I just wrapped this up and man is it boring. What can I do to bring it to life? I had people and cars, but they were not doing anything for the image.
I like the post-rain look of the puddles, but it gives the image a bit of a sad feeling to it… I would expect the client of a church to want the image to look bright and cheery.
Perhaps some birdlife either on the roof or sky would add some interest.
Also, you could excercise a little artistic license and add some foreground vegetation to reduce the expanse of tarmac.
I think the tree masking the entrance could also be removed, and some people arriving/leaving placed at the entrance… perhaps a pastor greeting a parishoner?
I do like how you’ve lit the shaded side of the building.
nice comments. I agree it needs some people. id also maybe consider a view of the entrance side.
not much else you can do i think. Maybe for such a simple building, a closeup view at the entrance may be worth a try?
The puddles effect is great. Nice touch!
Yeah its quite a nice image but i would have put the sun from the opposite side, so it illuminates the entrance and the side wall would then be in shadow. This would add some nice light and shadows to the entrance area where the pillars are. The way the shadows are at the moment, although they dont look bad, create a feel which isnt inviting. Also, i think the trees in each corner are too dominant, i would move them out of the frame just a bit. Is there any kind of bump on the roof? It looks very flat and cork-like. Ive started using normal maps in the bump slot for my roof textures and they pick up details a lot better than usual black and white bump maps. Check out www.crazybump.com if you’ve not already seen it. Its free. Other than that its cool, i like the puddles too.
Church
The architect picked the view and the sun/sky is an actual placement. The only other option is an early morning, which I am trying next. I’ll tun my people back on and try it again. Thanks for the comments.
How do you mean the sun/sky is an actual placement, are you not able to move it or has the client specified the time of day to use in the image?
Id like to see your version with people in.
Bobby,
Looking good. I love the post rain effect. I think I would rotate your camera to the right to catch the other corner of the building near the front entry (the most interesting ellement of the building). Right now you are highlighting a blank wall. I would light it over the left shoulder (like it is currently) so that you would end up with sun directly hitting the front of the building and casting the sides in shadow. I would also bring some of the people back.
Su/Sky
My actual sun/sky I mean it is the time of the day using MAX’s daylight system (turned off of course). I will rotate that camera. I agree. I send the Architect the DWF and he made a snap shot at location her wanted the camera.
I dont think it looks all that bad. I quite like it.
I think the main problem is the building itself is boring as batshit. Not much you can do about that really.
I think the cars would look allright. Maybe a mid action shot with cars parking and people walking into the church?
maybe have jesus coming down smiting the sinners with his laser beam or whatever, definitely needs more lens flares though… like 5+ from his halo.
Actually he owned a lightsaber, not a laserbeam.
Thats funny.
Ok one thing you could look at doing for this type of accuratly dull building is to modify the fill lights. I think you really need more illumination there anyway but if you need the afternoon light add some soft blue fill into the shadow.
It might not be accurate but I think it may help it read better. Also right now the image is directing the eye to the steeple I think you may be better served to have the image directed to the front door.
updates
Here are some updates. I applied the hated filter to add some kind of interest.
I had the hardest time exposing this one. It seems I was doing good until I used Lele’s Matrix Exposimeter. The tool washed my image out and I could never get it back. Is this possible? Does the script change anything in the model? It seems if I were to darken all my textures 1/4 then the meter would have worked, but I stopped doing that after the release of 1.5.
Regardless… I am calling this one complete.
The second one is heaps better.
update
second repost or second of the 2 reposts? I just am not getting good results. I need to study under one of you masters of the art.
The second image in your repost, with the darker blue car.
update
The non-NFR. I still kind of like the filter on the ones I just can’t seem to get a nice feel.
Bottom image is best. The top one looks to washed out.
IMHO, I’d lose the water puddles and especially the seagulls. The puddles make it look like the lot doesn’t drain very well and I’d also make the asphalt much darker. It’ll help to ‘ground’ the image since right now the sky and parking lot are basically the same color with the building floating between. The seagulls would generally be considered a nuisance in the parking lot so I’d get rid of them - if you really want birds in the shot have them flying overhead.