This past Saturday June 22, 2019, Professor Gerry De lullis of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto opened the U of T Comparative Anatomy Lab to BMCAA for a day of learning and sketching. The space provided the means for an exciting photogrammetry workshop as well.
This generous sharing of resources really helps current students and alumni sharpen their anatomy and technical drawing skills. The Comparative Anatomy Lab is an incredible space, home to a huge variety of specimens including sea coral, animal skeletons, and taxidermy. There are also specimens at different levels of dissection, showing various internal organs and structures.
The day saw a wonderful turnout of alumni, including Dino Pulera, Kathryn Chorney, and Paul Kelly. The group was also joined by some current students, who's energy and curiosity are always a bright and welcoming presence at BMCAA events. It was exciting to see attendees explore a wide variety of sketching mediums: from digital (iPad) to traditional, and from black and white to full colour.
The day featured Paul Kelly (Class of 2011) who ran a photogrammetry workshop, engaging the largest group of sketchers from the event! Photogrammetry is the process of creating a 3D model by taking a series of photographs of a subject from a wide variety of angles. Agisoft Photoscan or 3D Flow Zephyr are two programs that can be used to turn these photograph series into 3D models. It has several purposes, such as archiving, improving the ability to precisely measure parameters of the object, enabling closer examination of other qualities of the object, and many more uses related to the creation of biomedical and scientific artwork.
Paul Kelly walked participants through the process of photogrammetry, using a fixed, dissected frog. Lighting is very important in the process, as the creation of a 3D model depends on a set of consistently high quality photographs. You want to have fairly even and ambient lighting - luckily the anatomy lab lighting fit this criteria. The workshop was really fun and informative, and overall a great opportunity to meet and learn from fellow BMC students and alumni.
A huge thank you to Professor Gerry De lullis and Paul Kelly for being so generous with their time and resources. Thanks also to all students and alumni who came out and made the event such a success!
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