blender

blender is a free and open source 3D animation suite. it supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation. 

points covered in session:

navigation around user interface 

optimization of user interface

rendering, camera positions and render presets

below are two renders taken from a simple shape made in blender, experimenting with camera positions and lighting

importing 3d models and photographs

creating particle systems, exploding and other modifiers

below are a series of renders taken from a 3d model produced in rhino of a old dry dock. this model was imported into blender, replicated, and had different modifiders applied to it to produce these cool renders