Academic · MA Digital Effects · VFX

Aquascape — Environment FX & Compositing

I created a complete underwater VFX sequence, combining concept development, green-screen acquisition, Houdini effects, lighting, rendering and Nuke compositing.

Client
Bournemouth University

Year
2022

Tools
Houdini · Nuke · Green screen · Camera matching

The brief

Create a believable underwater world without relying on fish or conventional aquatic imagery, following a uniquely lit hero object through the environment.

My role

All aspects: concept, location scouting, acquisition, camera matching, Houdini effects, lighting, rendering and Nuke compositing.

Outcome

A complete effects sequence demonstrating environmental storytelling and the integration of live action with simulated elements.

01 · Final sequence

An underwater world built through rules

The fixed camera follows a hero object as it passes behind environmental forms and reveals depth through light, occlusion and atmosphere. Water surfaces, bubbles, particles and god rays create the underwater impression without using familiar sea life.

Acquisition footage was captured in a green-screen studio and integrated with the Houdini environment in Nuke.

02 · Development

Concept, location and image integration

Concept work established the camera angle, location, hero object and underwater features before production. Location scouting then tested how the idea could be grounded in a cinematic real-world space.

The project required manual camera matching, shading and effects development. The final composite balanced rendered layers, live-action footage, atmosphere and the visible water surface.