Photogrammetry: 3D imaging of Fred Embrey’s ceremonial figure – QAGOMA Blog

As part of QAGOMA’s Digital Transformation Initiative (DTI), the Gallery’s photography team collaborates with conservators, coders and designers in its quest to make the Collection available to everyone.

One way the DTI team improves how we understand, care for and represent artworks is through 3D digital capture. Made possible at QAGOMA through the support of donors to the Unlock the Collection campaign, 3D imaging’s impacts are wide-reaching, with benefits for conservators, academics and the public.

Recently, Nicholas Umek (Senior Photographer) and Thomas Renn (Motion Designer) used the process of photogrammetry to create a 3D model of celebrated Kabi Kabi man’s Fred Embrey’s Untitled ceremonial figure c.1930. Representing a Djan’djari spirit, the work is one of only three known works in its genre and was recently the subject of a major research project between QAGOMA and the University of Queensland, supported generously by the Mather Foundation.

Delve deeper: Learn about the QAGOMA team’s innovations and challenges in creating a 3D model of this work.
Experience in 3D: Fred Embrey’s Untitled ceremonial figure’.
Read more: Visit Collection Online to learn how Nicholas, Thomas and team create a 3D model of an artwork.
On display: Visit ‘Voices of Our Elders: Aboriginal Story Tellers’, Anthropology Museum, The University of Queensland until November 2024.

QAGOMA Collection Online Photographers preparing Fred Embrey’s Untitled ceremonial figure c.1930 for photogrammetric capture, QAGOMA, January 2024 / Photograph: N Umek © QAGOMA
Fred Embrey, Kabi Kabi people, Australia c.1880 – 1939 / Untitled ceremonial figure c.1930 / Carved softwood with natural pigments, emu feathers bound with bush string and resin / 65.5 x 14 x 14cm / Purchased 2020 with funds from the Mather Foundation through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art

Where regular photography captures scenes in 2D, photogrammetry is a method of making a 3D model of an object in digital space. To do this, Nicholas and team take dozens — often hundreds — of photos at precise intervals in rings around an object, creating a ‘dataset’ of views from every possible angle.

Next, Thomas processes the dataset on a powerful computer he describes as ‘a small UFO’. He uses specialised software to cross-reference points of interest across the images, extrapolating the object’s shape, texture and position in space to create an accurate 3D model.

For Fred Embrey’s sculpture, nearly 600 total photos were used to create the final model — a process not unlike digital papier-mâché.

An in-progress ‘point cloud’ rendering of Fred Embrey’s sculpture shows a complete dataset of seven rings of photos / Image: T Renn © QAGOMA
Fred Embrey’s Untitled ceremonial figure c.1930 during photogrammetric capture, QAGOMA, January 2024 / Photograph: N Umek © QAGOMA

A model like this is not only of value to art conservators — who wish to monitor an artwork’s condition closely over time — but also offers new and rich ways of experiencing an artwork from anywhere in the world. Photogrammetry is also used at QAGOMA to create real-world tactile experiences, like touchable replicas of artworks.

For the ‘Quilty’ exhibition held at GOMA in 2019, visitors were invited to touch 3D replicas of Ben Quilty’s textured impasto artworks, June 2019

I’m of the belief that the collections of public institutions such as QAGOMA belong to the people; 3D imaging like this offers us new ways to democratise access to our Collection. Nicholas Umek, Senior Photographer, QAGOMA

This photogrammetry project, in particular, helps uphold an important Queensland artist’s legacy. With the support of the Mather Foundation, Fred Embrey’s family recently collaborated with QAGOMA to make a documentary on the contributions of this important Queensland artist, who lived at Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement during the 1930s. The 3D model — which you can explore online — is another way to preserve and experience this rare work of national significance.

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