Problem Solving in the Dome – the HDR solution

When I first started working in the fulldome environment, one of my biggest frustrations in the dome was the inevitable washing out of images. At IAIA, our 24′ digital dome currently has 6 – PLUS U7 projectors. Each of these projectors has 3500 ANSI with a contract ratio of 2000:1. Add this low contrast ratio to the photon splash that occurs in a spherical theater and images that look gorgeous on a monitor become lifeless on the dome. High Dynamic Range (HDR) techniques solve the problem.

The average human eye sees at about 10,000:1 contrast ratio. A high end DSLR camera shoots a single image at around 2000:1 contrast ratio. Place this images in the dome with a projection system of 2000:1 and add photon splash and the image washes out to about 500:1 (just a guess, not an actual measurement). The details of the images are simply lost in translation. My first approach in attempts to solve this problem was to increase the contrast and the saturation of the image. Although this would help, it still left me completely frustrated.

While reviewing the materials for the highly anticipated xRez training session, I began to review the techniques they would be teaching. High Dynamic Resolution immediately caught my eye. While in Portland’s Powell’s Books, I picked up two books; Practical HDR by Jack Howard and Practical HDR by David Nightingale. Through these two texts I began to see the world and the images I shoot in a completely different light. Not only has this process saved my photographs for the dome, it has enhanced my overall photographic skills for all mediums.

After learning about HDR, I immediately began to shoot bracketed photos with my Canon x3i using the automated settings in the menu. I tried Photoshop’s Merge to HDR Pro with fair results. Then I downloaded a trial of Photomatrix Pro. Within 10 minutes I purchased the full version and was hooked.

My first HDR photo. Bagby Hot Springs, Oregon.

Some people say that HDR is just a fad technique and things look to fake and overly illustrated, but take this image and place it on a digital dome and it is an excellent solution. There are many variations within HDR tonemapping techniques from illustrative to realistic. My tastes tend towards more realistic results, but I find some images call for the more grungy illustrated look.

Single shot

HDR photo

Fall 2011, the first assignment my students tackled in the Digital Dome Production I course was shooting HDR photos using a Canon x3i and a Sunex 5.6mm f/5.6 Super Fisheye lens. The assignment taught students to begin to visual the sphere and understand placement of images on the dome. They experimented with angles, perspectives, and various subjects. At the same time, they were learning HDR and creating stunning images that popped on the dome.
IAIA Tutorial on shooting HDR

Student Images

IAIA Dorms by Bryan Akipa

Railyard by Fernando Charley

Bridge by Jessie Bennett

Wood by Louva Hartwell

Duck Pond by Joseph "Seph" Turnipseed

From this foundation, my student developed skills in 360° spherical panos and 360° horizontal panos all using the HDR process. I am very interested in exploring HDR video processes and am currently developing ways to increase contrast in video for the digital dome. Look for more posts in the future with these tests.

For more information on HDR, check out
Wikipedia
A Versatile HDR Video Production System
And you know a web search will find all kinds of wonderful information.

IAIA to present at the College Arts Association Conference in Los Angeles

In February, our Digital Dome Director, Ethan Bach accompanied by two New Media Arts students, Joseph “Seph” Turnipseed and Fernando Charley will present as part of the New Media Caucus events being held during the College Arts Association conference in Los Angeles, California. The presentation will include examples of student and artist-in-resident work produced for the Digital Dome @ IAIA. This event will take place on Thursday, February 23 at 8pm at the Glendale Community College Planetarium.

Fernando Charley's still photo "Santa Fe Railyard"

Historically geodesic theaters have been used for exploring the stars in the planetarium. It is not until recent years that these theaters have become capable of presenting digital media. This innovation brings new life to the medium providing artists an endless amount of opportunities for creation. Still the fulldome medium has yet to define itself within the field of fine arts. With over 600 digital domes around the world, the content being produced and shown is primarily science based and primarily intended for a fourth-grade audience. There is now more than every a great opportunity for the new media artist to creative interactive immersive experiences in the dome environment. The Institute of American Indian Arts has quickly become a leader in opening up the spherical theater for artistic exploration.

About New Media Caucus
The New Media Caucus is a non-profit, international membership organization that advances the conceptual and artistic use of digital media. The NMC represents artists whose media are expanding with developments in digital technology, artists working in emerging media such as robotics, virtual reality, interactive and installation environments as well as artists working in established digital areas of video, sound and graphics. By providing forum for the critical review of new media practice, the caucus increases the visibility and presence of new media practitioners.

About College Arts Association
Mission Statement
The College Art Association (CAA) promotes the visual arts and their understanding through committed practice and intellectual engagement.
Vision Statement
The College Art Association advances the highest standards of instruction, knowledge and practice in the visual arts to stimulate intellectual curiosity and advance skills that enrich the individual and society.
To realize this vision College Art Association will:
1. Represent, promote and advocate for the visual arts nationally and internationally;
2. Create new opportunities for dialogue among members;
3. Explore new forms of communication using innovative and improved technology;
4. Address career development and workforce issues to assist professional growth;
5. Strengthen organizational leadership, membership and financial support

Deadline Extended: Call for work for Digital Dome @ IAIA for ISEA2012

Deadline:November 15, 2011
Apply here

Type of opportunity: Digital Artwork for Dome by Indigenous artists and/or about Indigenous people

Organization name: Digital Dome at Institute of American Indian Arts: College of Contemporary Arts (IAIA)
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Description of opportunity:
The Institute of American Indian Arts: College of Contemporary Native Arts is pleased to announce a call for digital artwork for their new Digital Dome. The Digital Dome @ IAIA seeks digital works by Indigenous artists or about Indigenous people. The work will be selected by Ethan Bach, Digital Dome Director and Ryan Rice, Museum for Contemporary Native Arts Curator and will be programmed to coincide with ISEA2012.
Entries are sought that utilize the immersive environment. Fulldome work or other digital work will be considered including video (with or without audio), digital still images, animation, 3D objects and panorama photography. A residency/workshop on producing artwork for the Digital Dome will be considered, dependent on funding.

Project resources:
Digital Dome technology and staff will be available to selected artists.

Description of site/venue:
The Digital Dome @ IAIA offers a unique combination of black box, planetarium, fulldome, and the world’s only full range articulating dome. The dome structure weighs 8,000 pounds, hangs from the ceiling, and can rotate 0° to 90° or can be place near the ceiling or the floor. This immersive, high-resolution environment is created by a 24-foot wide spherical screen, six projectors, and a 6.1 surround sound system. The Digital Dome @ IAIA is involved in groundbreaking research funded by the National Science Foundation for the fulldome, including the ability to display interactive content in collaboration with UNM ARTSLab and the Santa Fe Complex.

Application requirements:
Initial Submissions:

Video: Link to Vimeo or Youtube file or an .mov file on
DVD Stills: Email stills to digitaldome@iaia.edu or provide link.
If work is chosen for the show, the artist must provide a dome master (IAIA can provide support in creating a dome master when necessary):
Dome Master:
NTFS or HFS+(OS X) formatted hard drive, “DomeMaster” format required (circular image within square frame — example available upon request), 30 frame per second image sequence, image sequence of frames, must be at least 2048 x 2048 (2k) in PNG file format, use 5 digit numbering sequence. For example: firstname_lastname2011_00000.png. Submit sound as 6-channel mono wav files, 48khz, 16-bit (even if using a stereo or mono mix).
Need help creating a dome master? See ARTS Lab Tutorials: Hue’s Beginner’s Guide to Fulldome Production

Description of sponsoring organization:
IAIA is a four-year institution of higher education, which helps foster the spirit and vision of Native American and Alaska Native people. Founded in 1962, the Institute of American Indian Arts offers academic excellence to both Native and non-Native populations. Their goal is to advance and support contemporary native art and artists.

Call for Work at the Digital Dome @ IAIA

The Institute of American Indian Arts is accepting submissions for digital dome projects to be exhibited during currents 2012: The Santa Fe International New Media Festival – June 22 thru July 8, 2012 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The selected work will be screened at the Digital Dome @ IAIA housed in the new Science and Technology building at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

Currents / Digital Dome @ IAIA 2011

We are looking for work that makes use of the dome for its artistic potential rather than as a museum presentation or fulldome show. All thematic concepts will be considered.

Submission Deadline: March 2, 2012 / Submission is Free.

Initial Submissions:

Please complete the online Submission Form by clicking here

Video for dome projection:
Email link to Vimeo or Youtube file or mail .mov on DVD

Stills for dome projection:
Email stills or provide link.

Provide brief artist bio and statement

Email contact: digitaldome@iaia.edu

Mailing Address:
IAIA
Ethan Bach
SCITECH 109
83 Avan Nu Po Road
Santa Fe, NM 87508, USA

If your work is chosen for the currents 2012 Festival, you must provide a dome master:

Dome Master:
* NTFS or HFS+(OS X) formatted hard drive (Please include cables and necessary hardware)
* “DomeMaster” format required (circular image within square frame — example available upon request)
* 30 Frame per second image sequence
* Image sequence of frames, must be at least 2048 x 2048 or preferably 4096 x 4096
* Use 5 digit numbering sequence, eg. firstname_lastname2011_00000.png
* Submit sound as 6-channel mono wav files, 48khz, 16-bit (even if using a stereo or mono mix)
* No titles, credits, watermarks or logos within viewable area.

Need help creating a dome master, click here.

Information on the Digital Dome at the Institute of American Indian Arts

If you have any questions, contact Ethan Bach at digitaldome@iaia.edu

Currents event 2011 @DigitalDomeIAIA

Attendees watching Digital Dome Works

We thank all the participants  and attendees for our Event at Currents 2011.Overall it was a major success with over 100 people in attendance for the 3 hour event.

This is the first time that IAIA Digital Dome has hosted a public new media event displaying international and national artists. With it’s success at our backs we are already in the the planning stages for more public events where people from all over the world can submit their works. We will be posting these calls for work and artist in residence as they develop. 

Our Digital Dome at the Institute of American Indian Arts offers a variety of innovative space ideal for research, video production, full-dome production, special events, fund-raising events, and events that support our mission of combining science, art, and technology.

List of Artists That Particpated Below:

DIGITAL DOME WORKS
Ethan Bach, Charles Veasey (USA) www.ethanbach.com www.charlesveasey.com
David Colagiovanni (USA) www.colagiovanni.net
Bonnie Lane (Australia) www.bonnielane.net
Jonathan Strawn, Allison Hagerman (USA)http://finearts.unm.edu/artslab.htm
University of Applied Sciences – Potsdam http://design.fh-potsdam.de/
Daniel Wiek, Moritz Degan (Germany)
Lea Weber-Schafer, Julia Weisner (Germany)
UNM Students http://finearts.unm.edu/artslab.htm
DataMiner, Mitchell Marti (USA)
Mind Glitch, Ruben Olguin (USA)
IAIA Students – www.iaia.edu
Sydney Davis (USA)
Bryan Akipa (USA)
IAIA STUDENTS & STAFF -DOME STILLS
Louva Hartwell  (Navajo)
Ethan Bach
Jamelyn Ebelecker (Santa Clara)
Daniel Grignon (Menominee Nation)
Aaron Natewa (Zuni)
SINGLE CHANNEL ARTISTS
Orlando Leibovitz, Andrew Elijah Edwards, and James Brody (USA) www.orlandoleibovitz.com
Javier Felipe Gonzales Echeverri (Columbia)
Florian-Ayala Fauna (USA)
Leena Minifie (Canada) IAIA Student (Tsimshian, Gitxaala) http://www.storiesfirst.ca/

Currents 2011: Digital Dome @ IAIA New Media Arts Festival – Santa Fe, New Mexico

We are getting geared up to show some terrific dome work next Saturday, June 11 from 1pm to 4pm at the Digital Dome @ IAIA as part of the Currents 2011: New Media Arts Festival. Our two student interns are doing a terrific job of making dome masters – thanks Leena Minifie and Seph Turniseed.

Several local and international artists will be showing work. Check out the list of work to be shown in the press release below.

No.217 by Lea Weber-Schafer and Julia Wiesner

Currents 2011: Digital Dome @ IAIA

Santa Fe, New Mexico – June 1, 2011 – Currents 2011 and Digital Dome @ IAIA presents video art from around the world including Australia, Germany, Columbia and the United States at the Digital Dome. Become part of the immersive environment of this one-of-a-kind digital dome through this dynamic space of multidimensional imaging and sound.

The Digital Dome @ IAIA will be inaugurated as a fine art space for the larger Santa Fe community with Currents 2011. As Currents moves into its second year, many more venues are available in Santa Fe. The Digital Dome @ IAIA opened in November 2010 where hundreds of people turned out to witness the unveiling of this unique fulldome theater. The digital dome is the only dome in the world that is fully articulating – it can move up or down and can rotate from 0° to 90°.

Currents 2011: Digital Dome @ IAIA will not only showcase work on the dome, but will also showcase single channel video and interactive design in the lobby.

Artist work includes James Brody, Orlando Leibovitz, and Andrew Elijah Edward’s Big Bang, Ethan Bach and Charles Veasey’s Collaborate, David Colagiovanni’s Charting Course for the Unknown, Bonnie Lane’s An Ordinary Grind, Daniel Weik and Moritz Degen’s 3910, Lea Weber-Schafer and Julia Wiesner’s No.217, Jonathan Strawn and Allison Hagerman’s Cathedral, Javier Felipe’s GrandPaw’s Song, Florian-Ayala Fauna’s Falling into a Dream, Mitchell Marti’s DataMiner, Ruben Olguin’s Mind Glitch, Louva Hartwell’s Mandala, Sydney Davis’ xyz, Leena Minifie’s Interconnectivity, and Bryan Akipa’s Ta-Hok-Mu.

Charting Course for the Unknown by David Colagiovanni

This event will take place on Saturday June 11, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The Digital Dome @ IAIA is located just past the Santa Fe Community College at the Science and Technology building at the Institute of American Indian Arts at 83 Avan Nu Po Road. From SFCC, turn right onto Avenida Del Sur. At the three-way stop, turn left onto Avan Nu Po Road. Take your third left into the IAIA campus. The Science and Technology building is straight ahead.

Please visit our online presence on Facebook www.facebook.com/DigitalDomeIAIA or our blog www.DigitalDomeIAIA.wordpress.com.

Contact: Kirsten Jasna,  505-424-2309, kjasna@iaia.edu or Ethan Bach, 505-424-2349, ebach@iaia.edu for more information.