For CG visual effects of the Action/ Sci-Fi Short Movie I am producing nowadays needs some HDR Images. So, for the first time, I am in a need of shooting some Photographs and make some HDRIs out of 'em. Here is a successful test I've done using some images shot at one of a locations I used for filming the short movie.
It was a viable experiment for breaking the ice on HDR Photographing...
Basically (At least for years in Digital video/Photo-graphy) we used 8bpc (8 Bits Per Channel) images. Each channel of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) represented by a digital code length of 8-bits (255 possible colour values). And together all three RGB channels we could specify 16777216 (255 X 255 X 255) colours (SVGA or True Colours). In true colours computer uses 24 'bits per pixel' (bpp) to store an image (8bits per each indivdual RGB channels).
HDR uses 32 bits per each individual RGB channel, allowing us to use very large dynamic amount of colours with greater contrast.
Basically What I did was; I shot 5 different Photographs using 5 different exposure values.
Ex -2, ISO 200. White Balance -Daylight Mood.
Ex -1, ISO 200. White Balance -Daylight Mood.
Ex 0, ISO 200. White Balance -Daylight Mood.
Ex 1, ISO 200. White Balance -Daylight Mood.
Ex 2, ISO 200. White Balance -Daylight Mood.
Then I stack them together. You can use software, such as; Photoshop or photomatix pro for this purpose. And refined image using available adjustment tools.
Here is the final HDR Image. (Click To Enlarge).
HDRI - Click To Enlarge
Camera Used - Canon PowerShot A480.
At least you need 3 photos shot using 3 different Ex values to produce a HDRI but more photos you use the outcome will be stunning.
I thought of providing more information upon making HDRI. But, I am afraid, these days I am running around the clock to finish the post production of my short movie.
Breaking the Ice Early in the morning... ________________________________________ Recently, I started making an experimental Action, Sci-Fi Short movie.
My intention was, successfully test an action sequence of a movie composed with CG Visual Effects. And more especially I wanted to test intense Editing style to give the punch of rush. And here I tend to use some stylized/ dramatic camera angles.
Editing was successful. Everything worked out the way I expected.
After 3 Days of shooting in 4 Different locations, we filmed approximately 696 shots and 242 shots were in printable quality (Or usable for the way I liked to edit).
As this was a ZERO Budget Movie we only had minimal facilities to filmed these footages.
Equipments used:
Protax HD7000 - 720p HD 30fps camera - (Only changeable settings in the camera was 'Exposure'. So I had to be tricky to film with it. Without manual settings for ISO values, Shutter Speed, frame rate... it was so hard to get the desired look. We had to shoot some footages twice because camera's sensor has a problem [factory error] - if camera used in a wide opened area (In our case express Rail Road) and if it is cloudy and happen to film objects faced sun's opposite direction [Sun is in front of the camera] camera only illuminate sky and really far objects... Simply characters or objects near to camera get too much darken. I learned that fact in first day of shooting in the evening. So had to shoot 'em again in the next day in broad day light [Middle of the day]. Also NO especial Gears for Depth of Field. Without a way to control the aperture I simply would not be able to gave utmost cinematic look to most of footages, at the way I wanted it. Camera only had two inbuilt focusing levels - Infinite and Macro. No Manual Focusing. But I tried my best to get the best out of it. And also I didn't have much time to experiment with camera. But I believe I did my best, at least for the very first time.)
Samsung C20 SD camcorder - Used to Video-graph behind the Scene. And Some Still photographed were shot as well.
Home Made Reflectors/ Diffusers - I bought 2 'Bristol boards' ($0.15 x 2) and stapled them together and bought a silver coloured paper (have no idea about the name of the paper and cost me $0.25) stapled it on to a one side of those stapled Bristol boards and made a cheapest 'Reflector'. And in most of the shots that were filmed in Rail Road and other open Areas, foreground (Separated character from background) was illuminated by using "my home made reflector".
My Sister (Chanuka Lakmali Hettiarachchi) Provided me with some make-up kits. And her help for make-up as well.
A Green cloth as a green screen. 2.5 meters. $1.40 per a meter.
ESP: Computer - A computer with "Intel Core 2 Duo" processor, "4GB" of Ram, And "On Board Graphic card" used for making every a bit of Computer Generated Visual Effects you see in this movie.
Though it was a almost ZERO budget movie, I believe I breath my unique style as possible as I could upon this small work of Art. Consider it as the VERY first Short movie made with Real Footages + Computer Generated Visual effects.
Now, I have the HARDEST part left with me; which is making Computer Generated Visual Effects. Which will be the most time consuming and self devoting part.
People Who Behind this task force:
Rumesh Tharanga - Director/ Producer/ Screenplay Writer/ Director of photography/ Visual Effect Supervisor... Etc.
Amila Saranga - Actor/ Assistance in Location Choosing/ Public and Media relationship Manager.
Nuwan Kalansooriya - Videographer/ Video documenting Behind the scene/ Photographing Behind the scene/ On location Lighting Assistance.
Rajitha Ayesh - Actor/ On location Lighting Assistance/ Behind the Scene Photography.
I would like to thank Umesh Muthumala so very much for Providing His Movie Camera and equipments for us for shooting.
And Would like to thank so very much to Danuka Chamara for Providing Cameras and equipments as well and his help on this production.
I find it an immense pleasure to Thank "Nuwan Kalansooriya" and "Rajitha Ayesh". Without their friendship and mammoth help, this wouldn't be a success and I never could do this alone.
And I should appreciate Amila Saranga's Brilliant performances. In a very short time (In a matter of minutes) He grasps what I wanted from him and he gave his utmost to Breath the life in to his character. Amila Saranga got all it needs to be a marvelous actor. I love his dedication over this work and I owe him so much for being behind with me in this very especial task.
Plot: A fictional planet called AUTOMATED WORLD (AMW) been invaded by a saucer shaped pirate planet called planet X. Actually, Planet X is an enormous Space ship which has an artificial sun ignited at the middle of ship.
In an intangible corner of the universe planet AMW is existed, and this planet belongs to a very rich alien life form that he uses this planet as his personal luxurious holiday inn. At the moment invasion taken place nobody in the planet but extremely advanced technology, sophisticated artificial intelligence which controls planet itself & defenses; moreover that, hi-tech weaponry which can make mass destructions!
KIT (Hi-tech car, inspired by the car of TV series Knight Rider), LadyA_ (a Robot), RT_ (a Robot [secret agent]) are the agents who are for protect the planet from any security breach or outer influence.
They would do anything whatever it takes to save the planet with the help of planet's technology.
This planet would be a treasure trove of power for pirate Planet X, and it would fight until the last missile.
So the war begins...
Writer - Rumesh Tharanga.
Credits.
The creator has got on with his imagination in his own peculiar manner. Especial effects and events occur in mind blowing way and actions are stylized. You will be swamped by the best avalanche of imagination ever created by Rumesh Tharanga yet.
Graphics has developed dramatically since the previous project!
Animations are attractive, spectacular camera movements and angles, sceneries and objects are carefully modeled and textured and painted, excellent story board, effective sound track... and much more have been added originally.
As usual, the end is strange, while everything seems happened pretty well after stroked the final and ultimate weapon, which attacked the planet X massively, the devastated planet X evolves itself into something else, something strange, putting both AMW and planet X into a singularity...
"1st place" - “Cartoon Competition” held by Sri Lanka RÛPAVÂHINI Corporation - 2008.
Story in Nutshell
A human robot (Roby) came from the planet Earth and a little girl lives in planet Hêlis Having a chat while they are on a journey. And their talk made a way to the little girl ask about the planet Earth from the Roby, heart tearing final pages of the planet Earth…
Another scientific victory of human’s; an experimental sun ignited at the near outer space of the Earth, thought as a giant leap made by human and believed as it would give them an eternal life.
But nor human cannot go against the low of Mother Nature, when they realizing that they have put endanger the entire planet and the life it contains it was rather late. Human were writing their own story as they wish until that moment… the moment that flipped their gift to curse.
As the new sun dawn at the dark side of the Earth it took the bubbling smile of the planet that lasted for billions of years. In a flip of a coin as the new sun begins to dazzle it put the full stop to the final pages of human journey and the life on the earth…
______________________________________________
Ëta is a robotic girl lives in planet Electra. Electra is a robotic planet exists in a different reaches of a universe, where life has evolved in a different form.
A weird explosion happens in a beyond extension of Electra and something alien got into Ëta's robotic body from the explosion shock waves and her entire robotic body transform into a different formation from that incident.
She becomes so desperate about what has happened to her and finding reasons and origin for her transformation becomes her obsession.
Two years have passed since that explosion. Ëta gets a hunch about an equipment that could clue her about what has happened to her. With the help of her robotic friend, RaZer, she steels the equipment.
All the hells break loose when they realize that they have walked themselves into a trap.
DemÖle is a powerful governor in Electra. He also has transformed by the explosion, corruption is the better word to describe what has happened to DemÖle, since last two years.
DemÖle sets a trap for Ëta and he prison her little sister and DËmand her to go on a quest. DemÖle asks Ëta to use the equipment she stolen and says, " it will guide her to something very important and bring it for him". Ëta got no other choices than doing as he DËmands, and she does it to rescue her sister.
To go on the quest she has to find another robot called DËma. She finds DËma at the largest flying vehicles competition in Electra. DËma is so playful character and she finds it hard to convince him to go on the quest with her. DËma as well, a transformed robot since two years and him also looking for answers.
DËma, Ëta and RaZer begin their journey. As they continue more and more robots begin to hunt what they are after and journey turns into a race and finding destination becomes more and more hard.
It occurs to them, their journey doesn't end in Electra. It turns out that to get to their destination, they have to voyage through universe and into a different universe.
Finally they find themselves in a distance planet called "Earth". But the planet seems so odd. Nothing seems to be working around there and it seems to be time has Stopped!
Eventually, they learn themselves the reasons for their transformation is an experiment conducted by three brilliant scientists in planet Earth and as a result of that particular experiment they invent a machine so furious and capable of doing things beyond our imagination. And DemÖle deceives Ëta to fetch that machinery to him.
Finally, saving Electra from destruction DemÖle tries to do and ensuring the existence of human race in Earth depend on final acts of DËma and Ëta.
Writer - Rumesh Tharanga.
Director - Rumesh Tharanga.
<Behind the Scene>
