United3dArtists

Thank you for looking, and also many thanks to all who have take the time to post feedback.
It means a lot, even if I don't say it enough.

It has been a difficult couple of years and my artistic output, such as it is, has taken a corresponding hit.
In a way, my 'online life' mirrors my 'real life'- I don't have many friends but the ones I do have are truly appreciated.

Went skating on the lake, words, pics and a video here.

Ice got kind of sketchy, so I went hiking out to Edsel Ford's old hideout, words, pics and no video here.

What are gutter spikes and what do you do with them when skating? You have a bunch of good videos. Is the Vermont stone texture seamless? May I download it and use it in CG?

Yes, two of the stone textures are seamless , free to use.
Hit the 'open image in new window' icon and download from there.

Used this tool to make them seamless: http://www.imgonline.com.ua/eng/make-se ... exture.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I used to use my old copy of Micrographix Picture Publisher to do them myself, not sure where that program CD even went.

Use of gutter spikes:

Back on the ice.
So nice.
Weird how it's somehow less scary skating on glass clear ice after dark.
Another small photo gallery and a video at the link.

Vid from last week before the warmth, wind and rain.
Pic from last night: Crispy, crusty, the overall smoothness that you see in the video linked above is gone, now it's patchy.
Looks smoother further out.
Didn't trust it much and stayed near shore although I did see 3 other skaters cross the middle.
Judging from the cracks, some places looked like a solid 6 inches thick, others only looked like 3.
Lots of creaking and cracking, but that's 'just the normal noises in here' around sunset.
Trying to decide if I want to hit it again today- forecast is for rain tomorrow and steadily climbing temps.
Maybe I'll post a small photo gallery later.

UPDATE: it's later, here's the gallery. http://www.spacekdet.com/photo/1_15_17/
As usual, to see any image larger hit the 'open in new window' icon
I did go back out today, much smoother out in the middle.
Quite a few other skaters were out there. I guess they saw how much fun I am having.
Waiting for the Moon to rise and I'll probably head back out.

Phun in the Phog <gallery>

Throwback Thursday; here's a set from just before the world changed.
A August 2001 trip around Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It inspired some of my later 3D work.

More ice macros and an attempt to view the Lunar Eclipse.
Not sure how much I saw but the skating sure was nice. Best viewed large.

You can think of endless names for cracks in ice.