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General => Contests => NWDA 2015 Theme Challenge - Iceland => Topic started by: otakar on December 30, 2014, 07:03:11 PM

Title: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on December 30, 2014, 07:03:11 PM
Well, it's just a start.

Comments are certainly welcome.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on December 31, 2014, 03:00:19 AM
It's a bit 'empty'. I suggest looking for a more vivid POV, more dramatic, with a close up area where you can play with some veggies or rocks, or a stream, and distant mountains. Then see if mist will add anything to it.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on December 31, 2014, 10:51:36 AM
Thanks, yeah this is all good. However, I don't think I can do close-up streams very realistically. Unfortunately, water features prominently in Iceland, though :)
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Upon Infinity on December 31, 2014, 11:04:20 AM
If there's one thing I've learned about scene composition is: don't put things into the scene incidentally.   The foreground really frustrates me to look at because I feel there should be more of it to look at and that if it is in the scene, then it should be there with authority.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: gregtee on January 07, 2015, 01:26:34 AM
What story are you trying to tell here?  Start with that and the rest will follow.  Right now it feels like you're telling one about a sky. 
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: TheBadger on January 08, 2015, 10:54:19 AM
I very much like the feeling of being close to the rim of some great valley, or transition from one type of terrain to another. Too much sky. But I still get a bunch of ideas from this so I think there is something here to refine.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 08, 2015, 03:53:47 PM
Thank you for all the comments. Like I stated this is a very modest start. What I wanted to convey is the vastness of the land and the rugged topology. The sky should be prominent but interesting at the same time (which gives the former some meaning, i.e. decent clouds). This could be a snapshot when standing on the rim. The fog is covering up what should be at least partly revealed.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: choronr on January 09, 2015, 12:03:48 AM
A good idea and start. Thinning the fog; and, adjusting the POV should take you into more details.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 13, 2015, 05:53:49 PM
Another iteration. The fog's gone.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on January 14, 2015, 03:18:38 AM
I think you can do much better, Otakar! It's still very empty and has no real 'composition', like a flow from a close up something to a distance. The horizon line is very straight also, and the clouds not really real. I am sorry to be so blunt, but I wish well.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 14, 2015, 03:51:48 PM
Dune, I appreciate it and I agree. I've been struggling with the composition and I did not spend a ton of time on it and it clearly shows. If I ever should make it to a worthwhile entry it will require lots more work. I'll be kicking this around in my head for a while.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on January 15, 2015, 03:01:57 AM
I think it would be a good idea to walk through the reference again, see what strikes you as interesting/stunning ánd doable, and try to replicate that.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Oshyan on January 15, 2015, 03:10:24 AM
I think there is actually potential in this landscape and scene, just not this particular PoV! I even like the clouds, though I agree they're a bit strange and almost alien. I would suggest decreasing their density and/or edge sharpness a bit perhaps. But the PoV is the most important change. Move your camera down into the valley below, maybe down on the right-hand side where there's an irregular, sloping valley between two sort of low, rounded ridges. A PoV looking up the valley might be good. Or looking up a bit out of the valley in a flatter area to get a broader view while still avoiding this somewhat flat horizon and too-much-sky.

I hope that helps. You don't need to start over, just change your view. In Terragen it's just that easy, no miles to hike to the bottom. :D

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 15, 2015, 04:27:41 PM
Thanks for your thoughts, Oshyan. How's this POV then?
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on January 16, 2015, 03:31:41 AM
Even lower and closer to those ridges in the righthand side (front) would be even better, IMO. And change the angle of the sun, so you get more dramatic lighting on the far mountains. If the white peaks dissappear, raise them locally (SSS). But this has much greater potential!
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: mhaze on January 16, 2015, 04:20:12 AM
Much better pov, this has real potential.  I suspect the colours are temporary as they are too bright.  The tundra presets that come with tg3 are perfect.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 16, 2015, 04:11:20 PM
Changed camera location, terrain and sun angle.

And yes, surfacing is far from complete.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Oshyan on January 17, 2015, 12:35:05 AM
Lower than that first revision, I agree (and the lighting was flat, but of course temporary). But I actually liked the first update to the PoV more than this latest one. Seeing that one a bit closer to the ground might be it for me, then just improvements to texture, displacement, lighting, etc.

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on January 17, 2015, 03:03:39 AM
Agree with Oshyan.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 21, 2015, 01:56:43 PM
Ok, I reverted the terrain, lowered camera yet again.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Oshyan on January 21, 2015, 02:37:36 PM
Quite promising. Now just need better light, perhaps some foreground interest (object, church, house perhaps, or a famous Icelandic Horse! :D ), etc. :)

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: mhaze on January 21, 2015, 05:13:33 PM
I like this it has promise just needs some veg and a focus/point of interest.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on January 22, 2015, 05:23:24 PM
Another update. I'll have to think of something for the foreground...
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: TheBadger on January 22, 2015, 05:47:33 PM
Like this a lot better too. Stating to really look interesting.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on February 12, 2015, 07:27:40 PM
Likely the last WIP before the deadline. Still got some tweaks to work out. If there is anything major that needs attention, I'd be grateful for a mention. Thanks!
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: choronr on February 12, 2015, 07:57:27 PM
I believe all looks very good; but, the white of the snow capped mountains and the white of the clouds are competing ...a matter of taste maybe. The snow against a blue sky would be a better contrast.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: Dune on February 13, 2015, 02:58:47 AM
Agreed, and maybe some more diversity in rock colors.
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: inkydigit on February 14, 2015, 10:04:07 AM
Good luck, this is looking really promising, some extra details will make this!
Cheers
Jason
:)
Title: Re: Otakar's Iceland
Post by: otakar on February 14, 2015, 10:01:53 PM
Thanks all, entry has been submitted.