3D Environments and Virtual Experiences

Digital Matte Environments
A selection of digital matte images. Live action footage was motion tracked, then a simplified 3D environment created to match the existing scene with modeled enhancements added. Over-painting was done in Photoshop and the cg additions were composited using Nuke and Fusion.
Small Satellite Visualizations
For a number of small satellite missions I created short animated shareables that provided a mission overview that illustrated milestones and objectives. Using CAD files provided by the project, I converted and optimized them for animation, created low-Earth environments and rendered/composited the final shots then edited them into a final video in Adobe Premiere.
SOFIA Airborne Observatory
A model built for a series of videos highlighting this airborne observatory, based on a converted 747sp aircraft. I modeled it from reference images found on the internet then integrated project-supplied .sla files of the internal telescope.
VIPER Lunar Rover
Created to support the unveiling of NASA's new lunar rover. Textured VIPER rover model + textures created by Johnson Space Center/Alberto Bertolin. I converted their FBX for use in Maya/Arnold and built a lunar environment with lighting based on storyboards I created to guide development and client approval. 
VR Experiences
A variety of virtual environments created using Maya, Skybox Mettle and Unity. These were created as tools for immersive visualizations and to allow visitors to tour normally inaccessible areas of NASA Ames Research or experience high altitude or deep space observations.
Europa Concept Art
Concept art created to provide creative direction to 3D development for an independent film. As art director, I created concept art, working drawings for modeling of shot elements, storyboards, and illustrations for lighting and composition reference.
Megalopolis
This matte painting of a futuristic megalopolis combined a 3D render with an existing view of contemporary Chicago. I started with a concept sketch and constructed the image from that initial image.
Apollo 11 Flyover
As teamleader of a digital matte group I led three artists in the research and development of 3D assets to recreate the conditions of launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral on July 16, 1969. I was responsible for creating various outlying buildings, the surrounding landscape and setting up lighting, rendering and compositing of the final shot.