Visualising the Sound of Nature

Andy Thomas creates a visual fusion between Nature and Technology, by taking photos and sound recordings of flora and fauna and producing audio responsive animations that visually represent the subject matter in beautiful and abstract ways. By using 3D software to digitize nature, he creates familiar looking structures such as insects and plants that move in a rhythmical dance to corresponding sounds. His work seeks to explore ideas such as self similarity in nature and how evolution and technology co-exist on this planet we call Earth.

Nightingale and Canary

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary  was commissioned by the Netherlands institute for sound and vision, these are some stills of the animation and work flow.

Bird sounds were digitally represented as moving 3D forms. Colours of plumage and the environments of the birds were reflected in the creation of these animations.

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary (audio visual project 2013)

Nightingale and Canary from Andy Thomas on Vimeo.

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Organic Studies

Organic Studies 2008 – 2013

Organic Studies 2008 – 2013

These are 2D organic sculptures mixing nature and technology. Photographs of moss and other plants were taken on field trips to Tasmania and Queensland Australia.

These were mixed with 3D generated forms created in 3DS max and Zbrush. Textures of the moss were used to paint the 3D forms before compiling them in Photoshop.

Fractal theories of self similarity were used as a foundation for the creation of this work.

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Bird Sound Sculptures

Bird Sound Sculptures 2014 (still imahe)

Bird Sound Sculptures 2014 (still image)

A selection of 3D generated sculptures which are a depiction of what bird sounds would look like frozen in time.

These are hand crafted using a wacom tablet and sculpting software called zbrush.

Dust and liquid are added using particle simulation software and are also frozen in time as the camera pans around the objects

Bird Sound Sculptures 2014 (still images)

Bird Sound Sculptures 2014 (still images)

3D Sculptures Volume 1 from Andy Thomas on Vimeo.

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Visual Sounds of Finland

Visual Sounds of Finland (audio visual project 2016) - still images

Visual Sounds of Finland (audio visual project 2016) – still images

I was commissioned by the Finnish Nature centre at Haltia to travel to various locations around Finland to record bird sounds and created animated visualizations that represent the subject matter in abstract ways including the colour of their plumage, eggs, diet and natural surroundings.

Particle effects software was used to recreate physical properties including liquid, smoke, light, and plants. Representing the four elements: earth, wind, water and fire.

The animations were created at super high resolution to be played on the big curved screen at the Nature Centre.

Visual Sounds of Finland (audio visual project 2016)

Visual Sounds of Finland (audio visual project 2016)

 

Visual Sounds of Finland Sampler from Andy Thomas on Vimeo.

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