With your background in underwater photography and science communication, what made you want to start a 3D modeling initiative?
I feel like I won the lottery with this project. It incorporates some of my greatest passions: wildlife photography, innovative technology, science, and conservation. No matter the medium (photography, video, and now virtual and augmented reality), I love shining a spotlight on the beauty and wonder of our natural world. So when two incredible scientists that I’ve worked with before – Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Dr. Duncan Irschick – approached me last year about collaborating on a 3D scanning project of live animals, I jumped at the opportunity. There’s been quite a learning curve adapting my photography skills to the more technical application of photogrammetry, but it’s exhilarating to be pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in 3D content production.
Speaking of pushing the boundaries, could you possibly fit any more cameras on that Beastcam™ array?
Well, our engineers are certainly trying! We’re currently up to 30 Canon G-16s on our primary array used to scan small reptiles and amphibians. But we’re always improving our current systems and developing new ones that will enable us to scan other animals of varying sizes and shapes. Since we’re working with live (and often moving) animals, our technology needs be fast, accurate, adaptable and portable.
December 2016 - Technology
SEVENSEAS - 127