Motion Capture Means Advances in Entertainment and Health
Motion capture is not new to film, nor is it any longer a particularly difficult thing to do. Simply put, motion capture (mocap or mo-cap for short), is the process of recording the movement of objects or people. This has applications beyond filmmaking including many fields such as sports, government, military, medical, and robotics. Its main use to date, however, had been in the enhancement of films using computer technology to either add realism or place elements it would not be safe, practical, or financially advantageous to do otherwise. While referred to as motion tracking when used for other purposes, in filmmaking and games this process more commonly refers to “match moving.” This is a cinematic technique allowing for the insertion of computer graphics into live-action footage and takes more skill to do so with the correct position, scale, orientation, and motion. This means that, at its most advanced, only high budget films can achieve truly professional results and must rely on professional cinematographers as well as a huge staff of animators. It can take a lot of money and a great deal of skill to get the cleanest, most realistic results as well as to insert computerized elements into a film that are all perfect relative to all of the objects or actors in the shot. This does not mean that others cannot use it effectively, though that has been the case in years past. Now, with advancements in tech bringing the necessary software to utilize motion capture to users commercially on a much larger scale, it is possible for more and more less professional videographers to use without needing the money or professional expertise formerly needed. Not only that, but evolving tech makes it much easier and faster to use to a smaller extent. Read more »
It may surprise some people to know how popular the sport of surfing has become. It has been a staple of Polynesian culture for centuries, likely first observed by Europeans in the eighteenth century. We now have professional surf competitions with large cash prizes, and there is even a sort of celebrity culture built around great surfers in many parts of the U.S. and the world. Petersterlingfilms.com is a website that pays homage to the sport of surfing in its many facets, created by a true enthusiast of the sport. It is, first and foremost, a website dedicated to photography and video, but that exclusively centered upon its creator’s favorite activity.