SPLATSCAPES

Kyle Pero - Photographer and digital artist.

PROCESS

These photographic works are created by exploring the spatial data of a point cloud model, which is constructed from hundreds of traditional photographs of iconic Oregon locations. Using a technique called 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), the original scene is transformed into a three-dimensional photograph that can be explored. The final prints capture views taken by a virtual camera that is deliberately positioned in areas where the model collapses, resulting in images in which the photographic detail gives way to an impressionistic rendering of the location.

ARTIST STATEMENT

SplatScapes is driven by a desire to create a fundamentally impressionistic form of contemporary photography. Unlike the camera’s traditional role as a tool for objective reality, this work seeks to render the essence of a place, its energy, memory, and atmosphere, by leveraging the inherent instability of the digital data.

These scenes are constructed from millions of overlapping, semi-transparent ellipses rather than solid geometry. While the imagery appears cohesive from a distance, the illusion dissolves into a cloud of abstract data points upon closer inspection. This aesthetic bridges my dedication to photography with my longtime admiration for the Impressionists. For the past twenty years, I have sought a way to pay homage to their vision within my own photographic work. I never thought the opportunity would come through the use of cutting edge technology.