Captain's Log

Robot Monday admires Benedict Campbell

2012-02-21T02:00:00Z

Photographer and digital artist, Benedict Campbell, is one talented fellow. An experienced and sought after photographer, he produces images which command attention and capture the imagination. As described on his website, "With Benedict’s creative origins very much grounded in photography, his use of computer generated imagery has been to enhance reality, rather than detract from it. "

Campbell blurs the line between human and robot, while maintaining a level of beauty that boggles the mind. To see more from this talented artist, visit his professional site, or his personal site, where you can see images not available through his portfolio.

Bad Scifi Friday and "Attack of the Giant Leeches"

2012-02-10T15:00:00Z

"From murky underwater caverns, ooze monstrous aqua-beasts! FEAR will pierce your flesh until every nerve in your body...EXPLODES! Attack of the Giant Leeches!!"

Tilt-Shift rocks my (miniature) world

2012-02-08T13:15:00Z

Tilt-Shift photography might just be the coolest thing since sliced bread. No...really.

Although the technique has been around for a while now, I was recently reminded of it's awesomeness when I came across the work of Keith Loutit. This talented photographer and filmmaker from Sydney, Australia creates stunning Tilt-Shift films. His work has been featured around the globe, at the Guggenheim, and even on your own television screen. (Hello, CNN and Allstate commercial!)

Check out selections from his latest project, "Small Worlds" below, and stop by his site to learn more.

Small Worlds Project: New York. Pause while a clip is playing to share it.
Tilt Shift Video by Keith Loutit | Twitter | Facebook

Want to see more? Check out a few of Keith's older videos on VIMEO.

Robot Monday - KELOID

2012-01-30T14:00:00Z

Today's Robot Monday entertainment comes to us from the Barcelona based VFX company, BLR (Big Lazy Robot) - Great name, huh!?

KELOID is only a trailer right now, but we're hopeful there might be more to come. The visual effects are stunning, and the fact that the film is 100% CG...well, count me impressed!! Read an interview with J.J. Palomo of BLR HERE, and be sure to visit their site to check out more of their impressive work.

A little more about the story behind this fantastic trailer:

"Eliezer S. Yudkowsky wrote about an experiment which had to do with Artificial Intelligence. In a near future, man will have given birth to machines that are able to rewrite their codes, to improve themselves, and, why not, to dispense with them. This idea sounded a little bit distant to some critic voices, so an experiment was to be done: keep the AI sealed in a box from which it could not get out except by one mean: convincing a human guardian to let it out.

What if, as Yudkowsky states, 'Humans are not secure'? Could we chess match our best creation to grant our own survival?. Would man be humble enough to accept he was superseded, to look for primitive ways to find himself back, to cure himself from a disease that’s on his own genes? How to capture a force we voluntarily set free? What if mankind worst enemy were humans?.

In a near future, we will cease to be the dominant race.
In a near future, we will learn to fear what is to come."

(Note: You may want to view the trailer full screen, for full-on-awesomeness.)

Bad Scifi Friday thinks "It Came From Outerspace"

2012-01-27T12:00:10Z

"It's coming right at you! In the miracle of perfected 3 DIMENSION!...You'll remember it as your most startling Motion Picture experience! "It Came From Outerspace" - IN 3D!!!!"

Robot Monday - Apocalypse Bot

2012-01-23T12:00:07Z

Apocalypse Bot! The best thing about this paper craft Robot, is that you can download your very own Apocalypse Bot PDF!! Paper Craft makes me happy, and this little guy does not dissapoint.

Coming to us from Diabolickal PLAN (a fantastic site you should ALL check out!), "Nothing says Apocalypse like a postitive attitude and high-energy! Make it come true by downloading the free pdf ..., printing him, cutting him out, and taping him to a t.p. tube!"

I want to see your Apolalpyse Bot's adventures! Feel free to send pics on twitter to @thedownandnerdy, or post your pictures in the comments below. Onward...BEEP!

Bad Scifi Friday finds "The Lost Continent"

2012-01-20T13:35:00Z

"Rocket back 180 Million Years! The 8th wonder of the world...FOUND! Be among the first to see..."The Lost Continent!"

Stop SOPA and PIPA!

2012-01-19T01:49:00Z

I'm usually not one to share my political views out here in the vast chasm of the internet. However, SOPA and PIPA have pushed me to the edge. The legislation that is being proposed not only effects the lives and social media habits of us geeks, but every single person out there. (It starts with the US...but who knows what other countries will do something similar.)

Please, please, PLEASE watch the video below, and sign the petition. Tell your friends, and educate them on the policies which are being proposed. Otherwise, sites like mine will not have the freedom to do what we do...and you'll be stuck watching LOLcats for eternity. Oh wait...you might even not be able to watch THOSE! Scary...huh?

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

And if you're still confused, or just depressed...perhaps some music will help. ; )

Robot Monday - Origins

2012-01-16T12:15:00Z

This short film created by the talented Robert Showalter, follows an adorable Robot on his search to find out where he comes from. His adventure leads him to an interesting place...

Although the film was created as a part of his senior thesis, we can't help but ask...is there more to come??

Bad Scifi Friday braces for the "Beginning of the End"

2012-01-13T11:51:00Z

"New thrills to stagger your imagination! Never before has there been anything to compare to it! For the first time GIANT CREATURES TERRORIZE an ENTIRE CITY! Is this horror the..."Beginning of the End"?