South of Squamish V2

[RArcher]

Here is a new one based off some DEM data for the area just North of Vancouver / South of Squamish along the Sea-to-Sky highway in British Columbia.  The camera is roughly positioned around here a little bit in the water and pointing across the inlet:  http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=49.624668,-123.207121&spn=0.053488,0.132093&t=h&z=14

I rendered this one in two passes, the first at Detail 1, AA 5, GI 1/3.  The second pass was just the foreground area and this was set to Detail 2, AA 3, GI 1/3.  I did it this way so that the underwater features were clearer due to the way the renderer simplifies underwater geometry.  All told it was still under 8 hours or so for it to finish.

The image was inspired by a photo I took a few years ago from this area, though I didn't push the clouds as low in the render as they were when I took the photo since I wanted to see a bit more of the cliffs/trees across the water: http://www.archer-designs.com/zp/index.php?album=photography/west-coast-p1&image=20070730_coast_water_modified.jpg

Thanks for taking a look!

*Edit - Version 2 with less reflective rocks here:  http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=11317.msg116151#msg116151

[Henry Blewer]

Ryan, this is really excellent. I like the comments which go with the image also. The high detail of the 2nd render pass really worked out well.

[RArcher]

Thanks Henry, It's an image I've been meaning to get around to doing for awhile now.

[Oshyan]

Superb render. Essentially photorealistic. It would be interesting though to see if you can achieve the look of the clouds in the photo, denser, more whispy, and sticking to the mountains more. The new cloud control functions should help there.

- Oshyan

[Henry Blewer]

A challenge. But I think Ryan can do it.

[FrankB]

not required if you ask me. Ryan, in all honesty, this is one of the most photorealistic renders I've seen, maybe ever seen.

Great!

Frank

[Oshyan]

Not required at all, I love it the way it is. As I said, "it would be interesting...".

- Oshyan

[Henry Blewer]

Oshyan, are you looking for a new image for the site gallery? This qualifies. It would be nice to see it with other lighting and cloud cover. Show off some more of the programs power...

[Oshyan]

It's already in my "possible future gallery updates" folder.

- Oshyan

[Dune]

Excellent render, Ryan, I love the wet look of the mountains, but I have one point to make (literally): should there be highlights on rocks under water?

[domdib]

Superb clouds and background. Like Dune, I'm a little bothered by the foreground - and are the little white flecks there all from water reflection?

[Tangled-Universe]

Looks fabulous Ryan!

What really makes it work for me is the water.
It looks really glossy and wet
Often I find the water in TG2 very ridged and plastic looking, but this looks nice and shiny and appears somehow smoother rippled. (although you can see ridged parts of course, but still) It's a matter of settings of course + camera angle.
You might even consider rendering the bottom part again at detail 3 to get 0.75 detail equivalence for the stones.

I shall take a closer look at the clouds at home as my screen on work is not so well at displaying subtle contrasts and stuff.

Cheers,
Martin

[inkydigit]

on the money Ryan....super super scene!

[freelancah]

Superb! Looks very photorealistic

[dhavalmistry]

very nice....