Expert: Andrew Ransavage - 10/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: I had a photography idea in mind that I have no idea how to make happen. I would like to capture the image of a person with a normal semiprofessional SLR camera. The person's image itself isn't so important as their shape. I would like to take all 3D information from the image or images I can to make it look like the person is made of water in 3D in the real world type image. Kind of like in the movie "the obyse" or the "don't go chasing waterfalls" music video. lol. I was thinking the model could be nude with maybe baby oil or something that will make their skin very reflective and take photos where the model, camera, and background are in fixed locations, but the lighting is strategically moved around for different photos. Do you have any idea of how something like this could work, and if there is 3D graphics software I could use to render the effect from 2D images? I somewhat doubt the average photographer would know how to pull this idea out. lol.

ANSWER: Sorry for the late response, I was on vacation.  That's a difficult task you're trying to do although it sounds like an amazing image if you could pull it off (I loved the Abyss! :) )  My gut reaction is that the person needs to be done in 3d and rendered on top of the photo.  A program like 3ds max or Maya could easily render that effect but this would require you to know that software.  The other option you could try is masking out the person (having them wear a colored bodysuit) and use an app like After Effects to replace their shape with an effect (blur, transparent lighting effect, etc...)  this would not require any 3d but would probably be a little messier.  Let me know if you have any other questions...

thanks,
Andrew

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QUESTION: With 3ds max or Maya I could creative the effect? I would just need the 3D model of the person? I could I get that information. Maybe make them pose for a long time and photograph around them from particular angles? Maybe all 6 square surface directions? And maybe even make them a shadow and their background completely white because they would be one large shape anyway?

Answer
In Max or Maya you would need a 3d model of a person to get the effect, there are free ones available. The only issue would be to get it in the right pose in which case you would have to edit the model.  Once you have that, a water material (also available online) could be applied and Max or Maya would do all the refractions/reflections for you over whatever photo you use as your background.  You can't really generate a 3d model by taking multi photos from different angles, you need the actual 3d mesh.  The good thing is since you're doing a person made of water you could probably get away with a simpler model of a human making it easier to edit and pose....  So you would need a 3d model of a human, the background photo without anybody in it, a water material applied to your model, at least one light source and then let Max or Maya render it for you...