About Lux Lucidus
Lux Lucidus is the name I give to the visuals I create and perform with live accompanying DJ’s, live bands, art installations, and other varied events. The vast majority of the content I use live are my own creations. However, there are times when I get a request to use specific imagery, logos or someone else’s visuals, and in those cases I will incorporate that into my mix.
Aside from some of my digital photos and videos I have shot, almost all of my content is created in Adobe After Effects. While I incorporate some motion graphics elements into my creations, a lot of what I do and create in AE, is not exactly what the software was intended for. After many years of using AE, I sort of happily stumbled upon some pretty cool tricks to make very abstract, somewhat organic, often fractal-natured, original seamless looping clips. They are creations of light which reside somewhere in a dream state like existence, hence the name Lux Lucidus.
History
I have been VJ’ing for over 10 years now, under various names (including Optical Alchemy, Spongemonkey, and the unfortunate billing of “Video Guy” once) and incorporating many different styles, techniques and equipment configurations. I started off with a set-up that included a Videonics MX-1 video mixer, up to four VHS decks, a small TV, a large projector, and a huge bin of VHS tapes. I used a lot of “found” footage, heavily manipulated, as well as footage I shot, animations I made, video feedback, and captures of various winamp visualizers like Geiss and Milkdrop. It was heavy as hell to carry around, and quite the analog system. However I did develope a good way for keeping things fresh and different every performance as well as being able to mix to the music very well.
Bio
Presently I reside in San Francisco, CA, although my native home is in the midwest: Minnesota to be precise. I got my start in video production and experimentation while in junior high. My friends and I started making videos for extra credit in english class. We used equipment from the local public cable access center, located right across the street from our school. This began in 8th grade and we continued to make around 2 movies a year until 12th grade. We called ourselves “REMCO” – The Required English Movie Company. At least I think that’s what it stood for. It was during this time I also stumbled across video feedback, which I experimented with often for many years to come. Even going so far as to create a device to mount a camera on, allowing it to rotate clockwise with the lens as the central pivot point. I don’t work with feedback anymore, but much of what I discovered in that realm still fuels my creativity for my new digital creations.