Face Towards the Sun
 

About this project

 

The Moondash Project began about over four years ago, though the poetry behind it is far older. It is intended as an artistic manifest, but more importantly, chiefly as a means of transmission, of passing on light and emotion, questions and some of my personal wanderings.

It strives to achieve a companionship between different forms of expression, those of the written word and the depicted image, to blend in different dreams, ideas and visions, bound up by the same old message of peace and love.

The images and texts found here are highly connected to nature, introspection, dreaming, walking the one path, trying to better yourself in a world with too little compassion. I find that the kind of environment the current society I live in offers me drives me closer to nature, to a different way of changing my eyes when I look at the world, towards the little things, towards understanding many and different a person that lives beside me.

When I started on this project I could not have imagined the technical difficulties to arise: the incompatibility and quickly degrading high price of hardware, and what is more, the frustration of working in a virtual world and only seeing the results after a long, mind-bending process; I say this referring mainly to the 3D aspect of my work. I guess it is just the price to pay at the beginning of the digital age, when the tools of the trade are sometimes just slow machines compared to the fervor of your work.

I know this project is still too little to impart all that I wish I could, all that I have thought and dreamt I would give, since I was a young boy; still, it is the only way I found. All that you see here, all those made-up worlds, all are an important part of what keeps me alive. But they would have not existed without the people closest to me, whether they are dead or still here. I wish to take this opportunity to thank them all, nominating my family and the one I share my life with, my close friends (they know who they are) and all the artists and persons (even strangers) who have ever touched me.


I hope you will find your visit here worth while and inspiring.

The Author

 

My Dreams

A world of peace, in which people understand and work with the magic that moves us all.
A world of beauty bestowed on us and created by us,
in which fears and excuses for the lack of communion are left aside.
A world in which we can live in harmony with the nature we were born from.

 

Collaboration

 

Please look closely through the following, one might interest you especially:

One of my wishes is to work in a team full of enthusiasm and life force,
taking part in one of the following projects:


An Independent Film, be it fantasy, psychological or poetic in nature, computer graphics based or camera film based - as a photographer on the set or a 3D junior art director or CG concept creation artist

A fantasy Quest/Adventure type computer game, in which I can use my imagination and CG skills
as a concept artist, lighting artist or junior art director

Any innovative and expressive Interactive CG projects, digital art projects, 3D projections, small creative team projects and art related environments that would benefit from my work are welcome and sought for

Different Photography projects, non commercial, social, independent,
which may involve traveling, study or research, especially on nature related subjects

Book Illustration, be it for fantasy, fiction, or for children

Also, I would like to take part in Artist in Residence projects, as an opening

Much desired is collaboration with Photography or Art Magazine, or a Publishing House

Independent and Different Photography projects, group exhibitions and adventures

CG Visual Installations will be taken into account as future projects

Interactive Audio-Video projects, online on the internet or as offline applications

 

 

Future Projects

Continuing, developing and enhancing the Artificial Light Macros staged sets.

Adding an Interactive and/or Immersive side to the ALM

The creation of a solid base for the growth of the I-Platform,
which will have to transform into an interactive story walkthrough fantasy illustrated book.

The development of the Glow World concept, also using animated sequences.

Creating my first short films, in the form of Visual Poems

The creation of Illustrated Books, by means of photography, 3D art and personal or outside text.

Any donations, grants or sponsorships to the Moondash Project are more than welcome, because of the difficulty of affording proper equipment and other issues, such as finding and contracting professionals for certain issues I can not handle alone

And to try and exhibit my work, it is made to be seen…

A critical and crucial thing is finding matching artists in expression and spirit, for all of the above mentioned projects

 

The first part of the reel comprises standard photography images and some composited versions of photography from the Artificial Light Macro project (from different stages), arranged and then enhanced by camera movements and light intensity changes. Entitled Minutes, a term that can have a double meaning, that of fragments of time and first course of a meal, this first section pays a tribute to the delicate and stirring energy found in every detail of the natural world surrounding us.
The second part of the reel, entitled Movements, takes standard images from the category with the same name and brings them to life inside Maya, using particles, fields, and a bit of magic. The trees are seen burning and teeming with energy. The images can be seen as powerful yet melancholic.

Software used:

Apple Shake
Adobe Premiere & After Effects
Autodesk Maya
Adobe Photoshop

Music:

Ludovico Einaudi - Moto Perpetuo
Moby - Everloving

Duration: 9 minutes
Original format: 1600x1200, for Blue-Ray Disc

     
Title: Ship Ark F
Rotation Type: All Axes
Hotspots: None
States: One (default)
Title: Shell Spiral A
Rotation Type: All Axes
Hotspots: None
States: One (default)
Title: CrystalDualBranch
Rotation Type: All Axes
Hotspots: None
States: One (default)
Ship Ark F
Shell Spiral A
CrystalDualBranch
     
     
Elf Souls
Wood Indian Elk
Wood Indian Bloom
The Egg
Name: Elf Souls
State Type: Alpha Fade
State Number: 5
Name: WI_Elk
State Type: Alpha Fade
State Number: 4
Name: WI_Bloom
State Type: Alpha Fade
State Number: 4
Name: The Egg
State Type: Alpha Fade
State Number: 5


Summer Dream - The Iridescent Reunion
Summer Dream

Photo State Type: Reveal Image Hotspot
Photo State Number : [ 25 different states ]

The I-Platform is intended to be a better and more interactive major section of the Moondash Project. It will be comprised of a 3D and Photo section, though both sections may in time acquire attributes of the other.

It will feature free view 3D objects and scenes for the user to rotate, some even with hotspots. A series of panoramas linked by hotspots will be added, which will hopefully evolve in a kind of interactive illustrated story book game, with a proper interface. For that, I am still looking for professional help, so in case you are willing to participate and have the necessary skills ( Flash and programming ), please contact me.

Also, on the photography part, the I-Platform will include free view photographed objects, with the option of  viewing with 3D glasses. Also, interfaces to blend color between different states of Artificial Light Macro images will be enhanced in the future, adding fading or retracting elements, text, glow and other functions such as zoom and panorama long exposure shots.The I-Platform is announced as a programme for next two years and will hopefully reach a developed size around 2011, though now is only in infancy stage.

The Moondash Project will issue newsletters two to five times a year and no more, due to the manner the author plans and creates the content. Thus, the letter sent out will referer to major site updates ( entire categories and subcategories added, texts, other information),
personal exhibitions or very noticeable events.

To subscribe, please fill out the form below:

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Please wait for the Confirmation Message. Only Press Submit Once

Version 5.0 of The Moondash Project was launched on the 1st of December 2009:

* The PrintWork Major Category was added,
comprising fine art print and albums that may be ordered online

* The website features two languages and three resolution options (high wide added) to chose from

* A Feedback option was added, so now you may impart your thoughts and opinions in a spontaneous manner, by clicking ‘your thoughts’, in the upper left corner

* The NewsLetter option was implemented, now making possible to subscribe to the events and news

* the Blossom Blue section was added as a Tab on the Home page, featuring a very special person closely linked to the author; it features a collection of illustrated stories, also diary like fragments and some photography

* A Site Map was added, providing better navigation and also a site summary

* The A.L.M. section was heavily updated, with the introduction of Spirit Woods and the split of Minutes into Evolution and Decoplates; New Panoramas also added

* the FX section was renamed Light Effects and Exposure, to better suit the heavy content introduced there and is consider a major category, along with A.L.M.; thus, it features an extensive development of the Moved Light section with heightened compositions

* All other Photo sections were updated with some photos, and some images were removed or moved into other subcategories

* One new environment 3D image added to Emotional Landscapes, third generation

* the photo Amber Trees [ Triptych ] received an honorable mention at the
Digital Imaging Competition 2009, organized by Double Exposure and PhotoWorkshop.com

* The photo Pi Gate received First Prize in the Category Nature, subcategory Trees, at Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2009

The photo Flower Boats [Likeness] receiver 2nd Prize in the Category Nature, subcategory Trees, at Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2009

The photo The Fixed Stars received an honorable mention in the category Still Life, at the International Color Awards 2009

An Update version 4.1 of The Moondash Project was launched
on the 7th of March, 2009:

* An Exhibitions tab was added, with presentation and Showroom *

* The Photo ShowReel Minutes&Movements was added online, a tab on homepage*

* A.L.M photo section updated with re-mastered final images *
* FX, Movements section updated with New Photos and re-mastered final images *
* FX, Long Exposure and Other, Last Rays New Photos added *
* The Nature section Panorama was added with New Photos *
* Other images removed and added to the Nature and Places sections *

* The Writings section was updated with poetry and fragments for the Jurnal de Luptă

Photomagazine
(.ro), the main Romanian photo magazine, published a full news page regarding the Minutes & Movements exhibition

The Photo Exhibition entitled Minutes&Movements took place in Sibiu, between 9-23 of January, featuring prints from the A.L.M. and Movements project sections; it also included a specially designed Photo ShowReel present on this website

The photo Inner Doors - Outer Space was awarded first place in the competition Techo-Abstract, at Toamna Digitală, Sibiu 2008

I was accepted as a beta-tester for Xenodream, a wonderful software I use

I was a participant in the Photo Camp Hai la Ţară, the Autumn session in Vama Buzăului, and afterwards was present with 6 photos in the correspondent exhibition in Brasov, Romania

Version 4.0 of The Moondash Project was launched on October the 17th 2008

Two photographs, The Fixed Stars and Flower Boats,
received honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards 2008

A 3D and Photography exhibition entitled 'Emotional Landscapes'
took place in my hometown of Deva, between 1-10 of March, 2008

the 3D image 'Honeycomb Fingers' Valley
made it to the finalists section in the Vue 3D Environment Competition 2007

Version 3.0 of the Moondash Project was launched on October the 5th, 2007

18 of September, 2007
the photo Aiming for the Sky and Painted Drops received honorable mentions in the still life category at the International Color Master Awards 2007

A 'Artificial Light Macros' theme project was published on-line in File Magazine

the 3D image 'Holding' was published at the gallery section in It's Art Magazine

the 3D image 'Old Memories - Under the bridge' won 'Image of the week' on
digitalart.org and 'Picture of the day' at e-on software.

the 3D image 'Glop Colony' won 2nd place in the Vue 2006 3D Environment Competition 2006


- Awards -


Honorable Mention in Double Exposure Photoworkshop.com Digital Imaging Competition 2009
1st Place in the Nature-Trees Category and 2nd Place in the Nature-Still Life Category
at Prix de la Photographie, Paris 2009
One nominee at International Color Master Awards 2009
1st place in the competition Techo-Abstract, at Toamna Digitală, Sibiu 2008
Two honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards 2008
Finalist in Vue 2006 3D Environment Competition 2007
Two nominees at International Color Master Awards 2007
Picture of the day at E-on Software
Image of the week on digitalart.org
2nd place in the Vue 2006 3D Environment Competition 2006

 

 

- Publications -


File Magazine
It's Art Magazine
Photomagazine.ro

 

 

- Exhibitions -

 

Minutes and Movements - personal exhibition at Centrul Cultural Habitus, Sibiu, 2009
Hai la Ţară, group exhibition, Braşov 2009
Techno-Abstract, group exhibition, Engineering College, Sibiu 2008
Emotional Landscapes - personal exhibition at UAP, Deva, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

 
Open Gate

- special kender featured in the website -

 

 

Just me

Daniel Munteanu

For spontaneous thoughts and sensations, you may use the feedback form ( Your Thoughts )
to the upper left of the screen to send your message on the spot

For other long legged letters:

e-mail: stalkeron@moondash.net
tel: 004 0722 680 550

For print orders, contact me at:
prints@moondash.net

 
To the Moon and Back Again

Creative Commons License

All Images and Texts by Daniel Munteanu are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Romania License.