Computer Skills.... are you kidding me?

Oh where do I start with my computer skills. I mean should I mention that I've built about 3 computers so far and a countless more that I've fixed. But let's get down to it.

Software
Adobe Photoshop CS3 & CS2
Adobe Flash CS3 & previous with Macromedia back to MX
Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 & previous with Macromedia back to MX
Adobe Premier CS3 & perevious versions back to 1.5
Adobe Fireworks CS3 & & previous with Macromedia back to MX 2004
Adobe Bridge CS3
Adobe Illustrator CS3 & CS2
AutoCADD 2000
Audodesk 3DS Max 9, 8, and 7
Microsoft Access 2003
Microsoft Excell 2003
Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
Microsoft Word 2003
Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2003
Microsoft Outlook 2003

Programming Languages
C++
HTML
PHP
CSS
JavaScript
ActionScript 2.0 (now learning 3.0)
Some XML
Visual Basic .NET

In the past 7 months I've started working at Meijer.com originally as an image specialist but working much more in development and design on the My Meijer News weekly email and even landing pages for certain products and promotions, it's really brought my css skills to a new level. But although I LOVE web design and development I still love to create some 3D and art with my two favorite programs, 3DS Max and Photoshop.

Looking at more recient project I did for my final in an advanced 3d class. In this class I had a fair amount of success in some of the assignments. I do consider myself a bit of a weaker modeler but better at lighting and some rendering techniques. For the final I modeled a Nissan Skyline GT-R


Front Angle HDRi Rendering




Ambient Occlusion Spin


Another successfull assignment that I enjoyed very much was the Pantheon. Before I started the Digital Animation and game Design I was studying to be an architech. I've always been facinated by Roman Architecture.


Pantheon Front Angle Rendering Daylight System Lighting


HDRi is an advanced lighting technique that involves using an external image as your light source for your scene resulting in hightly photo-realistic effects. This is my very first HDRi rendering that I created.


Mental-Ray HDRi Sphere


My first HDRi Image with UVW Maping


V-Ray HDRi Image


In my spare time I took the liberity of doing my own little scene. I had no reference images to work from, nor did I sketch anything out on paper before I began. I just had a little vision in my head and I went from there. Well I think the picture speaks for itself. It's my favorite lighthing rendering to this day.


HDRi with Volumetric Lighitng MultiPas Rendering


I've even tried a few animation with the new Mental Ray engine in the Max 9 and doing a little water effect turned out pretty cool.


Mental Ray Water Animation 3DS Max 9



I feel that my best work may be in web development. A few concepts that are still in development today are shown and linked below:



Icore Networks Development Site



My City Sources Development Site

The Three W's

Everyone remembers the 5 W's from grade school; Who, What, Where, When, and Why. I'm sure that at least once or twice durring the boring lectures, lessions, and homework assignments that everyone has said "Why do we have to know this? I'm never going to use this in life." Well, I feel people should really think that over. Take what I call "The Three W's" for example: Who, What, Where. Who am I? What am I here for or What is my Goal in life? Where am I in meeting that?

Who Am I?
I could take the easy way out and say "I'm Scott Engemann".... well duh. But that's not the question asked. It's refering to a bit more than just a name. It could be something like a label or a title. Me, for instance, I'm an Image Specialist working for Meijer.com. But that's just the outside view. I do so much more that some people don't realize. That being my title for what I was hired for, I'm now more of a Web Designer/Developer, and I'm loving every moment of it. I get to creat things for little or no restrictions. Sure there's an entire process for what I do and making sure it meets the standards of the company, sure I have several changes to do on a design of a banner for a landing page if thy don't meet specs the branding for the company. But that's because I'm still only learning, and I have so much to learn on top of what I already have. And that really excites me because I've taken a few HUGE steps in from what I was first tought to what I've been reciently tought and in very little time with very little experience. The sky's the limit.

What Am I Here For?
This is often the most difficult question to ask yourself. Sometimes the answer can be right infront of you and still you may not figure it out. I'm sure that some of us are taking life as it comes and not trying to make their mark in society or leave behind something for anyone or everyone to remember. I would love to be rich, drive fancy cars, take long tropical vacations, eat at expensive resteraunts, who wouldn't. But you can't just expect to have those things handed to you on a silver platter, no. You need to do something and do it very well and be successfull at it. I feel like I've found my passion in Web Design and Develop. It's in awesome field and it's growning exponetionally by the second. I love being able to take an idea, or take an object and turn it into my own little work of art. Take a picture for example, it can be a picture of anything, a beautifull masterpeice, a snapshot of a fond memory or a picture of a loved one, anything. How do you see that picture? How do you show that picture to others? Do you have that picture framed on your wall? Keep it in your wallet? How do you think that others will see that picture? Will they get the same impression out of it that you do?Mostlikely not because we live in such a diverse wold these days that almost no one thinks alike. But imagine if you can influence them in a few ways to see something as you see it. Color, light, space, layout, are all import areas and tools that can make or break what you see. I know that I want to be a web developer but I'm starting to realize that I may even want to own and run my own little web development firm. No one to set the boundries or have any one's designs or guidlines to follow but my own.

Where Am I In Meeting That?
In the past few years I've gone from working in retail as a sales assicoate to having a nice desk job doing something that utilizies my tallents and skills that I've come to learn. It's exciting to see others really enjoy what I can do when given the oportunity. I get a real kick out of seeing something going from concept to creation, espically when it's my ideas. But I think right now I'm just starting on my path down web development. I'm excited to take the next step, hoping that it will be a position where I'll have more say in how things will look. Something with a bit more weight to throw around.