I chose Blender as my ‘tool’ to iterate with. I have no prior experience with this software and am using the iterative process as an opportunity to learn and observe the function and purpose of the software. I am most interested in exploring the fact that it does not have certain constraints that physical space, material and resources may impose; but has a set of its own parameters and computational limitations.
3D software is complex. It includes a multiplicity of tools and features with complicated names that don’t necessarily fully explain their resulting functions. And unlike its 2D counterparts, 3D rendering requires more computational power to accurately preview changes and adjustments applied. This makes intuitive use on a basic laptop tedious.
This constraint led me to systematically explore the results from using a particular tool in varying intensities. For my first set of iterations in week 1, I chose a set of ‘texture and material’ functions to successively adjust and iterate to create abstract sequences that document this exploration.
The process began to remind me of working with a film camera for the first time in a photography studio; however, without the worry of wasting film. This approach made using the software much less intimidating; helping me overcome my unfamiliarity with the tool.
My iterative process led me to the enquiry; how might 3D rendering on Blender parallel a photographic practice?
I also began to utilise the virtual camera settings more consciously. And to take this idea further, I began to think about elements such as replication, symmetry and the lack of constraints this fictional space can offer.
Feedback Notes:
The exploration of my tool became more focussed as I started pursuing the approach of understanding Blender as a virtual photography studio. What I might be able to do on Blender that I wouldn’t be able to within a studio? The iterative process led me to explore the limits of blender along with its potentials.
The potentials of space, materials, lights, repetition and the parameters of the virtual lens worked to make a start on my experimentation following this line of enquiry.
A lot of the early stages just involved learning and gathering my reflections and observations on what it was that I wanted to explore with the software. The earlier tests with the software, while they helped me familiarise with the interface of Blender, were not guided by a line of enquiry yet.
Perhaps I can choose an existing image to re-interpret through the virtual camera and studio on Blender. I can play with the idea of a fictional and surreal space a lot more. On looking at the week 3 work, I could be pushing the limits of ‘reality’ further. Push further on the idea of the lack of physical constraints.