As mentioned in my first post, my proposed project is a study of a termite mound, via an interactive 360 degree panorama of the different zones within the mound. This will be executed by means of constructing a 3D model in SketchUp. The model will be based on an amalgam of the resources I am able to derive this information from, as there is a lot of research, both written & visual, on termites. I struggle with the idea of laying out & creating my model based entirely on one specific source. In addition, thus far, I have not been able to find one uniform source with visuals clear enough to confidently create an entire model out of.
Here, in search of a solution, is a digital exercise I did in an effort to find consistencies & common ground between multiple photographs & diagrams of mound cross-sections. This cross-referencing exercise was helpful in finding recurring forms & patterns across multiple termite habitats. It is important to note that the images of the mounds used in this abstracted collage don't seem to be all from the same species (some of the graphics I found simply called them 'termites', without naming a specific species), however, I will say that a majority were studies of Macrotermes michaelseni. Aforementioned in the previous blog post, I haven't yet chose a single species to focus on, and the more research I do, the more Macrotermes michaelseni seems to be a fitting choice.
Overlaying images to synthesize information obtained from the cross-referencing of multiple sources, went from a simple study, to something abstracted & with depth. It became a lot easier, looking back on the series of collages, to see the language in form that is being used in building, & how this language carries across mounds of the same termite species. By layering multiple images & adjusting opacities, contrasts, etc. in Photoshop, nests, fungus gardens, conduits, begin to align, & one can see that that a commonality in the architecture is apparent.
Three final collages each composed of approximately 10 of the same images, each in differing arrangements & layer adjustments:
