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Size: 154 kb
Tools: POV-RAY, PhotoShop
Date: June-July 2002
Description: A windows PC dreams of being something better... which can only mean a Mac (in this case, a flat panel iMac). The PC and desk were modelled more or less on the ones I use at work. The iMac was the result of a few hours in a local computer store and enduring the puzzled stares of the staff there. This was my first entry into the Internet RayTracing Competition. Lighting the thought bubble and iMac without lighting the rest of the scene was pretty tough.
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Size: 59 kb
Tools: POV-RAY, PhotoShop
Date: Sept-Oct 2002
Description: Standing on the surface of Io watching a sulfur volcano erupt, as Jupiter hangs in the background. The date on the clock is exactly 200 years after Neil Armstrong took his first step on the moon. I had intended to texture Jupiter with POV-RAY's built in texturing capabilities, but it proved more than I could do in the time I had. Thus I ended up finding a picture of Jupiter (I think on NASA's website), improving the color in PhotoShop, and using that. This was my second entry into the Internet RayTracing Competition.
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Size: 49 kb
Tools: POV-RAY
Date: Dec 2001
Description: I couldn't find candles to light for Hannukah in 2001, so I lit a virtual menorah. There was one for each of the 8 nights, with each night adding features as well as candles. I'm quite proud of the flames, if I do say so myself.
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Size: 59 kb
Tools: POV-RAY, PhotoShop
Date: 2002
Description: My friend Jeffrey and I tried starting up our own company to film a series of spec commercials for Minute Maid. Minute Maid never bought the commercials, but I think the logo for our company is still neat.
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Size: 52 kb
Tools: POV-RAY
Date: July 1, 2004
Description: My third entry into the Internet RayTracing Competition, This depicts a space elevator tethered between a massive space station and a planet. The planet's spin actually keeps the structures from falling (much like your spin does when you hold a rock by a string and twirl). I first read about the idea in The Endless Frontier, and thought it suitable for the "Epic Proportions" competition. The planet is about Earth-sized (8,000 mi in diameter). The stations are about 12,000 miles out and 2,000 miles wide. The elevator nearest the viewer is 20 miles across, but the other one is 260 miles across (much smaller, and it you wouldn't be able to see it!). The clouds are a little higher than is realistic (50 miles rather than 15 miles). I'm rather proud of how I textured the planet. It turned out pretty well for only spending a few hours on the whole thing.