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A Programmer's Art

Using Software as the Brush

Images and text by Geoffrey Shapiro

Computer images and graphics have just naturally interested me. Fortunately, my professional work has afforded me the opportunity to always have the latest in graphics hardware. I've developed things like Windows and Windows NT graphics display drivers, helped to develop the Cinepak for Windows video codec (compression/decompresson), and consulted on the development of Adobe Premiere for Windows.

When I'm not coding for money, I play with other people's software, and WinFract gave me the capability to dabble in fractal art. I may not be able to make a paintbrush do things on canvas, but I can make software do things on a monitor.

Diffracted Autumn Sun ( 71 k / jpg )

It's easy to see how I arrived at the name Diffracted Autumn Sun. Imagine you are looking up into the sun through the reddish fall leaves of a maple tree--you might just get diffracted sun images as this pictures appears to show!

Winter Eclipse ( 80 k / jpg )

I have come to call this image Winter Eclipse. Even a quick glance should enable you to see why--an eerie dark sun exhibiting a supernatural blue corona and framed by wintry fractal "leaves."

Jurassic Park ( 166 k / gif )

You've been sent back in time (way, way back in time) and you're flying a plane over this prehistoric southwestern U.S. landscape. As you scan below you, you notice a Jurassic period river valley hemmed in by these amazing mesas and buttes--it must be Jurassic Park :-)