The MaMachinima International Festival (MMIF) is upon is once again, infact it kicks off this coming Saturday Feb. 20th – One of the key orgainizers is Second Life’s Chantal Harvey. Chantal, who is herself a keen machinima maker and has devoted many hours to this creative art form both as a promoter and as a dedicated artist. Chantal was able to take time out from her busy schedule to answer a few questions here for metanopsis.
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Showing posts with label koinup interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label koinup interview. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Koinup meet the artist. The quintessence of Second Life photography, by Bark!
Known in Second Life as Bark Aabye, Bark is one of the most delicious Second Life photographers. She owns a blog called the Quintessence. Indeed, "quintessence" is a "term" simply perfect to describe the style and the production of Bark.
Described by Shoji, (who has been recently interviewed on this blog), as Second Life mentor and unique artist, Bark is one of the most profilic SL artists on Koinup and her gallery is one of the most appreciated and popular on the website. We invite all the reader to enjoy the adorable gallery of Bark
Here's the Interview
Q. When you're creating new artworks, where do you draw ideas and inspiration from?
A. Well, first of all, I need to tell you my opinion on the difference between "photographs" and the other art.
Recently I often have chances to see that some work organized by image
generation and processing of CG is discussed on the same ground as the field of "photographs". I have some doubts about that discussion, watching artwork of CG is my favorite though. In my opinion these are absolutely different.
I consider snapshots in SL to be just similar to "photographs" in RL. However in a virtual world I can interact with many people through avatars, see prims, visit sims and take all the snapshots as if it were a "a once-in-a-lifetime chance". When taking "photographs", there is no chance to try again, "ichi-go ichi-e" as the Japanese proverb goes.
I think "photographs" surpass expressions through words in catching contingencies.
I have been working as photographer using a film-based (analogue) camera over ten years in RL and will go on taking snapshots in SL from now on. Because only we have a precious gift from "God" for catching and stopping a gleam of light in photo-form.
Though I sometimes set up a theme to exhibit my work in a gallery, I usually take just what I want to. I am always searching for a cool shot: Naxos Loon and Koinup suggest me terrific LMs or NPIRL and others show me awesome blogs.
Q. What advice would you give to newcomers and beginners with Second Life art and photography?
A. Let me think, snapshots in-world have just started. The only thing I can say is the factor “time” is indispensable to cool photos. I experienced old plain photos became stunning unexpectedly. I often felt warmhearted to find the snapshots in my old folder before using Windlight.
If I advise, the best way to take radiant snapshots is taking as many snapshots as you can. Try to avoid retouching. Retouching prevents you from developing the skills of taking "photographs". Don’t intend to get your snapshots stylish, this way you will miss the essence of the "Subject".
What is more we will recognize our peculiarity when we take many shots. Shall we keep it or throw away? I always struggle to do that.
Q. What tools and photo-devices, software do you use to edit your photos?
A. I use “Photoshop” and “Picnic”. I choose between the two. Snapshots become monochrome or pictures in frames, or look prints from negatives.
Q. What are your upcoming projects as metaverse artist?
A. I am working as a coordinator in the sim “Imagine plus”, which has just opened. Of course my gallery is there too. Besides I spend a lot of time taking snapshots.
Because there are so many galleries in SL, I pick up on my favorite ones and write an article in Japanese on my blog.
Visit http://barkaabye.blogspot.com/
Q. Have you ever used other virtual worlds to create and express your creativity?
A. No, SL is my first experience. I didn’t imagine how I devoted myself to it. Now I am interested in avatars in “The SIMS” and
the texture of water, limber avatars in “BlueMars”. I have wanted to get a viewer which can expose or blur avatars’ motion in a long time exposure.
Q. What's artist you'd love recommended for the next Koinup interview?
A. I will recommend Ravenelle but I have never seen her yet. She is one of my favorite "photographers" in SL and a voracious artist without using retouching.
translated by Koro Carnell
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Interview with Simon Newstead, founder of Frenzoo
We had already the opportunity to give our members some hints of Frenzoo, the 3D world of avatars and style. Today, we're going to do something more, by introducing YOU Simon Newstead, founder and ceo of Frenzoo.com
Here's the Interview
Frenzoo is a world of 3d avatars and style. How did you get with the idea of linking together style/fashion and avatar?
We looked out and saw the emergence of fashion and lifestyle websites online, and also the rise of the avatars and advances in 3D technology. These were close to our hearts as many in the team are really into gaming, social networking and Japanese street fashions. These parts all came together when we developed the concept for Frenzoo - a social community where the emphasis is on avatar style & creativity.
2. It seems that one of keys for a succesfull 3d virtual worlds is opening the doors to user generated contents. What are you doing in such area?
In summary - a lot!
We don't do content development in house, it all comes from third party creators - users of the website who create for fun or profit or both. We support direct 3D importing from programs like 3D Studio Max, Blender, Maya.
But apart from that we have our own unique web based tool to create designs for items directly from our website, for personal use by members or sale in the Frenzoo virtual shop. It's easy to use and make great things. We have a great and growing catalog for members to buy from!
3. You have recently gave support to 3d modelers to import their creations in Frenzoo. Can you explain a bit more these new features?
Sure. Now any Pro can get a lifetime pass for $US 3.95 and upload an unlimited amount of creations to the shop, be it clothing, furniture, animations etc
In selling to other members they can earn Gold coins which can be sold on reseller sites which have just gone live. We support 3D Max as well as Collada import for other software packages. For those who create in other virtual worlds like IMVU or Second Life it's a really small effort to publish existing works in Frenzoo.
4. What's are you plans for the future. Can you disclose your next steps?
Good question. One of the biggest requests from our members is to be able to do more with their avatar, which they have styled and made unique. So we have just introduced our first beta for chat. Now it's quite simple - 1 on 1 with a simple background, but we plan to extend this into 3D spaces and also support more around it. Our members are pretty excited about that!
5. What's are your demographics? and how old is the average Frenzoo user?
We are a global audience, especially because we support many different languages apart from English. Our largest market is US, but Europe and Asia are not far behind. There is a really nice mix of ages, from teenager through to 20 something and up. Our average age is around 19 years old at the moment, and mostly female.
6. Can you give us , probably some Koinup readers are thinking to signup in Frenzoo, some tips to get the most out from Frenzoo and talk a bit about how Frenzoo is generally use and what people use to do while in your world?
Tips - jump in and ask questions to our volunteer angels if you are stuck - it's a really friendly community. You can hangout and chat and get to know some new people, create your own fashions or animations in the create tool (for free), join a club, check out a contest or hang out in the forums. The vibe is really friendly on Frenzoo.
JOIN THE FRENZOO GROUP ON KOINUP!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Interview with the artist. Koinup meets Shoji
We have started to ask our community to suggest us artists and metaverse innovators to interview. The first "creative mind" we were asked to highlight on this blog is Shoji. Shoji is one of the most appreciated, popular and original artist on Koinup. He has a refined taste and his image are filled with imagination and passion. We invite you to browse his gallery and add Shoji to your contacts
Interview
Q. When you're creating new artworks, where do you draw ideas and inspiration from?
A. I just explore and try to find settings that spark my imagination; the moment I see them, a lot of vibrant stories unfold in my mind. It’s a pretty much automatic process. Meanwhile, I may be a minority in KOINUP, where dark, heavily retouched photos are going mainstream. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I would prefer to “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” as Eric Idle sang in Monty Python’s movie “Life of Brian.” And I think this is what underlies my photos.
Q. What advice would you give to newcomers and beginners with Second Life art and photography?
A. Just continue exploring new places with streaming music playing. More often than not, well-designed places have good streaming music that revs up your imagination.
Q. What tools and photo-devices, software do you use to edit your photos?
A. Photoshop, Picnik and camera lock HUDs created by my friends.
Q. What are your upcoming projects as metaverse artist?
A. I’m now working on a new skybox gallery, which is part of Imagine plus Art Land, a new art SIM scheduled for launching on September 20. This SIM is going to be something that you’ve never seen before.
Q. Have you ever used other virtual worlds to create and express your creativity?
A. No, I haven’t. My focus is now on Second Life, though I’m a bit interested in Blue Mars.
Q. What's artist you'd love recommended for the next Koinup interview?
A. Bark Aabye, my mentor and a professional photographer in RL.
Interview
Q. When you're creating new artworks, where do you draw ideas and inspiration from?
A. I just explore and try to find settings that spark my imagination; the moment I see them, a lot of vibrant stories unfold in my mind. It’s a pretty much automatic process. Meanwhile, I may be a minority in KOINUP, where dark, heavily retouched photos are going mainstream. It’s not that I don’t like them, but I would prefer to “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” as Eric Idle sang in Monty Python’s movie “Life of Brian.” And I think this is what underlies my photos.
Q. What advice would you give to newcomers and beginners with Second Life art and photography?
A. Just continue exploring new places with streaming music playing. More often than not, well-designed places have good streaming music that revs up your imagination.
Q. What tools and photo-devices, software do you use to edit your photos?
A. Photoshop, Picnik and camera lock HUDs created by my friends.
Q. What are your upcoming projects as metaverse artist?
A. I’m now working on a new skybox gallery, which is part of Imagine plus Art Land, a new art SIM scheduled for launching on September 20. This SIM is going to be something that you’ve never seen before.
Q. Have you ever used other virtual worlds to create and express your creativity?
A. No, I haven’t. My focus is now on Second Life, though I’m a bit interested in Blue Mars.
Q. What's artist you'd love recommended for the next Koinup interview?
A. Bark Aabye, my mentor and a professional photographer in RL.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Lainy Voom and the Art of Machinima
The Virtual World is a hybrid place and each person is presented with the same tools and platform base from which to work from, each virtual environment presents a new challenge, each has its own nuance and ways to interact within its own community – the journey is an exciting pioneering opportunity to create, with pockets of truly unique and diverse work being cultivated. Limitations can be overcome; imagination and ingenuity are key factors in this process. What is fascinating to me is to watch the evolution in each creative area unfold in the most interesting of ways. I would like you to consider this notion however - as you make and experiment your way through to the other side of your computer screen ; remember that aspects of virtual worlds are ephemeral and documenting the process is an important part of our Virtual History. In a blink of a virtual eye it can and does vanish, so take the time to record it in a way that suits you best & share it with those who share your passion and maybe those who frown upon this virtual culture of ours will be compelled in some way to think again? We each play our part and the history making is for us all. We are a community collective after all.
'Push' Machinima by Lainy Voom
The Machinima work of Lainy Voom is exceptional and a great example of evolution within this particular creative field; showing both great skill and vision; the attention to detail and timing is truly captivating – the flow when watching draws you deeply into a seamless but ether real world, which feels to me like watching a visualisation of a dream recalled, at times it's almost haunting. Lainy has definitively set a new bench mark in the virtual world of Machinima. I am curious by nature and wanted to know a little more .... Trace Sanderson aka Lainy Vroom is an independent visual artist based in the UK, whose is focused on animation captured in real time within virtual worlds and also game engines. She started creating “Machinima” in 2004. I have long been fascinated by her work - If your curiosity is twitching then go here to see some more or her work and have your fill, and oh of course yes, please read on!
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
Q1. Tell us in 6 words what best describes you.
1. Down to earth
2. Direct
3. Opinionated
4. Stubborn
5. Loyal
6. Idealist
Q2. What brought you to the Metaverse and how did you get here?'
A. A friend had asked me mid 2006 but my computer spec at the time would not run SL, then when I bought a new computer in February 2007 she asked me again and I jumped right in. I wandered around for 2-3 days, not really thinking Second Life was up to much. A couple of weeks later I tried again and decided to film something, that is when it really "clicked" into place and I began to realise I could literally do anything I wanted, create anything. That kind of freedom I wasn't getting from using game engines, which is what I was doing before. Game engines have so many rules, they box in creativity (at least for me).
Q3. Push' made a huge impact on the Machinima community recently, visually it has an immediate & dynamic appeal - what is the story behind this ? Is it more than an amazing eclectic visual collection - Does it tell a story?
A. It began as an experiment, what would happen if I just started filming something, not analysing anything and just making the first thing that sprang to mind. I tried to let the film grow organically by itself. It's more a stream of consciousness exercise than anything with hidden deeper meaning. Towards the end of the filming process it began to become more contrived, I ended up scrapping all the later footage in order to bring it back to the initial experiment.
Q4. If you could change or improve anything to access the virtual world better what would you say or do ?
A. I would improve beginner access to Second Life. I've explored as many virtual worlds as I can get my hands on and all of them have better designed noob access than SL. One of the best I think is VSide, where the player learns how to use the avatar, the menu, how to purchase items, change the way the avatar looks, use emotes/animations all in a private space before being let free on the world proper. This really helps to build up confidence and something I think SL lacks on the starter island. It does not surprise me that so many people drop out at the initial stage with Second Life.
Q5. What or whom do you think has been your biggest influence in the Metaverse and why?
A. The content creators are my biggest influence, I would not be creating machinima without their work inspiring films or enabling the films to be made in the way that they are. It is the biggest reason I use SL to make films, and not other machinima specific engines out there.
Q6. How do you see the progress of visualization in the Metaverse?
A. Quality and realism will continue to rise as long as hardware/software/engines keep up with each other.
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
Q7. What are you working on right now?
A. I have some commisions I'm working on right now, but after that I'm working on another poem.
Q8. What tools do you use when making Machinima and what would you personally recommend?
A. I rarely use any tools other than Fraps to record, I would recommend learning how to frame and use avatars before learning how to move the camera around. At least that is how I began doing it, it will not be the same for everyone.
Q9. In your minds eye if you close your eyes right now, what do you see?
A.I see a huge stack of books I haven't managed to read yet!
Now Lainy you have the opportunity to ask yourself 3 questions ... anything you like
Q1 & A - Lainy, will you ever get round to hoovering the house this week?
Q2 & A - Lainy, do you fancy another cup of tea?
Q3 & A - only two questioins asked ! ack to control your own destiny if only for a brief period (Poid)
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
If Machinima interests you then please check out the various groups hosted on Koinup by clicking here.
Until next time here on Metanopsis!
Poid
Poid Mahovlich
Poid Mahovlich - blog spot
'Push' Machinima by Lainy Voom
The Machinima work of Lainy Voom is exceptional and a great example of evolution within this particular creative field; showing both great skill and vision; the attention to detail and timing is truly captivating – the flow when watching draws you deeply into a seamless but ether real world, which feels to me like watching a visualisation of a dream recalled, at times it's almost haunting. Lainy has definitively set a new bench mark in the virtual world of Machinima. I am curious by nature and wanted to know a little more .... Trace Sanderson aka Lainy Vroom is an independent visual artist based in the UK, whose is focused on animation captured in real time within virtual worlds and also game engines. She started creating “Machinima” in 2004. I have long been fascinated by her work - If your curiosity is twitching then go here to see some more or her work and have your fill, and oh of course yes, please read on!
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
Q1. Tell us in 6 words what best describes you.
1. Down to earth
2. Direct
3. Opinionated
4. Stubborn
5. Loyal
6. Idealist
Q2. What brought you to the Metaverse and how did you get here?'
A. A friend had asked me mid 2006 but my computer spec at the time would not run SL, then when I bought a new computer in February 2007 she asked me again and I jumped right in. I wandered around for 2-3 days, not really thinking Second Life was up to much. A couple of weeks later I tried again and decided to film something, that is when it really "clicked" into place and I began to realise I could literally do anything I wanted, create anything. That kind of freedom I wasn't getting from using game engines, which is what I was doing before. Game engines have so many rules, they box in creativity (at least for me).
Q3. Push' made a huge impact on the Machinima community recently, visually it has an immediate & dynamic appeal - what is the story behind this ? Is it more than an amazing eclectic visual collection - Does it tell a story?
A. It began as an experiment, what would happen if I just started filming something, not analysing anything and just making the first thing that sprang to mind. I tried to let the film grow organically by itself. It's more a stream of consciousness exercise than anything with hidden deeper meaning. Towards the end of the filming process it began to become more contrived, I ended up scrapping all the later footage in order to bring it back to the initial experiment.
Q4. If you could change or improve anything to access the virtual world better what would you say or do ?
A. I would improve beginner access to Second Life. I've explored as many virtual worlds as I can get my hands on and all of them have better designed noob access than SL. One of the best I think is VSide, where the player learns how to use the avatar, the menu, how to purchase items, change the way the avatar looks, use emotes/animations all in a private space before being let free on the world proper. This really helps to build up confidence and something I think SL lacks on the starter island. It does not surprise me that so many people drop out at the initial stage with Second Life.
Q5. What or whom do you think has been your biggest influence in the Metaverse and why?
A. The content creators are my biggest influence, I would not be creating machinima without their work inspiring films or enabling the films to be made in the way that they are. It is the biggest reason I use SL to make films, and not other machinima specific engines out there.
Q6. How do you see the progress of visualization in the Metaverse?
A. Quality and realism will continue to rise as long as hardware/software/engines keep up with each other.
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
Q7. What are you working on right now?
A. I have some commisions I'm working on right now, but after that I'm working on another poem.
Q8. What tools do you use when making Machinima and what would you personally recommend?
A. I rarely use any tools other than Fraps to record, I would recommend learning how to frame and use avatars before learning how to move the camera around. At least that is how I began doing it, it will not be the same for everyone.
Q9. In your minds eye if you close your eyes right now, what do you see?
A.I see a huge stack of books I haven't managed to read yet!
Now Lainy you have the opportunity to ask yourself 3 questions ... anything you like
Q1 & A - Lainy, will you ever get round to hoovering the house this week?
Q2 & A - Lainy, do you fancy another cup of tea?
Q3 & A - only two questioins asked ! ack to control your own destiny if only for a brief period (Poid)
Stills Image from 'Push' by Lainy Voom
If Machinima interests you then please check out the various groups hosted on Koinup by clicking here.
Until next time here on Metanopsis!
Poid
Poid Mahovlich
Poid Mahovlich - blog spot
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