Creature Sketching

I wasn't entirely happy with what I managed to accomplish last semester, so I set about trying to build a little scene for the models I created.  I started with just a wee island, and to have the monster bursting forth through the ground. The model/texture was created fairly quickly, and at this point is akin more to a sketch than a final asset. The debris was accomplished using a combination of dynamics (shattering) along with more traditional modelling. The water is just a flat plane with a normal map and V-Ray shader applied.

More Compositions

A mix here, I love the dynamic shot in the second one but I feel that, while the colours are very striking, parts of the image arent very clear and that this could use some work. The top image I really Like as I feel that it is clear and the colours are nice, however I would like it to be more dynamic. Hence the 2nd image. As of this point these are the final 2 compositions I will be putting together. And I'm going to try and produce a video for the future as I would love to see these models used in something moving and animated.

More Compositions.

These composites are far weaker I feel. The creatures and models arent as effectively inserted into the scene and the colours themselves are very muddy. I need to improve upon this for the next set of them. However I do like the more dynamic angle the second image takes and I feel like this is a succesful part of this image whereas for the first image I like the colour scheme and how creepy it feels. I also like the use of the tree as a compositional element as opposed to the Asp fighter itself.
Something I will need to keep in mind for the next few images.

First two composites & Evaluation

Given that these are only photo composites I am very pleased with how they have turned out. I like the way the colours of these two are so very different as are the styles. The models lend themselves well to this scene as I was sure they would given the amount of planning that went into this project. I would like to improve upon situating the creature in the world better and perhaps getting a closer view of it so I can show all the detail that went into it. As-well as the ships. I would love to have created an entire video in the vein of some of these composites however given the render times that is just not practical at the moment. And these photo comps will have to do for now. I wnat to further explore different angles and perhaps some more dynamic shots of the creature aswell, just to show it off a bit better and let the audience be more aware of exactly what it is that this monstrosity is doing. 

I do feel that it is successful in as much as its very obvious that these fighters are flying towards this alien invader and the eye is clearly drawn along that line from left to right towards the creatures location.
I also like how in the 2nd image the creature is more obscured. I may end up exploring thisidea in future composites.

Photoplates and Time.

As this goes on it becomes increasingly apparent that im not going to have the time to render out a video. Given the models im using and what im trying to do Id rather create some nice composites using the full quality model on photoplates instead. So that is what I'm going to have to do. Ive shot some photoplates that Ive tried to match to the thumbnail/storyboard images and I will be using these to composite the images in photoshop. Not a waste entirely as I believe that it is also useful in learnign how to composite in phtoshop as you see a lot of artists use that technique to build up textures and images.

IBL

I found a fantastic programme that will let me shoot an IBL sphere to use to assist in lighting my 3d scene. Very useful as the reflections and lighting should match the photoplate closer than If I used one online.

Matte practice.

A selection of tests involving a material specific to VRay. The wrapper material which is used to composite shadows onto photo plates by cutting the alpha out of the object it is applied to and leaving only the shadows cast onto it.
So that they can be easily put onto a photoplate.
These are just me getting to grips with the material and trying to get it work properly, it took a lot of tinkering and patience to finally figure it out.