saucer down

[bc1967]

trying my hand at this, again. Thoughts and crits?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/bc1967/saucerdown01_again2.jpg

[dstipes]

I love the layout and concept of the shot. It is a setting I would love to discover some day!

:^)

The color balancing is working well for the ship in the environment.

However, there are some areas that are causing problems with the shot. Most of them have to do with the focus or resolution of various images in the scene.

The top of the saucer is quite blurred while detail in the bottom is a lot sharper. I think you may be trying to suggest a large scale saucer and the blur is maybe atmospheric perspective. (?) I would suggest that the saucer be painted with more crisp edges since it is closer to us than the distant shore, yet the shore is in sharper focus or resolution.

Conversly the bush / leaves in front of the saucer should match the same blur at the leaves at the top of the plant ( over the bare sky.)

The helicopters are more crisp than the leaves, saucer or the shore.

You took on a tough shot! Keep working at it. You are well on your way!

David

[Azra]

the lights are from a different setting ... they don't match.. the edge is also way blurred .... overall.. it could be a good previz......

[stevenbray1]

I agree with Azra, it's very good for previs but the edges on the saucer are too soft. I learned this by making the same mistake!

Aerial perspective doesn't soften things, it desaturates and reduces contrast, focus remains the same.

If you're trying for a light wrap around the edge from the bright sky then the same thing applies. A soft glow should overlap the edge, but the sharp edge should still be there, inside the glow, desaturated and reduced in contrast.

Love the colours and the composition.

[bc1967]

A new version. I tried to incoporate the comments I've gotten.
How's this?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/bc1967/saucerdown01_again2_blueblue2small.jpg

[Muni]

Keep trying.....the composition is not really working for me. It's too heavy on the left side. My advise to any one starting is to forget coming up with your own design and also forget painting unrealistic things. The best way to get your skills up is to study good compositions and paint things that exsist. gotta walk before you can run. Learn the basics, might be a bit boring at first but it will help in the long run! Keep going!!

[Fuzz]

I like the idea of the massive ship, large forms often seem to add as sense of awe to an image. I don't know how i feel about the composition being heavy on the left. it could work depending on what the overall composition of the shot would be. for all you know someone could be composited in the far right.

I agree with everyone about making the edges crisper. keep it closer to how you have it at the bottom of the ship. Also i don't think anyone mentioned this but i don't think i see a shadow... use the trees as reference. See how dark and reflective the shadow there is? I think if you did the same for the ship, it would make a huge difference. Also i'd make the middle sections of the ship darker too and maybe tone down the neon blues. everything in the image is washed over with atmosphere, i think you should try doing the same to the lights and maybe even paint some blue highlights on some of the inner structure of the ship where the lights are incased.

All and all great color correction and ship design. I really like what you did with the water bubbling over. You're almost there. Keep up the good work.

[Ross Forster]

Its still way too soft for me, I would prefer to see more contrast between the different lines of the ship.

[stevenbray1]

Yes, much better.

Some of this is personal taste, I don't object to the fact that the frame is weighted to the left or to the level of contrast on the ship. Those are the kind of things you'd discuss with the supervisor or (if you were lucky) the director.

Technical points;

(1) The reflection of the saucer in the water is essential (it would probably be rendered CGI water today but indicate it in the painting).
(2) The buoy in the middle distance needs to be more diffused and needs a reflection too.
(3) I like the water along the edge of the saucer, as it dissapears beneath the water, but it's a bit energetic for such a relatively calm body of water?
(4) The edges of the trees seem to have suffered a bit?

[Luxo_Jr]

I agree that the edges need to be sharpened.
The spaceship's reflection is a definite missing element, notice how the trees cast their shadows out onto the water towards the viewer? Go by that and make as dark as they are. Maybe have some kind of reflection from the helicopters as well on the water, especially those lights? Im not sure about them. Also you need to fix the reflection up on your boat, it looks as if there was a reflection but it's been blurred or covered by a layer or something so it disappears in the middle of it.
Other than that, it's really good. I like the previous one better, not as blue and you can get more of a feel from the detail.

[nisus]

Hi,

I like the concept, but IMHO a flying saucer of that size would make a huge SPLASH in the water, not a very small wake...

rgds

nisus