BELOW THE SURFACE AR EXPERIENCE
RESN
resn.co.nzNew Zealand-based digital agency Resn approached ocean conservation organisation Sea Shepherd with
its concept for Below the Surface AR, an immersive experience that aims to connect with people on an
emotional level as a call-to-action to stop the “unintended killing of oceanic wildlife caused by reckless
fishing methods.” Using AR, users are placed in the sea amid fishing boats that “mistakenly capture dolphins
in their nets and then toss their battered bodies back into the waters,” as Resn puts it. “The effect is raw and
visceral, giving everyone an emotional, up-close look at the shocking reality of commercial fishing.”
The piece uses a phone’s camera and gyroscope to show viewers a floating sphere of water before them,
using information from the camera feed to adjust the lighting conditions and colours according to their
surroundings and simulate reflections on the water’s surface. “These techniques enabled us to approximate
an AR experience inside a mobile browser,” the studio explains.Below The Surface
explores the plight of
dolphins inadvertently
caught in commercial
fishing nets.SHOWCASE