HDR Light Probe Creation
While working at Naughty Dog in 2003, we were experimenting a lot of HDR images and Spherical Harmonics, but were having trouble getting more than the original Paul Debevec set. So I decided to create a capture rig and create my own. This also freed us from any liabilities of using someone elses probes. Naughty Dog was nice enough to let me keep the copyrights, so I was able to later license them to other software companies like Luxology Modo. The light probe rig consisted of 2 tripods, a small laptop, a Canon DSLR camera, and high quality telephoto lens, and a chrome contact juggling sphere from Dube juggling supply. I drilled a hole in the sphere and permanently attached it to a tripod lock so it would be completely steady during shooting.
Japanese Alley - Click to download HDR Angular Map file:
http://www.unparent.com/images_hdr/Japan_alley_FINAL.hdr
Japanese Cherry Blossoms - Click to download HDR Angular Map file:
http://www.unparent.com/images_hdr/Japan_blossom_FINAL.hdr
Japanese Subway - Click to download HDR Angular Map file:
http://www.unparent.com/images_hdr/Japan_subway2_FINAL.hdr
Mausoleum Hallway - Click to download HDR Angular Map file:
http://www.unparent.com/images_hdr/probe_mausoleumHall.hdr
Mausoleum Foyer - Click to download HDR Angular Map file:
http://www.unparent.com/images_hdr/probe_mausoleumFoyer.hdr
The entire Unparent Lightprobe Set. A total of 16 free HDR light probe images. These are almost 17 years old, so new ones are much better, but these are still good for ambient lighting and decent reflections. All available for free to download on my site.
All of the Unparent Lightprobes were created with this chrome sphere setup. I was able to fit both tripods, camera, lenses, and laptop in a backpack that I could take anywhere, including Japan and Iceland.