to graduate unless I chase it up.  I filled out a form today to fix it.  Turns out my transfer to my correct degree didn't include transferring status of my existing courses.  Won't be an issue though.

UPDATE, 31 Oct:  Status transferred, graduation invitation received.

Wk12 - Met Kit re: Honours Proposal

I met Kit about the Honours Proposal.  She was infinitely helpful.

Wk12 - Sandstone Mandelbox arrived

My Mandelbox arrived today.  I thought the plastic (White, Strong and Flexible) one was good until the Sandstone one arrived... this one has so much more detail.  The depth is more perfect and the way it catches the light and shadows, it sooo much better.

Also, the sample kit is pretty cool. :)

Wk12 - Did someone say Birds?

I finally have a use for some footage that I shot back in June, 2010.  Essentially, I put the camera down, a bird landed in front of it then took off in full view... brilliant silhouette.

So, I was looking at the tea and I'm thinking if I redo the tea again and get a better picture, I had maybe make it transition to a silhouette then turn into a multitude of birds... I think it might work... Gonna do a test now to check it out.

Wk11 - Flower Tea - Lovely.

This was such a lovely task... filming tea inside my fish bowl.  There I was sitting in the driveway in the sun, fish bowl, tea, camera, black card... brilliant.

UPDATE: One bad thing - the reflections are really bad.  :(  Might still be useful though.  Riley suggests trying a bigger bowl... I know which one to use. :)

[insert sample footage]

Wk11 - Frame Substractor - Awesome find.

While I was searching for a multi-screen video player/synch system for my major, I came across Frame Substractor by the same developer (http://www.zachpoff.com/software/frame-subtractor/)  This thing is brilliant.  I really like the effect it makes... it seems to almost create water-colour paintings of my day-time driving footage.  I like a lot.  Gotta think of something good to use it for though. Hmm...

On a side note, I used it on some steps I shot earlier and my feed were essentially erased... I'm thinking the same thing could be achieved if I were to shoot footage of Northbourne of of Garema... More food for thought.

Wk11 - Gold Creek Lights. Pfft.

So I was reading on the RiotACT (http://the-riotact.com/aliens-in-gold-creek/57134) about some coloured building up in Gold Creek... so I decided to go up and take a look.  Not quite as exciting as they were describing but I did get some nice footage...  Unfortunately, it was short lived... I was there for only 4 minutes and all the lights were turned off.  And I'd travelled from Wanniassa too... what a bitch!

[insert sample light footage]

Wk11 - GoPro on Bonet = Brilliance.

So, I finally got around to attaching the GoPro to the car and going for a drive with it attached to the bonet.  I did some day-time footage a couple days ago and I did the same thing tonight.  Clearly the GoPro is made for day time but still...  I'm thinking that maybe that perspective idea I had might work well as a car instead.  Hmmm...

Wk11 - Portfolio Site

I was attempting to avoid doing actual coding on this portfolio site.  Thus, I threw together this version of my site.

After the comments from critiquing sites and finding out that this site i worth a significant percentage of my major mark, I decided to bite the bullet and code a new site.  I came up with the following template in Photoshop:

Wk11 - Monitor/Plinth Placement

This is how I envisage the plinths being placed:

Still deciding on whether it will be on a cut-out table or 5 plinths.

Wk11 - Status update for Chris.

Chris requested a status update of our work, I provided the following:

===

As you know, my work kinda evolves over the course of a semester so it's far from what I had in mind when I started but the work now involves two components:

1) A fly-thru of a customised Mandelbox, presented on five monitors at head height, so that the person standing in the shape can experience the complexity inside one.

Current Status: Base renders are complete... Just rendering out the various final movies which will play on the screens.  Should be done by cob tomorrow.  The rest is logistics of getting 5 plinths and 5 imacs but that's in the process of being sorted through JP and hopefully James (Holland).  I want to do a test-run next week with JP's help.

2) The development of a physical interpretation of a Mandelbox, the one that is shown in the fly-thru... I currently have one physical representation in plastic and by next week I should have one in sandstone... both will be presented alongside the fly-thru sitting on a plinth.  Both are 5cm cubes.  

Current status: I have made the reflective base they'll sit on... made one metal stand and yet to make the other, should be done this weekend.

What's left to do: - Documentation to reflect complexity of bringing the Mandelbox into physical world. - Flesh out missing parts of my blog - Two supporting renders will be presented as well... one involving the HD fly-thru I did earlier in the semester and one involving the possible ambient occlusion render of a particle-based fly-thru.  The later will only be completed and shown if everything else has come together.

===

Wk11 - Cry. Memory card and reader lost! :(

Looked everywhere... My only explanation is that someone has picked it up from the lab and stolen it.  Even checked with JP and ANU security.  Can't use my GoPro or my normal camera without a memory card.  Jeez.  Argh.

Wk10 - Public Holiday x3 = badness!

2, 9, 16/10 without comp class... this isn't a good thing.  Too much of everything else happening for me to get back to my experimentation. :(

Wk10 - Assessment AV Requirements

JP asked for assessment AV requirements.

I sent the following response:
===

I'm displaying for assessment in the Green Room on the 22nd of November.

5 plinths AND monitors/computers (must be networked to allow for synchronised video playback - I have a program for this) - ideally monitors at standard head height.  I'll need audio for one of these computers... fed through the green room stereo.

1 plinth for display of physical object(s)

1 additional computer for display of alternate animation.

1 computer for scrollable website content.

One of those could use the projector but I'd prefer monitors.

Is that doable?  Please advise.

===

Wk10 - Met with Kit... Agreement

I met with Kit today.  Brilliant.  She agreed that part 3 should be put on hold unless I have complete the other parts and have time to work on it.

It's a bit of a relief to be honest with all the upcoming tasks.  Phew.

As a result, I consider this just a natural progression, another evolution of the concept of my major work.

Wk10 - Met with Lucien

I met with Lucien today to discuss the status of my work.  He was quite positive and supportive.

His advice was to put part 3 on the back-burner... concentrate on the essay then back to the major but treat the 3rd component as additional and only work on it after the other two are complete.  Good advice... but I agree with him when he said to also check with Kit to confirm...  If she agrees, I know I'm on the right path...

Wk10 - 'Accidentally' ordered Sandstone Mandelbox.

Tonight I decided to order another 3D print of my Mandelbox.

I decided to use the solid version this time and to have it in the Sandstone material.

In addition, I ordered the sample pack and a gyro toy too.

On the bright side, prices have gone down, my Mandelbox only cost $87.

Wk10 - Catalogue Image & Naming

We found out on Friday afternoon that the Gallery needed a picture and the title for our works.  Some of us haven't got a title or even finished renders of our work.  It is very late notice.  On the bright side, they gave us until Monday to submit the picture and title.  I've changed it a number of times but I've decided on the title 'Tglad's Formula'.

This is the picture for the catalogue:

Wk9 - Part 3, drop it or not?

My main area of concern is whether the 3rd part I was originally going to do as well, the Mandelbox-inspired Maya model, should be continued... I'm concerned that I won't have enough time if I do all three parts, especially when the physical and the fly-thu are so close to being ready.

I'm gonna meet with Lucien to discuss my concerns and my status.

Wk9 - More rendering... Jeez.

I don't know what happened but there are 9,000 frames that are wrong!

For some reason between two keyframes, the camera swerves to the left over the course of 3000 frames for the centre, 45 and 90 degree passess.  Very annoying.

I re-rendered and it still diverts, despite the keyframes being correct.  I've had to recreate the keyframes from scratch and render.  It looks good now.

41 hours of rendering and I have my replacement 9000 frames.

Total base rendering: 12 days, 1 hour.

Wk9 - Website Info from Marcus Bohr

We had a bit of an information session about portfolio websites with Marcus Bohr.

One thing I particularly liked was the realism when it comes to moving toward blogs and mico-blogs rather than static websites - as they have better saturation on the internet.

Another realisation I've been bucking is the idea that you must get every kind of account to increase audience saturation... ie, you need Tumblr, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc...

It was a good session.

Wk9 - Prototype stand for physical display

I spent the weekend trying out designs for a stand for the physical model.

It started as a design using sticky-tape and some paper clips...  I converted the idea to using wire, bent bent and twisted...  It's looking good.

Also, this is the first picture of the 3D printed model.

Wk8 - Physical Mandelbox Arrived today!!

My Mandelbox arrived today.  It turned out extremely well.  It is better than I imagined.  The detail is really good... the teeth on the edges are very fine.  I'm happy.  I'll upload a picture later.

Wk8 - GoPro & Multi-Image Capture Test. I'm old.

I've been playing with the idea of attaching the GoPro to my body in different locations then doing the same task over and over then somehow stitch it back together and get the perspective from the different parts of the body...

I tried it this afternoon.  I'm getting too old.  I walked down the stairs and across the music school courtyard and down toward the city six times with the camera strapped to my wrists, ankles, chest and head... I decided against using footage and used time-lapse instead... in order to avoid the blur that would happen...

[insert test combination]

Kinda fail.  1) I can't think of a way to put it back together in a cohesive way, especially if I was quicker on a particular take.  2) the photos lost the impact that the blur would have given.

On the other hand though, seeing a sequence of hovering legs is very weird and interesting.

[insert leg snapshot]

Break Wk2 - GoPro, Afternoon/Night Timelapse

I reiterate that timelapse is where it's at... I'm thinking about going to Northborne and doing some there... or in a flowerbed at Floriade... Hmmm.

[insert sample afternoon timelapse]

Break Wk2 - More rendering...

I've been looking at the renders and the end of the fly-thru looks too sudden... I've decided to add 800 frames after the second last frames... actually 400 for the centre and 45 degrees, 800 for the 90 degree frames.

It took an additional 10 hours, 54mins... 

Base rendering total is now at 10 days, 8 hours...

Break Wk2 - GoPro, Morning Timelapse.

So far, this is the best use for the GoPro yet... I made it take photos every 5 seconds... it produced great imagery/footage.

[insert morning time-lapse]

Break Wk2 - Rendering 12-20 September...

I've been setting up and monitoring renders for the last 9 days in 3000 frame batches... I've done 33,000 frames now.  It has taken 9 days, 21 hours.  Multiple render failures but I finally have what I need.

Break Wk1 - Ordered White Strong and Flexible

I did it!

I couldn't help myself.  I've ordered my Hollow Mandelbox online in the White Strong and Flexible material.  It was $98.  Fingers crossed that it is worth it...

Break Wk1 - Physical Possible!?

So, after installing the Collada plug-in, I was able to export from Maya into the DAE format, which when zipped came down from 87MB to 19MB

I imported the model into the Shapeways website... Within 15mins, I knew that the model was viable and even had a price tag attached.  Here are my first three uploads:

10.5cm solid displaced model = $869.92

5.4cm hollow displaced model = $127.59

5cm solid constructed model = $98.48

Clearly, the volume has something to do with the cost but I found that with my 5cm model, that making it hollow, whether a cube or an identical replica within made no difference to the volume or the cost... this could be related to the 5cm size though... not sure.

The question is, should I buy it for nearly $100?

Break Wk1 - Spycam + Balloon = Crazy!

So... I got a tank of helium and 30 balloons from toys-r-us.  Once I figured out how it worked... it

worked a treat.

It only took 3 balloons to make the spycam boyant.


BUT...

I took it out while it was very windy... not a good plan... the footage is worse than the footage taken when the camera was around the dogs collar.  Oh well.

Might need to come up with some kind of brace to hold it in the right direction,

Break Wk1 - Mandelbulber Slices to Cube...

I was showing David the ability for Mandelbulber to only show partial cross-sections of a fractal.  He gave me the thought of mixing the displacement idea with slices, captured front-on.

In the end, it seemed that only 27 slices were needed before I had reached a solid form:

I further refined this gradient to 11 slices, removing redundant levels having only small additional details:

Depth Animation

This was still producing non-mirroring geometry thus, in photoshop, it was mirrored, flipped, etc.  The result was a near-perfect slice used to create a single cube side.

This side then had the sides chamfered off at 45 degrees.

Using some rotation, I combined and merged six copies of that side to form the best cube to date:

Break Wk1 - Renders to be calculated.

Position and render path calculations page2

Render position calculations

After the 50000 frame render test took so long...

I decided that I'd go with 9000 frames from beginning to end, doing it in 3000 frame render batches... There will be 9000 for the centre view, 45 degrees and 90 degrees respectively.

Position and render path calculations page1

Fly-thru Render Path of chosen Mandelbox

Render position calculations

Wk7 - SpyCam arrived! :D

It took a bit to figure out how it worked but it seems to work a treat.  Amazing technology these days.

Naturally, I attached it to the dog, to my dash and to my foot as I went down to get petrol.  The latter was the most interesting effect yet.

The impact of the footstep freezes movement while the other leg lifts causing an odd visual effect.  Can't wait to film more.

[Insert sample shoe footage here]

One downside though, as you can see... it puts a hard-coded timestamp on the footage!  I can change the font through firmware but I can't turn it off.  Well done China! :)

Wk7 - Photofly was a bust...

I tried twice to use Photofly to make the model.

In both instances, the path I used was a circle, rounding the top, then down around the base.

First attempt, using a black background:

The result was a relatively clear model of only two sides.

Second attempt, using a patterned background:

The second attempt produced a model with four good sides.  You can see that the path was again misinterpreted by the program.

In any case, these incomplete models couldn't be easily used to piece together a full cube.  Eventually, after a lot of trying, this method was abandoned.

Wk7 - Physical Object Concept (Autodesk Photo Scene Editor)

I was looking tonight at Autodesk Photo Scene Editor 2.1 (Autodesk Photofly)... I'm thinking that this might be a better way of producing the model of my physical object...  Just need to render out some 360 degree fly over shots...

Wk7 - GoPro + R/C @ Night = Some success. Fun.

It was a bit chilly and damp out tonight but I had a heck of a good time driving around ANY with the GoPro attached to the front of the R/C car... by the looks of it the footage in the dark is not useful but the bits under light a brilliant.  My attempt to use lego lights on the front of the car was ridiculous... it did nothing.

The car is an absolute mess.  Need bigger lights!  Not just to have light but also it almost got run over by a car near the art school on the road.  Eep.


[Insert Picture of dirty RC car]

Wk7 - Physical Object Concept (Displacement)

Custom Mandelbox

Mandelbox Face

Face without Light, shadow, etc.

Displaced across cube

Displaced across Plane

Displaced over cube on each surface.

Wk7 - GoPro + Fishbowl + Milk = Failure... again.

Another failure tonight.  Again, it's to do with the depth of field... my fish bowl is way too small to focus on anything within the bowl itself.

Worth a try though.  It would be interesting to put it in a fish tank at a pet shop... hmmm.

Wk7 - GoPro + R/C car = Awesomeness!

So, I made used one of the mounts for the GoPro and attached it to my Remote Control car.

The speed and the perspective is brilliant.  When it runs across gravel, it is awesome.  I can't be more excited by the footage being produced.  I even took it through Union court... no one really took any notice.  Odd.

Now I'm thinking... lights and night time.

Wk6 - GoPro & Glass Teapot = Fail.

I purchased a new glass teapot today.  Yippy-ky-yay!

Unfortunately, Epic Fail!

The fixed focus on the GoPro meant that the filming was really bad.  Add too that I put too much tea in and it just went black...  Live and learn.

I did like one shot I took where I pointed the camera up and was making the tea... looked good until the tea blacked it out.  Must expore this further.

Wk6 - Fly-Thru Concept

This is my customised Mandelbox... with a view to designing one that can be produced physically.

Using a -90, -45, centre, 45 and 90 degree pass, I created a test for making a setup where the viewer can place their head inside the mandelbox.

 This is the render that I did, combined using Nuke, starting from the centre of my customised Mandelbox. This is only 1350 frames but it illustrates the concept:

Wk6 - Helium Calculator

Using http://www.heliumcalculator.com/ as a reference, I believe I need between 8 and 22 balloons to lift my camera... hmmm... this might be more tricky than I expected.

Wk6 - Inter-Particle Collision - I hate Maya!

This is really starting to shit me.  I know what I want in my head but getting Maya to do it is so frustrating...  All I want is that the particles collide with each other and on the fourth collision they freeze... is that so much to ask.  Bloody hell!  Kill me now!

Wk6 - Crit with Honours - Brilliant!

Crit with the Honours students was brilliant.

It was great that the topic came about about the renders and whether they were actually mine - I'm still not entirely sure but I'm glad some were on the same page as me - in that they are not mine, including Lucien.

One particularly interesting concept was having three components of my work:

1. Mandelbox-inspired model using particles mixed with my objects.
2. Mandelbox fly-thru where the viewer places their head so that it is like they are going through it.
3. A physical version of the same fly-thru mandelbox.

Again infinitely helpful was the clarity to what my work (including past works) has been all about:

• Scale
• Texture (surface)

It's that simple.

Wk6 - Group Crit Presentation - a flop!?

I presented today at crit... it went relatively well I guess... only the lecturers were speaking... to be honest, I don't think people got what I was doing... I don't know if this is a failing on my part in regard to presenting my work.  Hmmm.

Wk6 - Bit the Bullet... GoPro!!!

The spycam still hasn't arrived.  Grrr...

So... today I bit the bullet and purchased a GoPro today on my way to work.

Since the base unit was 340... I kinda walked away spending something like $700... woops.

It's awesome though!

GoPro Hero Motorsport Pack

So far, I've only shot bits of the lab and taken it to union court... filmed an interesting thing... the shaddow under the railing so that the shadows of people walk along the wall... I like this... might need to film more of it.