Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Flower Movie  
                       
Helix Helix Helix Helix Helix Helix Movie  
                       
Star Star Star Star Star Star Movie  
                       
                       
   

Imagine the camera as a space vehicle and not restricted
by the person holding it." Richard D. Zakia [ * ]

Camera-n is an experiment in cinematography and animation focusing on the virtual camera itself to create dynamic abstract visuals. Manipulating the position, angle, speed, and viewing frustum of the camera creates new kinetic forms. The virtual camera moves along the geometric paths, looks at the abstract object, and forms the resulting images.

There are three 20 second movies based on the paths in the form of flower, helix and star. There are also montages of these movies to better examine the technique.

Flower+Helix Montage
Flower+Helix+Star Montage

 
                       
Flower path   Helix path   Star path  
                       
                       
    Camera-n is inspired by the works of abstract animator and film maker Norman McLaren and sculptor Anthony Caro. Norman McLaren's abstract animations were drawn directly on the film strips. His films are inspirational because they were created by manipulating the film medium itself. Today, the image generated in computer animation is partly based on the virtual camera. But the qualities of camera usage in the virtual environment is considered as it is in the real world cameras. By experimenting with the core mechanisms of the virtual camera we can create new forms in animation. Camera is also a vehicle that connects the space and objects. This relationship has been examined in the works of sculptor Anthony Caro. Caro states that understanding his sculpture needs walking along and around the piece. Inspired by his way of viewing a sculpture from multiple angles, why not view the camera as something that can have a behavior while it is exploring abstract sculptures and spaces?

Camera-n combines concepts from sculpture and architecture for constructing a new vision in abstract moving image. By using geometric procedures for the virtual camera that employs virtual 3d space, we can expand the early experiments in the medium of moving image.		  
                       
                       
Camera particle  
                       
                       
                       
Selected camera positions in relation to the object.   Camera-n object   Camera-n object   Camera-n object   Camera-n object   Camera-n object  
                     
  Camera-n object   Camera-n object   Camera-n object      
                       
                       
                       
* Zakia, Richard D. "Perception and Imaging", 2nd ed, Focal Press, p.98

Norman McLaren's abstract animations were drawn directly on the film strips. His films are inspirational for this work because they were created by manipulating the film medium itself.

The relationship between the sculpture and architecture, and the fusion of both has been important for Anthony Caro. In his work "Early One Morning" (1962) Caro created three horizontal levels: an extended arm, a level plane, and the ground itself.