Background

It's probably time to put up another film, but I'm waiting on something. So this'll have to do in the meantime.

When I was a boy... OK, not that sort of background. The other type. I love using multiple medias in my films because I like the richness it gives to the look of my animations. It's also a lot faster and cheaper (hey, I wish it wasn't but for me it's a consideration) to use something like a photo for a background than having a matte or 3D artist create something for me. I've recently discovered HDR photography which when done correctly makes for some stunning photos and when done incorrectly or is overworked HDR has the uncanny knack of turning a normal photo into something that looks like it's been painted. Bingo! Exactly what I've been looking for in terms of my next production. Of course, backgrounds and environments in animations move and unless you're Harry Potter, photos don't. I can change that, the window in Knowing Strangers is a prime example of taking a still (of a closed window) and with a little movie magic making it move. So this is my first attempt at using HDR (nothing exciting, just my dining room, excuse the mess);

One of the originals


The final


Not great yet, but I know where it's going.

Oh yeah, and when I was a boy my parents gave me a bible I thought it was the coolest thing because it had heaps of pages and I could turn it into one of those flick animation books. I got into a lot of trouble, but it was totally worth it to see the swordfight that ended with one of the knights losing his head and then being chased away (headless) by a dog. Animation Rocks!