Our youngest son and his partner are working on setting up a new movie studio in Toronto. It's an 'immersion room', which is the newest technique in shooting movies, where the background scenery is provided digitally on giant LED screens surrounding the entire 'set'. It's been an interesting process to watch. We went a few months ago to see the LED panels installed....which were in the process of being attached together to make one seamless surface....
Sophisticated computer technology put the desired images up on the panels....
Yesterday we went again to see their newest development - 3 dimensional images. I'm a total techno-boob, but as I understand it, the cinematographer's camera somehow works with the image on the panels, so that when he moves, the scenery behind the actor(s) does as well, so that the background is no longer a flat image like a giant poster, but the background actually changes, so what's behind a tree or pillar comes into view, just like in real life.
Yesterday when we visited, there was a cinematographer, a director, several actors, as well as the technical crew, and they were in the process of filming promotional material to show a versatile range of their capability. First an everyday apartment interior....
Yesterday when we visited, there was a cinematographer, a director, several actors, as well as the technical crew, and they were in the process of filming promotional material to show a versatile range of their capability. First an everyday apartment interior....
It was very interesting to see how professionals deal with the same issues I have taking doll photos at home. Like the big white paper screen that filters one of the lights.
Then they tackled a 'jungle scene'. The trees swayed, leaves floated down, and the computer controlled where the sun shone through the foliage - and to what intensity....
Then they tackled a 'jungle scene'. The trees swayed, leaves floated down, and the computer controlled where the sun shone through the foliage - and to what intensity....
They strategically placed some fake plants in the foreground, and they were ready to go....
Someone supported a huge styrofoam 'white card' as the cinematographer filmed....
Checking the footage. It was amazing how believable it all looked on their monitors...
(my camera doesn't show the true real colour)
(my camera doesn't show the true real colour)
Then they wanted to work on light bouncing off a reflective surface...like an astronaut's visor...
So they went to Mars...
So they went to Mars...
It was absolutely fascinating to watch, and I couldn't help thinking how I deal with many of the same issues as the movie professionals, especially when it comes to the lighting and depth of field issues. But they have a whole team, and tons of expensive equipment, and I have just me, my camera, and my dining room table.
I can see that this kind of technology would be a fantastic tool for doll photography as well, and one day it would be nice to take a group of my dolls there. I can picture a short video of an aerial view of my Medieval Fantasy crew on a mountain top like in Lord of the Rings, with the camera recording the scene from all round them. That would be so cool! Who needs to pack all my dolls into the RV, drive for a week to the Rockies, and set them all up in who knows what kind of weather and lighting condition, when it can all be 'faked' a half hour from home??
Immersion Room website
I can see that this kind of technology would be a fantastic tool for doll photography as well, and one day it would be nice to take a group of my dolls there. I can picture a short video of an aerial view of my Medieval Fantasy crew on a mountain top like in Lord of the Rings, with the camera recording the scene from all round them. That would be so cool! Who needs to pack all my dolls into the RV, drive for a week to the Rockies, and set them all up in who knows what kind of weather and lighting condition, when it can all be 'faked' a half hour from home??
Immersion Room website
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