I try to make this as real as possible, but it's not there yet. I like some parts of the background and lighting, but the foreground is too simple, so needs work. Any suggestions/critics are welcome, as always.
House and plowman in front are the first things my eye goes toward. The lighting angle is good for the terrain and sky, but the plower and house end up kind of undefined in the shade.
I guess if sand is all you've got, then you plant in sand. Does make me wonder, in primitive agriculture, is it necessary or useful to plow sand? Is there new better sand under the top layer, or is it some kind of hard sand.
Some stones, twigs, a log maybe?
No stones present here, but in the meantime I added some twigs indeed, some other veggies, some procedural dirt, lost the ripples, added some mossy parts. Logs wouldn't be there either. And you're right about the field and sand; it would probably be very meagre/lean/poor and mixed with peat from nearby marshes. It might need to be lighter. I'll check.
You're also right about the plowman and beasts, they need something.... the oxen look a bit dull also.
Don't know what you can add but i like it already.
Have you tried different sun angles? Could bring a different look. But i like the lighting as it is now actually.
I couldn't add to this...like it a lot......But the crossing furrows in the plowed field...is that a Dutch thing?
That's the way they plowed in old times, crosswise. But I have to check this with the specialists to be sure. I might have it completely wrong :(
Lighted up the soil, put the plowers elsewhere, added some more veggies. Now maybe the sand needs a little fractal warp... (masking out the mossy bits of course).
I deliberately put the sun at this angle to better show both angles of the furrows. With different light they easily get lost.
And there's a grass I don't like, too straight blades. have to mod that.
I agree with Fleetwood about the house being in full shadow. If the sunlight was in the exact opposite position would it show the same shadows in the furrows , but in reverse ? Though the strong shadows would probably move to top right as appose to bottom left? Or rotate the house so that its in 3/4 view so that one side is illuminated?
It must be said, offering Dune critique is like telling Yoda how to use the force. :D
Quote from: J_Con on August 19, 2017, 06:06:04 AM
It must be said, offering Dune critique is like telling Yoda how to use the force. :D
I agree completely with this statement.
Great image.....although plowing sand is really weird to this ole Kansas girl that is used to wheat fields. ;D
Quote from: Dune on August 19, 2017, 02:57:32 AM
That's the way they plowed in old times, crosswise. But I have to check this with the specialists to be sure. I might have it completely wrong
Well I could find no reference to this so please let me/us know what you find. Thanks.
Tenacious to a T I kept at it and found this...Egyptian no less...maybe useful in your Dorian project
These were known as a crooked ploughs because the beam curved forwards to the draft animal. The fitment of wheels provided far greater control and manoeuvrability. Oak was used for the share beam, elm the draught beam and iron for the shares. Iron at that time was very precious, so plough share metal was used and shaped into weapons in times of war. The Romans however, were very efficient with their conquering advances, but their ploughs were simple and crude in design. Although there had been enormous advances from the simple stirring sticks, for these early ploughs to produce well tilled soil, the land would have to be cross ploughed at right angles to the first operation to ensure all the land was well prepared for sowing.full article here
http://www.ploughmen.co.uk/about-us/history-of-the-plough
Thanks guys and ole Kansas girl. These guys had very little to live on and the new dunes (Netherlands grew out of the sea) provided at least some dry feet in this very marshy early country. Probably hard living. Interesting article, Bobby. See, crossplowing was the way. Though it wasn't really turning the earth like a plow does, but just cutting it open to get weeds out. Had to be done several times in several angles.
Turning the house might be an idea. I indeed tried several other sun positions, but none gave the nice lighted atmo (I like bleached skies).
Quote from: Dune on August 20, 2017, 03:01:44 AM
Interesting article, Bobby. See, crossplowing was the way. Though it wasn't really turning the earth like a plow does, but just cutting it open to get weeds out. Had to be done several times in several angles.
We live and we Learn...so it goes.
Maybe some "Light Source" objects to the rescue? Like in the old days in any 3D software when there was no GI.
If you like your sunlights position, you could try lighting up the people, animals and the house with a dim soft spot
light or a surrounding light source. Perhaps. Maybe.
Always great to see how you get those specific landscapes and structures.
Cheers, Klaus
Thanks Klaus. I also deploy a screen sometimes, to catch some extra bouncing light near an object.
Hi Ulco. First off, fantastic work here! However, is there a way to lift up just the grassy area higher with more dirt under it instead of sand? Kind of like a small butte. Even spread some rocks around. Next, if part of the focus/story is the fields, move the sun down to either side so you can see the plowed areas better (shadows), barn might even look cooler. Also, the field color looks pretty much the same, can you have some areas that are freshly plowed? In the foreground left, a log would be good with a couple of dirty towels and a few jugs of water next to it. Finally, looks so dry I imagine that they would kick up a little dust. Just some fresh ideas.
Thanks Dorian, some good ideas. This is the sort of landscape that it's supposed to be, quite sandy. Difference between freshly plowed and still old crop or mowed would be nice indeed. So are some human belongings up front.
I see. Then I would take the green mossy stuff out; kind of looks like painted green sand. Just replace with darker/I guess wettish color of sand for some variety.
There's moss in the dunes as well, but maybe the color and texture is not right yet. I'll have a look. Thanks Dorian.
Super Duin!
Great adventure in the duins, Dune!
:)
Look forward to the moss, modified puffy snow!
:)
Dank je, Jason ;)
following...as always
I think Jason's right. The "moss" is off the ground and puffy. If you have a population rather than paint, it would probably look better.
Quote from: dorianvan on August 30, 2017, 06:58:11 PM
I think Jason's right. The "moss" is off the ground and puffy. If you have a population rather than paint, it would probably look better.
AP I think shared some killer moss .tgo files
Actually the mosses in these often dry dunes is rather low and compact and often very dry, certainly not like the thick spongy mosses in dark wet forests. And I think from this distance and regarding the size of mos bed, a pop ain't necessary. I've already done some changes anyway.
Quote from: Dune on August 31, 2017, 01:46:14 AM
Actually the mosses in these often dry dunes is rather low and compact and often very dry, certainly not like the thick spongy mosses in dark wet forests. And I think from this distance and regarding the size of mos bed, a pop ain't necessary. I've already done some changes anyway.
coolio
I'm not sure if this would be correct, so here's a few options. The old veggies plowed over should be there, but on disturbed angles, so perhaps I should make some dead crooked stuff.
Quote from: Dune on September 01, 2017, 02:35:50 AM
I'm not sure if this would be correct, so here's a few options. The old veggies plowed over should be there, but on disturbed angles, so perhaps I should make some dead crooked stuff.
Perhaps, but it's pretty damn real as is IMHO. Aw go for it, y'know y wanna.