Moiré

What if matter was nothing but multi-dimensional moiré patterns? by Julius Horsthuis - the intentional noise in this video makes compression very hard. It's best viewed by downloading the original .mp4 rendered in Mandelbulb3D music: "Cosmos II" by Murcof

Background
The world of Moiré came into existence when i played with some parameters from another project and suddenly switched off Julia. Immediately there was an eerie, dark beauty in the world in front of me, but it was just too noisy. Sometimes when playing with fractals you just get some crazy noise, and this combination of functions seemed to generate quite a lot of it. Usually noise is not a good sign, and you start tweaking until it's gone, but this was different. most of the time I render my fractals with 2X anti-aliasing, but in this case I had to use 3x aa. (More then doubling the render times) I found then when these noise patterns where softened by the Anti-aliasing they created a beautiful texture. There's a lot of clipping artifacts in this one, but I still like it because it's so damn alien. In compositing stage, I've treated the distant objects like they are colored with something like a ballpoint. I'd used a song from murcof before, and another from the same album seemed befitting of this weirdness.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....c3...eA...w....26...U0azT/l58xz2sgvR4Yk10EX17WNtL59zfZtdIX5I.8.TZFTeiDsJzD xzzzzzzzDy9.....................9mnuM5NXF/2........Y./h.................2/2...wD ...Uz6....UE1.../gj0/......U4...F1...2E5.....60ZbYL5XMhD/.......BFMd./.........U ./EnAnoD12..1..........wzMaNaNaN4BvjBnAnAnAnYz1...........U0......2...sD...../.. .z1...kDA5cJZOnJGvf.YGf/LA3eymbv1Zs67UgD6s.nMvuZ5vPyeONbHVccy0dpICdfK8hjTN0.Hy5T iuH8KKdOxrQpy4yCjBIYXAbDU.....YMF...VQ...2EnAnoD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................S....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.O.g7.q/...Y1....C....3/...k6....4....I/...A1.....wN52 ...U.CrZzyD7fwmz6iddznfl91M.3Iozzzzz..E3VqZrgjzj6U.Ehl2IlzH...........0.bwDetOA. .wzMt9O4xy1.s9PIkfn/./..........U2U1znRuh1..2YKiAFi..vlB7rmF5DxD...........6/Elz s8yv...OFpoyQ4yjjxeb8CMC5.2...........W.QwTzjPA...u8ODFjfz18OLKB3c90./.......... U.kMyHwpi1..UBp6JXwsz.kmdZCq.Y.k.............YLQS/k1DwkUpkkJcp5.Dwk11uK3RpJL.wk1 DAs2Ss3TC0k1DwkUFNWpKPB.Pgl41SMAKPhp.....AMvINhpK1....kUAOJTxp5.U08c1SmP1Jn6.IPh pC60kNhpK1....kU...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....ME/F3E.....I....g....EHdV5IdtqQfZ4B.IaQ................................Ak.1 Ak.1.................NaNaNaNaNzD........kz1........szMaNaNaNatxD........cy1..... ..Ujz0.................kiz1.......gzz0.......................................... .....................2.....3....3....wpIdtKK.................................... 02E./2........................zDnAnAnAnCRzHaNaNaNaFwzAnAnAnAnQyDnAnAnAnA4z1..... ................................................................................ ................................/....E/....0....TVKNgZqQkZaQVl4................. ..........U/4M...6U..MU/................EzXaNaNaNaNiz.......653EOaNaNaNaty1..... ................................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....E....kLmJqMd/bQjBKMgZpAW/.. .....................MV3............1Ak.0.ED8QxckpXuzUxckpX0LHyDBnAnAnAvrzXNaNaN aNswz........................................................................... .....................................................6.....3....6....2YEjVrIkVKN mJqHaNqQZF5BY/...................Q........U/4..................E........Uz1..... ...wz.....................UaNaNaNatkz........................................... ................................................................/....E/...k1.... BZ4SEZaPnhKOoI4S.................................k.1Ak.1A.................2..... ...vz.........zD........Uz1........sz........................................6zD ..................k4./........yD........Uz1........sz.........yD............} {Titel: Moire}

Nothingness

"It’s like Interstellar, but without the narrative or humans. I suggest you put this on full screen and make sure you have your sound on – soundtrack choice is amazing."
IVAN SERGEJEV, ARCHITECTURAL BLOGGER

Archaic Fractals. by Julius Horsthuis music: "Cometa"by Murcof

Background
Once, on a Friday, the render farm was idle and I decided it would be a waste if nothing would be rendering over the weekend. I quickly did a 'fly-though' of a simple fractal, and tweaked some sliders. The next Monday, after having checked the renders, I told myself it didn't look that good - no real progression, no revelation, ugly colors and too much morphing detail, causing serious frame blending artifacts when time stretched. (I always time stretch the fractals- as rendering every frame is usually too render intensive) After a couple of weeks I tried some things with the raw renders, and saw that black and white really improved the look. Then, I started to use some 'old film' effects, such as dirt and scratches. Especially the flickering gave it a very trance-like feel.. I ramped these effects up, starting low, and slowly increasing, as the music progresses as well. Another effect I used, besides the heavy depth of field, is a layer of directional blur, blanketing the straight surfaces with a kind of strings. This I thought looked like the tesseract scene from Nolan's movie 'Interstellar' that had just come out. Murcof's score enhanced this effect to the maximum.
This movie has been re-rendered into the virtual reality experience 'from nothing' , however it looks and sounds totally different. It's in color, 3d and with a different score by Christopher Libertino. But the motion, morphing camera and speed are exactly the same.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....H2...a6...w....26...k.M4ffmIkuzwaNbnC25uyDPJA9lxnQHzHjLGSSR8smzyuL7S25pgyD ................................jp1Sgp9c102........Y./h.................y.2...wD ...Uz6....U3..../QU0/....2kE/...u1...2E5.....YwCSHUVebeD/.......BFM7z.......aNa7 ./....kD12..02.........wzMaNaNaN4BvjBnAnAnAnYz1...........U0......2...sD...../.. .z1...kDKYFALSFRgufQOwxYgZSMyW3Q6W0XG1djtz1nlsEpEuHh4/gFNRd1y6ehy4YKulejSmVzE4/I VtXVP2oTamOfyuywnBADt7YDU.....IQ....d.........sD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................Q....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.U..6.P....I4...EB....J0...c3....F....6/...I1.....SF52 ...U.W1KEyDW8XwzsU3Yzz8eX06.2k..tGzz...wQOr9PEzD6Eot8VlJaz1.............5xz71V0. .s6QZJdbqz9.M4n5/A7yzC........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz.............0...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1....................................8cU0.E./2Ezz/cU08../2E.tzDU08c.k6X A0IzT/8cU0UbSu7EQs5cU08.DysX./bTU08c..2E./2ly/8cU0.E./2EMw5cU08../2E.lqTU08c..2E ./2kz/8cU0.E./2E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c................................ E....ME/F3k.....I....g....EHdV5IdtqQfZ4B.IaQ................................Ak.1 Ak.1......EnAnAnAnQ0.BnAnAnAngyD........kz1........szMaNaNaNatxD.......Erz1..... ..Ujz0.................kiz1.......gzz0.......................................... .....................6.....3....6....2YEjVrIkVKNmJqHaNqQZF5BY/.................. .Q............................yD........Uz1........rz.....................UaNaNa NaNOz........................................................................... ................................/....E/..../....T7LNXZ4QmxqMVlKKn64............. ..........U3K....6U...E11A......xckpX0LDezXD8QxckpntzsAnAnAnAwyDaNaNaNaVnz1..... ................................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....I....kLHZaPN/.............. .....................6E./2E.4MU/4M.................wzAnAnAnAvoxDNaNaNaN4lznAnAnA nAntz........UtD................................................................ ...........................................................3....6....w3OZlKOn/LO m34P............................4MU/..U.0....................................... .....gf53iSIsutD.2LD8Qxcgx9..................................................... ................................................................/....E/...k1.... BZ4SEZaPnhKOoI4S.................................k.1Ak.1A.................2..... ...vz.........zD........Uz1........sz........................................... ..............................yD........Uz1........sz.........yD............} {Titel: Nothingness}

Convergent Evolution

Due to the phenomenon of Convergent Evolution, we can expect to see familiar shapes on planets in distant solar systems. Like on this one, where everything is connected. Fractal animation has not much in common with traditional animation. The fractal animator uses sliders controlling various formulas, that control how the shapes manifest on a global scale (If you tweak anything in a formula, everything changes) Then there are more traditional methods such as camera work and lighting to put these newly discovered shapes up for display. by Julius Horsthuis music: "Healing Ceremony" by James Horner

Background
This was an experiment to get a clean z-buffer. Normally I render the fractals at 1920 x 1080 with 2x anti-aliasing. This means that it renders internally at 3840 x 2160 and downsamples the framebuffer, smoothing out the jagged edges. Unfortunately, this process also smooths the z-buffer, which is never a good idea because it introduces unwanted artifacts when adding Depth of field in post. Usually I just take this for granted, but here I wanted to get it right, so I rendered everything at 4K without anti-aliasing. The entire post production pipeline had to be 4k as well, calculating the DOF also in 4K. I only downsampled to 2K at the end. This definitely resulted in a much cleaner image, but it took a lot more work and time in post. I know I can use this trick when the image quality has to be absolutely spot-on. Also, I used Particular in order to introduce some floating particles which felt like seeds from a pollinating flower. Because I thought the bluish hue and alien forest looked a bit like Avatar, I used a track from that movie to complete the magic.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....H2...a6...ET...26...kaNUE.Fyt5.Xfx3fLqea6Et9bEFSUKuzXa5o0RZTD1.TwshXAq3j/k ................................/uhEHbsVC.2........Y.FD........E........2/2...wD ...Uz6/...ER.....Q.1/....2.L/...8/...2E5.....gv6vsKTLAoD/.......Rpqe//......nAng ./EnAnQD12../2...........cNaNaNaNExDnAnAnAnA7.2............3.....y1...sD...../.. .w1...kDiw4SaSrJ0x11YKIUiSo4zYntZPzCt.mDqOKp4XO9ZwfdPzkPJWaBz6niGtIw9onDGBS0BFBL PvHxeT7QkSWDz8gSGRgMfRnDU.....oZ....v....2....sD.2....sD..G..................... ..........U/.pAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................E.....x/ .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.U..6.K/...w5...EB....b/...25...EF....4/...I0.....SJ52 AJ3U.W1KEyjVAXtzsU3YzbNis06.2gnzz5Ti...Ti5Tjp8zD6AL9s6Jkkz1...........k.lwjmwTA. .IFcRtBvPz9.1y3YKM3..D........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz............s/...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................ctbb0.6U.0EMdl7ds0.RpJL.ZI6bYW9.oJL R/2V1FI9L......ENYIDrQ0......J.HBpm1......oIEFidG/.6U.0E9P3Ajp0.zwnD.hQLRsZ4.6cU 00Ikz/8cU0.E./2E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c................................ E.E/1I.307U.....I....E....kL1J4PoZqMBx4NZ/EMg/..............................Ak.1 Ak.11.....kAnAnAnAHwzCnAnAnAnAvDbNaNaNaNaz9..................UzD........sz1..... ...wz........................................O4EnAnAnAnAXzXaNaNaNaNiz........... ........sz1..........A...../....1....2IPVdLOiR460x4S.65......................... .Qk0..........................zD..........kPxckpX0Hvz........................... ................................................................................ ................................/....E/...U/....TRaPV75PnE2..................... ..................U...E11A......Vf53iSIMtzXaNaNaNaNezcNaNaNaNavDOaNaNaNaty1..... ...0./.........E................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....c.....GVlaNDB4R7NoI.sKG4B3. ..........................U/4MU/4Mk.1Ak.0.UnAnAnAnAwz........MzjnAnAnAnA3.A..... ...oz........60E.......UW.2........8./.......O/k................................ .....................................................I....U/....1....MoPgFKOiR46 7t4RU.pPr/......................8..0...........................EaNaNaNaFk.gNaNaN aN4../........zD................................................................ ................................................................} {Titel: Convergent Evolution}

the Hard Problem of Consciousness

"Julius Horsthuis's beautiful CG short, visualizes the wiring of the human brain."
CG CHANNEL

Consciousness is still a very difficult thing to understand, but we know it has something to do with the trillions of connections in our brains. Our Fractal brains. Because the grey matter has developed in a similar way as these visuals: very simple beginnings bring forth infinite complexity. by Julius Horsthuis music: "Ladakh" from Michael Stearns

Background
This short started as a variation on ' convergent evolution ' which uses the same set of parameters. Also I experimented with reflections, something I don't often use because it increases render times and barely ever looks good on curved and detailed surfaces. However, on these flowing lines and wires it gave a great liquid metal look that I really liked. I kept the color palette to a minimum and used a stark whitish background. I did quite a lot of heavy time remapping, and as a result had to re-render some bits at twice the frame rate to hide the artifacts. Having tried other music first that didn't quite work I really liked the analogue sound of raw instruments,, and settled on a score from the movie 'Samsara' by Michael Stearns.

get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....k1...Q6...ET...26..YW0uuptaIB6.Lmb3L4m/X.ExSZfirS1b.A44V/3MmB5.7AIvqbkF00k ................................F3fzXm8uv.2........Y.dH........E.......U4/2...wD ...Uz6/...EV.....Qk5/....2k2/...n/...2E5.....gbyNGHOWHjD/.......Rpqe//.........U z.UaNadD12..02...........cNaNaNaNExDnAnAnAnA7.2............3.....y1...sD...../.. .w1...kD2dQZX.QOCwHdC4RQTV71zKYESJajLOgje8o9jM2XFv9qxU6KWoLcyC4i/NouOHljhHU7szvW Aw1eXb5sG5b1zUDsVa2rpggjU.....Ih....k....2....sD/2....sD..G..................... ..........U/.pAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................M.....x/ .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1ES..6.h....24...UD....E1...c3...UE....A/...I1.....wJ52 .c1U.ydelyTSPqtzTeOgz9qSs/6.1s..zzzz...pMnDnNqyD6MJOyyyDuz1...........k.8.kXWF1. .sM93P58iz9.MmnWK2zwz0........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz.............0...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................21E6/ERpJ5SjtX5hM0.jxqP.AsD4MU/.Ypa oJs72NU/4.EKPGLVnNIIfJ5.a.l09qTLkwnF.ILRpBsbXhi2G.ERpJrUMlquG6/.pJLR1qEQl.2G.2MU /SsVw31E6/ELRpZK...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E.E/1I.307E.....I....E....kL1J4PoZqMBx4NZ/EMg/............................U..6.. 0.........kAnAnAnAHwzOaNaNaNaNxDOaNaNaNqbz9..................UzD........sz1..... ...wz........................................O4EnAnAnAnAXzXaNaNaNaNiz........... ........sz1..........Q...../....1....2IPVdLOiR460x4S.65......................... .Qk0.................oAnAnAngFzDBnAnAnAnUz9iSIsuFV5yz........................... ................................................................................ ................................/....E/...U/....TRaPV75PnE2..................... ....................0M..........vFVf53iSkzXaNaNaNaNezcNaNaNaNavDOaNaNaNaty1..... ...0./.........E................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....c.....GVlaNDB4R7NoI.sKG4B3. ..........................U/4MU/4M........UaNaNaNa7../.......Q.k................ ...oz........60E.......UW.2........8./.......O/k................................ .....................................................I....U/....1....MoPgFKOiR46 7t4RU.pPr/......................8..0...........................EaNaNaNaFk.gNaNaN aNC2./........zD................................................................ ................................................................} {Titel: The hard problem of consciousness}

Lingua Naturae

"I felt exactly like Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz as I dove headlong into Julius Horsthuis’s phenomenal film Lingua Naturæ."
STEPHE THORNTON - BLOGEGR

Feel like a fractal caving adventure? A quest for the language of nature. by Julius Horsthuis rendered in Mandelbulb3d, with additional techniques in 3DS MAX music: "One billion miles out" by Banco de Gaia

Background
The title is a reference to a quote from the movie 'Pi' by Darren Aronofsky: "mathematics is the language of Nature", which seemed fit for a natural world built by math. The piece features 7 vignettes, all rendered by the same combination of functions, some with and some without Julia mode. I enhanced the slow moving renders with various effects, but all were based on the 'photoscan' technique I explain in my tutorial . and perfected by Sander Mettes. The water surface in the cove is rendered in 3dsmax, using the scanned geometry to project on and render underwater with correct refractions, the caustics effect was done in a similar way. The frozen droplet is a realflow mesh, simulated by Lars Snelders. I wanted to create a soundscape and feel like we're diving deeper and deeper into an abyss, and wanted to use music from the luc besson movie 'Atlantis' by Eric Serra. However, the tracks were too long and didn't play well with the short, and then found a great track by Banco de Gaia that fitted the scene perfectly.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....r3...tA...w....26..g.K3yJAMeIyz.cLgNP7elzDPuEQdXPR7.wKkjjBIpU2.vGeEQIsQZzD ................................XEOL.e0Z702........Y./..................2/2...wD ...Uz6....UO/.../QU0/....2.WC...x0...2E5.....2T4FLnneofD/..........G0/......aNa7 z.U0LDOD12..1..........wz.................................U5.....y1...sD...../.. .zHnAngDXc8C3B8opufabm9LXOXgymgIfa4w0ddDJ1E9C75IFuv6Gy.nqJ1ZyGfU5ONyZlfjGiUOhehr munJ81rLNPXhyKBHGrZ9q2bDU.....YBA...36...2....sD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................q....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1UR..6.6/...61...EC....r/...U5...EC....A/...21.....SJ52 Gg1U.SGZKzzN3mvzbIdpzTKVw0660U0.sTRd...9QyEg/Bxj6wH35NAl6.A...........k.8.kXWF1. .sM93P58iz9.MmnWK2zwzC........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz.............0...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................oMOI/k6Ukl6KOoPsw0.X.05X2kHUSH7.M02 9M0jLVNO7/k6Ukl6hkZMv/2.X.05XYaLdh7F.2PglOmvxpWUl.UU08c7Mw5crI0.a.l0akqTUSH7.M02 9M0kz/uBZ.U7EgU7...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....ME/F3E.....2....A....EEh3aSdtqNU6oPs/UQ..........................k/9....... ..........UaNaNaNatyz........0/EnAnAnAnAPz1..................................... ................................................................................ .....................2.....3....6....coEp7KNn................................... K...........BAk.1AU..Ye3ieN8Z2yj........mz9........wz.........zD........kz1..... ...wz........2.E........6.2..................................................... ................................0....E/....0....TVKNgZqQkZaQVl4................. ..........U/4M...6U..M..........................................aNaNaNaN4z1iSIsu FVfbz........................................................................... ..........................................E.....I....A....kL/pKMuZaPb7oPsBpI371. ......................k/9....MU/4..................../........yD........kz1..... ................................................................................ ...........................................................3....A....AJOZ75Q6Z4P WJaQo/...............................MU/4MU/4................U.E........kz1..... ...wz.........zD................................................................ ..........2........wz...........................................0....M....k..... 4x4PYZaPb/GGiF56ExqR......................U0.U............................YNaNaN aN4xzyzzzzzzzzzD................................................................ ............................................................................} {Titel: Lingua Naturae}

Geologic Time

"Geologic Time is a stunning tribute to the complicated beauties of mathematics."
THE CREATORS PROJECT

Fractals can be amazing, but they have their way of dazzling you with more visual detail then you can possibly absorb, or using fast changing colors and music to keep the mind entertained. What I tried to do here is to slow down time so much that the fractal morphs almost unperceivably , while keeping visual detail fresh and clear enough to keep your eyes darting around the (big, 1080p) screen for a while. I believe that this way, we are more focused and this state opens and stimulates the mind in a different way. Give me eight and a half minutes of your time, and I hope to bring you a different and profound experience. By Julius Horsthuis Music: “Gerudo Valley” by Koji Kondo stretched 400%

Background
The first film I did that uses a full 16:9 aspect ratio in stead of the 2.35:1 that I had used until now. Also, with this one, there is no moving camera, nor any hand-held camera trickery. The idea was more that of a moving painting, something you would have on your wall - slowly but surely moving about. In order to have enough new detail i introduced an extra formula that breaks up the geometric shapes from the first couple of minutes into more organic shapes. Since this was also quite an architectural piece, I decided to use a point light to light it from within, Unfortunately this gave some problems regarding clipping and blown-out highlights in the middle arc. I had to re-render some frames to remove some artifacting because of this. In order to emphasize the 'painting' of this piece I used some heavy dirt overlays which are nice when there's next to no motion, but becomes slightly silly when there's a big white block moving through the shot. I decided to keep it in. Using Paulstretch I stretched a wonderful track from the orchestral version of the Ledgend of Zelda, emphasizing the liquid slow motion feel- and reminding me a little of the music from the matrix.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....g2...M7...w....26....FjN1jxS72.1dAUJL3A5/EB9KVs16I2.Y/Z13UOtrcz6h8Id8bVw.k ................................3vjduuCbg.2........Y.R9.................7/2...wD ...Uz6.....Q..../w/0/.....Eo0...b0...2E5.....orZE2ur9/kD/..........m//.......... ./UaNadD12..0..........wz.................................U0.....y1...sD...../.. .z1...kDGT3YPXWSJz1P25lXmmVvzOER5c.2DNuDKvh6K8S4/zvHMqH2oWALzOMv7UwWqyyDusMDmAjp hzfowxzXwUOpzm5oDS/ve.wjU.....2s....E0....kAnAnD/6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................J....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.U..6.P....U5...EB....F0...I1....D...../...A1.....SJ52 8c4U.aGSlzTuMPvzRYoWzz7lz161/AWzzbCd...UekyUn2.E6EF3EoxaGy1.q0N5Dom1.1..Nwjys5B. .MH/CQa3vz9.GZwV7TN..1...........EU2zrxth/..H0/bvOonzs/wQOr9PEzj..........E.2c.. zzzz.............0........E..........2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................sfjy0....Uv6dWjyu9.....iTMHV1OK.sSq 4uieQtfjy0....UvWmbjyu9.....i1GTV1OK.sSq4uy6y3CcN/UvNPcvVuLsUa3.ibhVizlTV1OK.sSq 4uSbz3CcN/UvNPcv..EsUa3feeWCNqGQIJ36wk8EwyLsUa3f................................ E....AU.V2E.....2....A....EEh3aSdtqNU6oPs/UQ..........................k/9....... ..................U../........yD........kz1..................................... ................................................................................ .....................2.....3....6....w3Jm3aPnlKMoJqEoE4......................... ............BAk.1AU............................................................. .....Y0LD8Qxckwj................................................................ ................................/....E/....0....TVKNgZqQkZaQVl4................. ..........U/4M...6U..MU/........................................................ ................................................................................ ............................................} {Titel: Geologic Time}

the Branching of Phyla

From Fungi to Flora, all Fractal. by Julius Horsthuis music: "Tableau" by Maurice Horsthuis tweaked from: "Jungle" by Philippe Jacqueroux

Background
This is the only 'tweak' I did that I thought needed mentioning the source. Since most people on Deviantart and facebook group Mandelbulb Maniacs post their parameters freely, you can easily rip off someone else's work. But those parameters are great learning material and it makes a great starting point. Usually I don't bother mentioning where I started, because the journey has led me in such a different location that there's really no point anymore in crediting the original parameters or the person who created them. Also, because what made the original piece great is not the same as what makes the tweak (hopefully) great - its substance has changed. In 'the branching of phyla' however, I'd used the parameters from a wonderful picture 'jungle' by p. jacqueroux, and this featured a lush jungle-scape with fern-like plants. These features are still in this piece, and even though I did change the colors, the camera and the entire beginning, the spirit of the original piece was still there and I believed it deserved credit. This is the link to the original. Others might disagree with me and argue you always need to mention the author of the original parameters, which becomes increasingly tricky as I often also use old parameters from myself to create something new. So you'd have to credit the source of the source of the source- ad infinitum. Like a fractal.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....H2...a6...W/...2U...kQCcuZv2vszY7JUXZRMRzDuOi8dbuf1znuXnIuXru3.BFNwP4QBEyD ................................RNmdLM6sn/2........Y.RM3................7/2...wD ...Uz6....k2..../Q.1/....2.F....W4...2E8.....UIHgk3LLahD/.kSrzzDo.si./.........U zEUaNadD12..02.......EAyzOaNaNaN65zjnAnAnAHSI.2..........AW0.....y1...sD...../.. .z1...kDQPyJ0lWFruXHFFu3VVwcyEgaayM.WxcDxm/8ShD6Eu9lv4cB0iEMy8NLEQp32ZfDOUw3z/Rg XuHLYLsggWthymdF3ZuOj2bDU.....oY/...c....2....sD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1...................................UUnNIEk....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzzXdc.o4.a....g1...kF....s....c2...UszzzzA/...IX9..EnQvrX ...U.u8rRzjMhomzrk4Xz9oPT0.04E/.njCj...wQOr9PEzj6QwRAgHzmzH..........2U.4xDbM32. .A72QifFjz9.M4n5/A7yz.........../EU1.YnFP/..fjrwdvgqzs/Fbf24LNyD..........E/po.z dmcJ..Ei9kNURNujM4T5oMvD2.2.rkqFK9ShzInA8Yj9Wg/..IYOt77cK.Q3s8ea00e3./kPLyRqkSlj pAX0tvW6P...DAF3F0e3.1Uy2KVVUO/E.MGu.wrzMw1..wzzz1U3KMVBGJlzzzD.KMV3qEc4zzzz.MV3 KMHYXwzzz1U3KMVBNUmzzzD.KMV3q6x9iOW7.k/6M.0tAte7a..5UU/6MvZfaM0.Q.04UoaPrjxq.k/6 M.mvzx4Kt..5UU/6...y3q/bee0k.1AkIJ3yATomwy5y3q/b.IbPblKNic4Qb/..ftWOkR4......... E....I.//3k0....I....U....EEh3aSdtqNUAJRmN4...........................k/.MU/4.U. Ak.1.......ASdPGA6mwzGnAnAnAnsxj9nAnAnAPkz1.......h/.1......EI.E........X.2aNaNa NaNez0.......................................................................... .....................2.....3....2....wZIjFLMoJ4Ig3aPZxYP7FrQ.................... 4MU/.MU/....BAk.1AU..........R0E.......Utz1........izAnAnAnAn./E................ ................................................................................ ................................/....E....k...../pKMuZaPb/WEjV5................. ............5g..................XzzzzzzzIznaNaNaNaNtzWaNaNaNiV/E................ ................................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....E....kLmJqMd/bQjBKMgZpAW/.. .....................MV3..U/4.U.....1Ak.0.UMVf53iSIpzcSIsuFVfTzDoAnAnAnA/.YNaNaN aN4zz........................................................................... .....................................................2.....3....8....woMo34OZFaQ jtKG4B3..............................MU/4MU/4........YaNaNaNaFzDbNaNaNa7zzXaNaNa Na7/.tNaNaNaN4vD...................................................yz0.......... ................................................................} {Titel: The Branching of Phyla}

Solar Wind

"Wunderschönste 3D-Fraktale im Weltraum, unterlegt von amtlich dröhnendem Space-Ambient"
DERMETABOLIST.DE

2396 AD. A space vessel is stranded in the outer Oort cloud. No help is coming. The Explorers and Astronomers aboard, suffering from asphyxiation and frostbite are starting to hallucinate. This is their Fractal Hallucination. by Julius Horsthuis

Background
The story at the beginning is the same as I used in ' Navigation in Dreamtime ', only set in the far future in stead of the past. I used it for the same reason to set the audience up for what they are about to see, and to try to give it meaning somehow. This is something I struggle with, how can you tell a story through fractals? Just being beautiful is meaningless and I want to evoke emotions- Usually people all give their own meaning to a piece, and that's fine, but their imagination needs to be kick-started first in order to get really going. The fractal is maybe the simplest formula I've used, and came about when I saw that a structure looked like solar panels. I tried to color them accordingly, with black reflective paneling and white structures. The Tunnel is maybe the coolest as it reminded me of a scene in the sci-fi horror film Event Horizon. Music is the trailer from Prometheus Paulstretched.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....H2...a6...w....2.....jZr0jA4woz0ml3Wdxhe.EFJ.LdLsglzn6gDPfxnNtzk9FCMHVm3tj ................................vZNtIXDAd.2........Y.t..................C/2...wD ...Uz6....U0..../Q.0/.....Ug....X0...2E3.....AtRkJ0IlEkD/..........wy..........U ./....kD12..0..........wz.................................U0.....y1...sD...../.. .z1...sD9L6f89LaKwvIcB9axJZ4zSoAyEKEK4gDmAmEcRPTOvPXp0FM47ZlygDp2b.PI3mjOlmPiyNG OwnZQleCbVd3zS0ayh2DShhjU.....27....5....2....sD/6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................H....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.U..6.k....g2...kC....h/...U5...k5....8/...Q21....wN52 ...U.W1KEyzX7DxzKEWCzfV6W.664u..zfzg..ED6VzX1DyD6A99elMBZzH..........2k.8.kXWF1. .sM93P58iz9.MmnWK2zwz0........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz............s/...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1....................................Ak.1.3IE/EE/.k.1A.IE/3.Nn./cE6.IQl 312uu2U0V.El3LAERu1k.1A.IE/3.7cF.1Ak.E/3I.2eCd9l51.3IE/EG.4k.1A.IE/3./IMqiQi.E/3 I.ozz/Ak.1.3IE/E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c................................ E....2..F2E.....I....Y....EEIJ4Rm3aJH/kPrJaQ..........................k/..U/4MU. 0..........WNxpdktE..deeeeeeeexDem2Kcfbhfz1..................O2E.......U4/2..... ..cF./.......................................................................... ........................} {Titel: Solar Wind}

the Engineers

"L'animation nous offre surtout une ambiance exceptionnelle, digne d'un Prometheus. Le résultat est tout simplement fabuleux."
LIDD.FR

The principles of Fractal Engineering would obviously work on any planet. by Julius Horsthuis music: "Bouwput" by Maurice Horsthuis

Background
After playing around with the parameters from ' the Resolution of the Thirteen Fractal Skulls ' i found a cool way to break the radial symmetry that it had, by re-arranging the order of the functions. Breaking this symmetry created this wonderful curved mountainous arena, and I set out to try to recreate a shot from the movie Prometheus - in which the titular engineers are some sort of alien race. The shot had a lot of atmospherics in it, and this is something mandelbulb3d cannot do, so i had to use some other tricks. First, I rendered the animation with all the morphing geometry, but i also rendered a pass with the same camera motion but no morphs, in order to track this using boujou. This was possible because this fractal renders relatively fast. When the camera motion was tracked, I simulated some smoke in FumeFX and rendered it using the camera. When I composited it in After Effects, it got the deep atmospheric look i was after. I was quite lucky with the way the whole thing animated, ships flying away and all. The only disappointment i had was when i saw the final render of the ending, in which the mountains where extremely jagged and fake. looking, something I couldn't tell from the preview render. I tried to hide this with the atmospherics and lens flares. My father, Maurice Horsthuis who is a composer had suggested that I use his piece 'bouwput' for one of my fractals, and it seemed a perfect fit for this one.

get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....H2...a6...ET...2A...EPeeYMV3.2.1NYz0ZNyJ0E5hGQ9YcZV.o122fQc2R3.3Jg.QT/2w.k ................................sMLnu.R4x.2........Y.V7D/...............6/2...wD ...Uz6/...E2.....Q.1/......K0...T3...2E8......Kfc1Xx49jD/.UBnVaDw4uoA/......BnAH z.UaNalD12..0.UaNaNaNa70.DnAnAnAnAyDOaNaNaNa2.A...........U0.cNaNu1...sD...../.. .z1...sDgE2EsAd3Ew1YKAcv1oa.zmTn7pfJJTijVXjwCkWdmvHttLOE6JbsywXJm1Ao86lDT2iFhNDy .w9It/J6x812zKvN7fohC2jDU.....YP/...Q....2....wD.A....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...kD....zw1....................................EMUtDc....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz..wnY1kS.E8.z....c4...UB....K/...c3...EF....4/...c11....wJ52 so2U.qLiRnt2LM/f4VqY3v.3Z.661u..t8yx..k6bnFiH3.E6E8H0jJl4.A.s1vJlWg..5k.t..FaN8. .U.Ehl2IVz9.IXBzAbNvz.kh5/aMViyjVEU0.g7u51..5T51vojwzslYEkti4xwD..........E.2c.. zzzz............g/...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................sbTy/U9ismU.olIBt1.isW91Go8pdqJ.sW9 iAsumwzzz1kaPitU9DpzzzD.U08c1CIKHpYD.sW9iAM2XtbTy/U9ismU9kKReR3.isW91ixQytbT.sW9 iAMFztbTy/U9ismU...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....ME3F3E.....I....I....kLEx4PtNoPgFK9nZLP.k4.gJqQ............................ ..................EJ.NaNaNaNa7yj........K.A..................................... ...................................wz0........zD................................ ........Uz1..........2.....3....D....2YEjV5Ig34RdtKRh/.......................... .Q..4MU/....BAk.1AU..InAnAnAn1yD.......EezPAnAnAnA1../......eL3k.......oV.2..... .E8M.pAnAnAnAHvj..........EnAnAnAnAyz........E.E................................ ................................0....E/....0....TFZQVtqQaxaQh/.................. ................3IE/0.E11A......aNaNaNaNozHnAnAnAngxzqAnAnAngM1k................ .kQN./.......O2kbNaNaNaNR.A........wz........................................... ..........................................E.....I....2....kL4lKOkVJKX/kPgFKOiR4. n/...................6k/.MU/4.U.4..................../.................wC/2..... ...wz...............6Od4I4A.............................yz9..................... ...........................................................3....4....wpNi3aQgB1F .....................................................6LD8Qxck9.E.dNaNaNadxXaNaNa NaNozeNaNaNaNawjBnAnAnAn..InAnAnAnA/./.......................................... ................................................................o5...E/....0.... /pKMuZaPb/mIp7bN............................5.U/4M..0MU/........9nAnAnAfpzPNaNaN aNalz.......Mb/E.......RV.2.......b2.1......KJ1EoAnAnAnA1y9..................... ............................................................................} {Titel: the Engineers}

Dream/Iterate

When creating fractals I always wonder what they would look like I were to walk inside of them, How best to approach such an issue as to explore it through the eyes of a child? Shot, cut, rendered & comped by Julius Horsthuis with Jayne-Elja Mumbi music by Chillheimer https://www.evermusic.de

Background
Fractalforums.com has an annual fractal art competition, and since i'd just started with fractals I thought i'd compete. Also, it was a nice excuse to try something with a slightly bigger scope. In some respects I feel I've failed here.. I'd started experimenting with fractals before because I wanted to use them as decor in a film I was writing, and I wanted to know how feasible this was. This short could have been a nice proof of concept, but being a no-budget film I had to resort to filming in my living room in front of a lastolite green screen. My daughter stars in it and I'm very proud of her natural performance. In order to really explore the possibilities of mixing real actors with fractal environments, I will need a better stocked green screen studio. The movie made it to second place in the contest, only after Torsten Stier's breathtaking video Waterbreathing .

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....o5...cD...w....26...UaDNV/cGz5.PdfwC9MPx/kC0gChKyl6y1EieRDsblOzKNxBA3xnz/k xzzzzzzzDy9.....................Q7iTzpcIo02........Y./h.................C/2...wD ...Uz6.....D/.../wU0/...........Z2....E3.....28AZ31DimbD/.......BFMd./......OaNa y.UaNadD12..02.........wzMaNaNaN4BvjBnAnAnAnYz1...........U0......2...sD...../.. .z1...kDieGmNhOmrs1hHUmPDu1OyYXeeF5GnbbjMtHtMh0ovt1kOE0i5HoKy0Nim/IvoZXjhY8W3bBL PtfzWtNDyIFSyaBlU3hlrUajU.....oaT...ae........sD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................W....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.Ezxr1.L.o8.U....I4...EB....w....s0...UB...../...c1.....S352 XM2U.8HKqWcm/XMbj4AsWSYVo06.2k/.z59G..ERxBJNJI.E6A72QifFjzH.............XxDVpmA. .odIWOorVy9.C0LNJudxzA........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz............b/...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................2WRf/.....EroEaNa7.ZLSt.3z2sXDy.... ..oXN6GRI/.....EK81ysXD......JYCYArF......28h3WRf/.....EMw5ysXD......lqTU08c..2E ./2kz/8cU0.E./2E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c................................ E....ME/F3E.....I....g....EHdV5IdtqQfZ4B.IaQ................................Ak.1 Ak.11................/........zD........kz1........szMaNaNaNatxD........cy1..... ..Ujz0.................kiz1.......gzz0.......................................... .....................2.....3....3....wpIdtKK.................................... 02E./2U.0.....................zDnAnAnAnCRzHaNaNaNaFwzAnAnAnAnQyD........My1..... ................................................................................ .....................................E/....0....TVKNgZqQkZaQVl4................. ..........U/4M...6U...E11A......................................vuFVf53iSy1.lpX0 LD8Pz0.......................................................................... ..........................................E.....I....E....kLmJqMd/bQjBKMgZpAW/.. .....................MV3..U/4.U..ok.1Ak.0.ED8QxckpXuzsX0LD8QxQyDCnAnAnA1jzXNaNaN aNswz........................................................................... .....................................................6.....3....6....2YEjVrIkVKN mJqHaNqQZF5BY/...................Q.............................E........Uz1..... ...wz.....................UaNaNaNaNOz........................................... ................................................................/....E/...k1.... BZ4SEZaPnhKOoI4S.................................k.1Ak.1A.................2..... ...vz.........zD........Uz1........sz........................................... ..............................yD........Uz1........sz.........yD............} {Titel: Dream-Iterate}

Illusions

"Welcome to the bizarre reality of fractals!"
IX 2015 SYMPOSIUM

A series of portraits of Fractal shapes. These shapes are emergent from relatively simple mathematics, not unlike a simple molecular structure can create an infinite amount of differently shaped crystals. They look designed, but this is just an Illusion. by Julius Horsthuis music: 'Boxring' by Maurice Horsthuis

Background
Creating this piece started with four stills I'd made that I decided to extend to six, and re-render with a moving camera. Also I wanted to experiment with combining graphical elements like text with the fractals, because I think such imagery would fit a title sequence very well. Since the camera motion is always linear, I didn't bother with camera tracking, but just eyeballed the placement of 2D text in after effects, using some beveling and coloring to make it blend into the scene. Depth of Field and lens flares helped making the fractals look more photographic and designed, even though I argue that this is just an illusion. My father's music 'Boxring' that he wrote ten years prior for a documentary seemed to fit the illusory beauty of the vignettes perfectly.
in 2015, an extended version of 'illusions' was made for the 360 dome of SAT, Montreal .. It features nine 'illusions', rendered in 360 degrees, 4K. The same score was used, but, in stead, paulstretched.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......2....6...w....IU....s9mOxuO4/.9yt2Ftbs5wjHi5G54WzczPHmHj59ogyzgTPilJiLE.k ................................I2.bhManL/2........Y.Jp5...............UF/YaNa/E ...Uz6....EK..../w.1/.....UO5...y....2E5.....wZ1L.v0oPjD/.E2/w3EGVXr0/......aNa7 z6....kD12..02UaNaNaNaptzcNaNaNaNaujnAnAnAnAHy9...........U5.cNaNu1...sD...../.. .z1...sDELlDZiy4mv9.UQUTszijy0DLe50wkjijprdlTVuKdvfvHdd6ITiry045dFw3/4jD8h8sR0Mh MvPx/F5InPMxyU2YDqrJQEhDU.....Iw0...h0....kAnAnD.2....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1...................................UCXQMED....k1. .....Ksulz1........g.24Ry/.U.s5.D/...M0...ED....S3...E3....6....4/...Y2/...UJR5I nM4U.eCyz5qza00RoShyyhWNc0.6GAqzzzzz...iJyQWwS.k6oRaqWXXzz1...........k.C.EUe0A. .cTLkgt14.A.kndRjg/xz.........../6U0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.0c.. zzzz.............1...................2U.8.kzzzD............8.................... /6U0.wzzz1...................................Mimr0UdHB3/r8lwhXB.Kz9RgRq99j8Q.Q8W I/Hp8NBg50UeIGaee2pxTf7.Q9hh7vmJrzha.QxgxZAaPRzrO0EmtmMmU.qxTf7.7b9X7TGOrzha.YQi AagrpxzoH0EmtmMm...y3q/bee0k.1AkIJ3yATomwy5y3q/b................................ E....I.//3U.....I....U....EE0x4SHpqPjF5O4x4PY/........................k/..U..6.. 4k.1......EnAnAnAng/.pAnAnAnAYyD.......Ejz1........Uz0.......U/E........kz1..... ...2.RNaNaNaNauD...................wz........................................... .....................2....U/....1....MoPgFKOiR467t4RU.pPr/...................... 8..0...........................EAnAnAnAXK/A........zz........................... ................................................................................ ................................/....E/....0....TVKNgZqQkZaQVl4................. ..........U/4M...6U...E11A......................................suFVf53iSyHVf53i SIsoz........................................................................... ..........................................k.....I....U....EEh3aSdtqNUAJRmN4..... ......................k/.MU/4.U..ok.1Ak.0.E.......UwzcNaNaNa7E.koAnAnAnAfz1..... ...3./.......G/k.......k8.QaNaNaNaNxz0........zD........y.2.......UD./.......... .....................................................2.....3....3....w3Rj7LRn/LO iNLA..UP7FrQ............................0............gNaNaNaNasj..........EnAnAn AnMsz........m.E........kz1..................................................... ................................................................} {Titel: Illusions}

Phenotypic Sarcophagi

As a fractal archeologist, I enjoy unearthing hidden gems that lie deep within the mathematical soil. These artifacts are phenotypic expressions of their 'genes' - their formulas. Fractal video by Julius Horsthuis rendered in Mandelbulb3d

Background
The underwater effect that some people noticed, (Caustics) was never intended. It is an artifact of the fact that coloring depends on scale,, which is always a variable in mandelbulb. Color depends among other factors on how far we are from an object, and this can introduce these kind of artifacts. Every film I do is a learning experience and this was one of the lessons I got from this one, and I've found some ways so counter, or minimize this issue. The scene started as a tweak from a picture I saw on Deviantart, and after playing with the parameters (I sufficiently altered them that I feel fine not remembering or mentioning the source) I found these crypt-like sarcophagus shapes. I thought they looked really cool, so did some cool morphs and camera motion. I think I went overboard with the hand-held shake though. The ending is supposed to be an 'infinite fractal zoom' but the fact you can't do logarithmic camera paths makes this problematic. The music is a chant I found online that I paired with a piece from the movie sucker punch.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......2...Q6....u1...Q...kfOFoWjdm4.1Cq70lfmA1E0ExEUBjfC.As./Ua/Vuyzw6NSShj8g/k ................................T44M3UCfR/2........Y./.........E........7/2...wD ...Uz6/..El8.....AG00....2......E6....E0.....YvUa1Q7YCjD/..lImuDlJJZ./.........U z.U0LDOD16..0........svD.dNaNaNaZI0E........x.2..........AW0.....y1...sD...../.. .w1...kD/lkUwUJ0wuftR.yOJWKkykbe258/lBjD8hwJxGfXnvH3xze.UZDYyeMnR/2khmfDgDGA/YgU RuXxAnjGvGswyEtsSHi5Z2gjU....82E/...M0...2....cD.2....sD..G..................... ...........wzoAnAt1...sD...m0x1....................................lImuDw.....x/ .....Ksulz1.....tzTW.IX9c.EN.U4.G....Q7...kA....N/...I2...EF....4/...cHz...UJJz0 D7ZZgxoPxJHEGdZ9moH7cMSrJT..06nzmN5S..UPAI91pRzD6IsffaWeYzH...........k28.kYjd2. .UNAT2kY6z1.2RiGMQZtz0...........6U0.YnFP/..fjrwdvgqzs/Fbf24LNyD/.........E.1c.. dp5O..ErNO9CCyzj.iySnbiney9.nH8X8fAozKm682k9I2/..2MgfDe6Jz98a54k6Nayz0.1.GPkzSvj 26V0.wjeJ/..YbH0pCL3.1k.bkgrmF/E.IHbU/TVcz1..c6Uc/UBkMXBS6/fZm6.9/3IEl14oagl.AJI 6BpUQEPm41kIFVoIoD0fZm6.9/3IE3y95CcS.EKNed4Hsg5O./.5UU/65rJX7S6.nAHAnEjO5uLO.UQk rWQ2v3dUU/UeaWee...y3q/bee0k.1AkIJ3yATomwy5y3q/b.kKOZt4AtsWOkR4................. E....I.B/3U.....I....6....kL8J5Pd3qIZFrQ.M4.................................Ak.1 Ak.1......kaNaNaNIC9.dNaNaNirD1E..................33./......EE/E.......WG.2..... ................................................................................ .....................2.....3....6....w3OZlKOn/LOm34P.63.M71..................... 4MU/..U.0....................Cuj........mx9..........Uf53iSIsutDsuFVf53iSy1..... ...................................../........zD........kz1........0./.......... ................................G....E/...k/....BJaPbJaQ7NoI.Y4................. ................4MU/.MU/........sAnAnAnXnznAnAnAH.wE.BnAnAnAn90k........//2..... ................................................................................ ...........................................I....I....U....EEh3aSdtqNUAJRmN4..... ......................k/.MU/4.U.....1Ak.0.UnAnAnAnYxzwzzzzzzrqxDNaNaNaNClz1..... .EB6./.......f.E.......ik.YaNaNaNaNOz0.......................................... .....................................................k.....3....1....wZIjFLMoJ4. 7t4RU.pPr/......................4MU/......U/4...............E34E.......Hf.2..... .L.N.1.......................................................................... ................................................................} {Titel: Phenotypic Sarcophagi}

Navigation in Dreamtime

"Fractals? Again?"
YOUTUBE COMMENT

1596 AD. A ship is frozen in the deep arctic. No help is coming. The Navigators and Cartographers aboard, suffering from hypothermia and frostbite are starting to hallucinate. This is their Fractal Hallucination. 2014 By Julius Horsthuis Rendered with Mandelbulb3D music: “Soul Medicine” by Mari Boine, stretched with Paulstretch

Background
The globular structures with tubes sticking out is an often-seen phenomenon in fractals, usually associated with Julia mode. After iterating amazing surf a couple of times it also spawned all these thin wires,, which I thought looked super creepy. I tried to create a look that reminded of old copper, a little like 17th century technology, hence the crazy story I made up to accompany it. A little story like this works though, because it sets you up for a specific mood. In ' solar wind ' I've used the same story, set in the future, to evoke the same feeling, but here I rendered the story into the film. The ' fractal hallucination ' seems a good way to describe this stuff. For the rest- the animation has some problems. The thin lines are not fit for frame blending, and it yields a lot of artifacts. Also, I think the ending is not as good. This was my first experiment with 'Paulstretch', software that stretches music to an atmospheric soundscape. I used Norwegian (Sami) folk singer Mari Boine's beautiful voice to evoke that hallucinatory feeling.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g.....k1...Q6...w....IU...E.wVM3Qad..9fP7gMNk2wjFDFAsgtdpzvBZaFs7hNrzIj38B7Tm2.k ................................9/kY/Dkwo.2........Y./o9/..............U9/YaNa/E ...Uz6....kE..../w/1/.....U97...//...2E5.....oG8b2UXGjjD/.E2/w3EoWXr1/......OaN4 z6EnAnYD12..02UNaNaNaN4wz..................................3.cNaNu1...sD...../.. .zHnAnQDQ4.kTLBZIwf88NtH7gL2zKtJKTZSDfjDdeRkwAF.ivnpvE6ts9uxy6dwCWtUhflDH9pRFzsJ Gw9tqJB7p8B3zIghngZJS.ijU.....oc0...O0........sD.2....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1...................................UCXQME6....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1.U..6.a....g2...EB....b1...c2....F....C/....2.....wJ52 ok2U.ydelyTSPqtzTeOgz9qSs/6.1c..zzzz..UELyG/16.E6AL9s6JkUzH.wwNKdeM/.1k.NwTyFr7. .U0dRIRSkz1.np0CG3Asz0kctcUUhL.k3EEC.wzzz1..6C3kM6FwzuF.FeqLuC.k.MQq7XJJ3.Q.2c.. zzzz............00...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................w3Rb0U4OclWMalLoR8.OcV49yuATFrd.cV4 OgMPzw3Rb0U4OclWa8IuS01.Ofhq1aCHdv7A.chqOD6dDx3Rb0U4OclWADrLoR8.OcV498zRdv7A.chq ODcHxx3Rb0U4OclW...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....Ek.l2U.....I....U....EE0x4SHpqPjF5O4x4PY/........................k/..U..6.. 0..................0./........yD........kz1..................U/E........kz1..... ...2.RNaNaNaNauD...................wz........................................... .....................2....U/....1....MoPgFKOiR467t4RU.pPr/...................... 8..0...........................ENaNaNaNWK/A........zz........................... ................................................................................ ................................2....E/....0..../pKMuZaPb/mIp7bN................ ............5.U/4M..0M..........bNaNaNaNmzXaNaNaNat..rAnAnAnAXyD........I.2..... ...6./.......EzDnAnAnAnA/.A........wz........s1E........y.2..................... ..........................................E.....I....I....kLoxaQpB5QdtaRl...iZ2R n/..........................4.U.4M..............................OaNaNaNady9..... ..././........zD................................................................ ........................................................} {Titel: Navigation in Dreamtime}

Origin of Intelligence

After the Fractal Symphonic Trilogy, I continue my journey exploring Evolution and the natural world though Fractals. by Julius Horsthuis music by Chillheimer https://www.evermusic.de rendered in Mandelbulb3D

Download animation file
Background
This is the first time i experimented with a riemann coupled with an amazing surf. The riemann slows down the render considerably, but is responsible for the cage-like structures. A _Gnarl is what makes it all, well, gnarly. I thought the structure looked a lot like a brain, hence the title.
Another structure featured in a still i'd published called 'Cor Carcerem' - Spanish for 'caged heart'. I thought i'd be cool if it could beat like a heart, but this is a task easier said then done in the world of fractals. The problem is that if you animate something, everything changes; there's no way to single out the heart. This is why I tried to re-render the beating and composite it over the background. The matte edges i extracted from the 8-bit z-buffer clearly show, and it wouldn't pass scrutiny in any VFX work i usually do, but these type of videos are more forgiving. (saving me a lot of rotoscoping) The zip-zoom after the heartbeat is actually a cut, not a continuous zoom, but I think nobody notices. For the end titles i tried something different, also showing the Mandelbulb3d parameters and other info in the fractal.
Bernard 'Chillheimer' Geiger had contacted me via fractalforums.com and wanted to compose music for my work, and this piece was our first collaboration. I greatly admired his melodic trance style from a piece he did for Kameelian, Octopussies Garden and was willing to listen to what he would make. Needless to say, I was very happy with the result. After that, we've done multiple other collaborations.

get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......4...eA...w....2....UeVkHijchcz4tTh.SGgJxDKAY6ImBM1zHr8eBTlXhvz42IzIkfqMsj ................................k00IjNPfV/2........B.lM0................2/2...wD ...Uz6....EI..../w.0/.....EQ1...m.....E3.....s4bK3ulcvhD/..........G0/.........k ./EnAnYD12..1..........wz.................................U0.....y1...sD...../.. .zHnAngDaVto69GR2vHhiEdHMZYqyObEm3Fo5ZgjSjAId9KVLvX32rf86LfnyIW1GWix9bgjIPp1McuD FvXlnAvuHPKhy8Z21.6fJYhDU.....IW5...d9........sD/6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................J....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1EP.c6.G/...o1...kD....r/...I9...UE....A/...s1.....wJ52 .s2U.epNkxz3U.mzsMJNz9JQ8/661c..zzzz..kSnM/S4IzD6cOTbyHV6.2...........k.8.kXWF1. .sM93P58iz9.MmnWK2zwz0........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz............A0...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................21E6/ERpJ5Sw6X5hM0.jxqP.QdE4MU/.Ypa oJc173pOp/U7EgkWG0Z/4M..Nh7R38qLkwnF.ILRpBcuYhi2G.ERpJrUGrquG6/.pJLR10XQl.2G.2MU /Scmw31E6/ELRpZK...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....AU.V2E.....I....2....UIdJKPVtaP..pPrJaQ..............................U..6.. 0.........UaNaNaNa38./........zj................................................ ................................................................................ .....................2.....3....4....wpNi3aQgB1F................................ .....................63iSIsuFlzjoAnAnAnAnyvAnAnAnAnkzcNaNaNaNavDOaNaNaNa8.oAnAnA nAX../.......................................................................... ................................/....E/....0..../pKMuZaPb/mIp7bN................ ............5.U/4M..0M..........BnAnAnAngz1........sz.........zD........I.2..... ...3./.......2/EnAnAnAnAny9........wz........................................... ............................................} {Titel: Origin of Intelligence}

Embryonic Development

"Amazingly controlled fractal animation by Julius Horsthuis - Embryonic Development is quite alien & beautiful."
Dotmogo

The third of a Fractal Symphonic Trilogy. I've tried to make an aesthetically appealing animation using fractal software, so to give an organic and familiar experience to the otherworldly beauty of fractals. ***An anaglyph 3d version available here:*** https://vimeo.com/94945120 by Julius Horsthuis music: 'Bettler' from der Kuebelreiter by Maurice Horsthuis Rendered in mandelbulb 3d

And here's a 3D version:

Background
Since this was my third fractal film, i dubbed them a trilogy. I guess this ties in with the fact that this is the third and last film to use the music from 'der Kübelreiter', but in other respects I'd deviated from the other two. First of all, it's a different formula and doesn't have the circular symmetry. Also, this is the first time I experimented with color, and there's a lot less depth of field. Doing this piece, I really got the hang of the animation editor in Mandelbulb3d, as I had to do a lot of backtracking if i got stuck with my camera in a place I didn't like. The morphing structures really work well, and although I think there's a lot of flaws, it got some eyebrows raised at the time I published it on Vimeo.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......2...Q6...w....2....k8X6xsjWX..T7i64qSsy.EwZz15YpmI.2u8kTItxcvzO/hN57TG..k ................................HAWLsIEKf.2........Y./..................2/2...wD ...Uz6....UG..../w.0/.....Er/...00....E3.....M1iDlp4vDlD/..........G0/.......... ./UaNadD12..0..........wz.................................U0.....y1...sD...../.. .zHnAnoD.6Da/3bsDwPMIE2/YD/0z6UvTEm8nVfjQ/eRyduelv14hjWKMkPyyg/1yWEmY7lDs5SJOpHO 4wXWhQ5uCvG1z6TsNhl2iwjjU.....Im....0/........kD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...sD....zw1.........................................M....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz.wzzz1ES..6.h....24...UD....E1...c3...UE....A/...I1.....wJ52 .c1U.ydelyTSPqtzTeOgz9qSs/6.1s..zzzz...pMnDnNqyD6MJOyyyDuz1...........k.8.kXWF1. .sM93P58iz9.MmnWK2zwz0........../EU0.wzzz1...........s/...................E.2c.. zzzz.............0...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1...................................21E6/ERpJ5SjtX5hM0.jxqP.AsD4MU/.Ypa oJs72NU/4.EKPGLVnNIIfJ5.a.l09qTLkwnF.ILRpBsbXhi2G.ERpJrUMlquG6/.pJLR1qEQl.2G.2MU /SsVw31E6/ELRpZK...crIGJzzFoTuIdyzngi8qdxzZX.4rU................................ E....Ek.l2U.....I....w....EE0x4SElKMoZaPpp4...........................k/.MU/4... .ok.1Ak.0..nAnAnAnx..NaNaNaNaDxDaNaNaNadmz1............................EVz1..... ................OaNaNaNK0z1........wz........................................... .....................2.....3....6....2IPVdLOiR46HJbQa/.......................... .Q..4MU/.6...........AnAnAnAHwzD.......UazXaNaNaNa././.......81E.......6rz9..... ..D3.ZNaNaNaNavj........kz1..................................................... ................................/....E/..../....T7pPo34RZFaFjl4NdtqN............ ..........U/4M..4MU/4MU/...............VW.A.......y../.......sxjnAnAnAnAvz1..... ................................................................................ ..........................................E.....I....U....EEh3aSdtqNUAJRmN4..... ......................k/.MU/4.U.4Mk.1Ak.0.kAnAnAnAHzzAnAnAnAnAvjaNaNaNaNsz1..... ...3./.......E/E.......Ew.YNaNaNaNapz0........zD................................ ........................................................} {Titel: Embryonic Development}

the Resolution of the Thirteen Fractal Skulls

Fractal shapes and patterns twist and turn to evolve into the Thirteen Skulls. The resolution lies in an entirely different fractal dimension. Rendered in mandelbulb 3d by Julius Horsthuis music: "Regionen" from 'der Kuebelreiter' by Maurice Horsthuis

Background
An adaptation from ' Geiger's Nightmare ' which featured only ten fractal skulls, I started by ramping the polyfold symmetry order up from 20 to 26, yielding a total of thirteen fractal skulls. (since each skull is symmetrical in itself, you can imagine 26 planes of symmetry radiating from the center) I also copied other elements of the first fractal film, like the stark black and white look, the rain and water effects, and the music from 'der kübelreiter' The animation I have spent quite a bit of time on, until it culminated into a little story arc, where the skulls would suddenly rise (into heaven?) The slow, long camera movement coupled with the cinematic score made this feel a lot like the opening titles for a feature film.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......2...Q6...ET...2A....Of91gGij4.B5eYpuIfy0EDV/x1CnAS.2.K1xUvuopz4uNBAkPAo/E ................................p3dQxm90Q.2........Y.V7D/...............7/2...wD ...Uz6/...k0.....Q.1/....2.c4...t2...2E8.....ggXWJ/8xbnD/.UBnVaDB4uoC/......OaNa y.U0LDOD12..02kAnAnAnAngzCnAnAnAnAyDnAnAnAnA2.A...........U0.oAnAv1...sD...../.. .zHnAnQDm8Npo9DuZwX4q..lVxcEzQygCHv6f8lD4nP6HDHM3wPNM5F75k22z4taeF8jKBoDp4SRst6e 0xXdLdhA51a7zqzOJvnZZNjDU.....Ia....N....2....wD.A....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...kD....zw1....................................EMUtDY....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz/oiv81NB..6.v....M0...kE....a20n6s4....A....H/...Qow..UG.pLG To0U.8YL8qyakSfvaQHI8bQh7e262c..zzSi..Uc9jXgrBwD6IqWhyfgYzH..........2.28.kFrA0. .Ub96aAIVz9.1se7Umvxz4........../EU0.wzzz1...........61........./.........E.2c.. zzzz............K1...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1....................................8cU0.E./2EGJ/cU08../2E.le8zLxj..2E ./I/.xTpz0.E./2E3l5cU08../2E.VCTU08c..2E./oUx/8cU0.E./2Ets5cU08../2E.lgTU08c..2E ./oUz/8cU0.E./2E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c.w4RjB1CnQX9e/rN.s4NZdbAk.1Aic4Q E....ME3F3E.....I....I....kLEx4PtNoPgFK9nZLP.k4.gJqQ.........................MU/ 4k.1..............UC.NaNaNaNa7yjnAnAnAnAO.A..................................... ...................................wz0........zD................................ ........Uz1..........2.....3....D....2YEjV5Ig34RdtKRh/.......................... .Q..4MU/....BAk.1AU..6nAnAnAnQyjOaNaNaNaNy9NaNaNaNa/./......EK3k........S.2..... .E8M./....................EnAnAnAnAyz........E.E................................ ................................0....E/....0....TFZQVtqQaxaQh/.................. ................3IE/0.E11A......nAnAnAnAlzXaNaNaNatxzGnAnAnAHb1k................ .E6O./......s43k........3.2........wz........................................... ..........................................E.....I....2....kL4lKOkVJKX/kPgFKOiR4. n/...................6k/.MU/4....ok.1Ak.0............/.................wC/2..... ...wz...............6Od4I4A.............................yz9..................... .....................................................2.....3....4....wpNi3aQgB1F ........................................0............UxckpX0L9.E......EnImXaNaNa NaNozeNaNaNaNawjBnAnAnAn..InAnAnAnA/./.......................................... ................................................................o5...E/....0.... /pKMuZaPb/mIp7bN............................5.U/4M..0k.1A.......9nAnAnAfpzPNaNaN aNalz.......Mb/E.......RV.2.......b2.1......KJ1Eyzzzzzzzzx1..................... ............................................................................} {Titel: the resolution of the thirteen fractal skulls}

Geiger's Nightmare

Not modeled or sculpted, a fractal is a mathematical set with self-similar properties. If explored, one can find the most bizarre of shapes and patterns.
rendered in Mandelbulb 3D music by Maurice Horsthuis
Background
This piece with misspelled title was the very first fractal short I produced. Many have pointed out that the name of H.R. Giger is without an E. I'll just have to use the excuse that the title is referring to the inventor of the geiger counter. Having played with fractals before, it was not until I rendered out a high contrast fractal and added some DOF that the image started to look really rich. This was enhanced when I graded the piece to a black&White tint. The fractals had looked kind of digital until then,, and this way it looked really photographic. The glinting Bokehs made it look like the surface was wet, so I added some rain. The set of formulas I came to when I browsed some work on Deviantart, where the nice folks share their parameters. I found something I liked, but it wasn't until I started deforming the shape quite a lot that I suddenly came upon these skull like creatures. I was really excited about this, so I rendered out an animation that would 'reveal' the aliens.. I published it on Vimeo (right after signing up) and immediately got some nice response from the community. If I hadn't, i probably never would have made the rest of the work I made, since the feedback you get from people is such a big motivator. If you, who reads this, are one of those people who clicks the 'like' button or takes the time to write a comment - Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the life blood of creativity.

Get *.m3a

Mandelbulb3Dv18{ g......2...Q6...ET...2A...kiYZdzmtn2.RSeMA63EI3EjDfJRwr4H.2NYod.DBvkz0UB8alnMi/E ................................uCibdHL7wz1........Y./..................y.2...wD ...Uz6/...k2.....Q.1/....2.K3...y2...2E8.....QdC41tHpGpD/.UBnVaDu3uIE/......OaNa z.U0LDOD12..02kAnAnAnAngzCnAnAnAnAyDnAnAnAnA2.A...........U0.oAnAv1...sD...../.. .zHnAnQD1RRFXxK2Ww9ekTErjK7Jz.G6B2yGm.ejGyqaQjv9sw970wefolD/zyaqPHKU9DpDQnZFHNHf HxHVtORpecI6zMnLYja0IVnDU.....oC/...6/...2....sD.6....sD..G..................... .............oAnAt1...kD....zw1....................................EMUtDX....k1. .....Ksulz1.......kz/oiv81NB..6.v....M0...kE....a20n6s4....A....H/...Qow..UG.pLG To0U.8YL8qyakSfvaQHI8bQh7e2.2c..zzSi..kRBv4SdZzD6MJOyyyDuzH..........2.28.kFrA0. .Ub96aAIVz9.1se7Umvxz4........../EU0.wzzz1...........61........./.........E.2c.. zzzz............K1...................2./8.kzzzD............8.................... /EU0.wzzz1....................................8cU0.E./2EGJ/cU08../2E.le8zLxj..2E ./I/.xTpz0.E./2E3l5cU08../2E.VCTU08c..2E./oUx/8cU0.E./2Ets5cU08../2E.lgTU08c..2E ./oUz/8cU0.E./2E...cU08czz/cU08cyz1cU08cxz3cU08c.w4RjB1CnQX9e/rN.s4NZdbAk.1Aic4Q E....ME3F3E.....I....I....kLEx4PtNoPgFK9nZLP.k4.gJqQ........................Ak.1 Ak.1...............B./..........nAnAnAnAO.A..................................... ...................................wz0........zD................................ ........Uz1..........2.....3....D....2YEjV5Ig34RdtKRh/.......................... .Q..4MU/....BAk.1AU..6nAnAnAngyjOaNaNaNaty9NaNaNaNa/./......EK3k........S.2..... .E8M./....................EnAnAnAnAyz........E.E................................ ................................0....E/....0....TFZQVtqQaxaQh/.................. ................3IE/0MU/........AnAnAnAnkz1BnAnAnAHwzGnAnAnAnb1k................ .E6O./......s43k........3.2........wz........................................... ..........................................E.....I....2....kL4lKOkVJKX/kPgFKOiR4. n/...................6k/.MU/4.U.....1Ak.0............/.................wC/2..... ...wz...............6Od4I4A.............................yz9..................... .....................................................2.....3....4....wpNi3aQgB1F ..........................................U/4........gkpX0LD8A.EZNaNaNaNKzfaNaNa NaNozeNaNaNaNawjnAnAnAnA5.2.......Uzz........................................... ................................................................o5...E/....0.... /pKMuZaPb/mIp7bN............................5.U/4M..0k.1A.......9nAnAnAfpzPNaNaN aNalz.......Mb/E.......RV.2.......b2.1......KJ1EoAnAnAnA1y9..................... ............................................................................} {Titel: Geiger's Nightmare}