Return to Iskwen Castle

[otakar]

I have not posted anything here for years, just felt I could not compete with the quality on display. Finally got something to share. As a long time user this was my most involved project so far, and meant both to take up the rodluc's Iskwen Castle model again (that I found long ago) and stretch the legs of my (almost) new hardware so to speak.

Some statistics:
Active Populations: 20
Other individual objects: 20
Functions and masks (mostly via simple shapes): untold, it's a big mess now

So, here are the credits:
Iskwen Castle (Luca Rodolfi at www.rodluc.com)
Walli - www.wallis-eck.de (Pine01, Dry Bush Bundle, Wild Grass, Primula Denticulata, DNW Flower, Blackberry)
svenart - www.medievalworlds.com (cart, houses)
Marc Gebhardt (Cottonwood, Generic Pines)
TerrAde (crows)
Klas (Grass7)
Mr Lamppost (Basic Bush Pack)
Tripray via Turbosquid (logs)
Miles Davis (Blackthorn)
XFrog (Sweet Birch and Judas Tree - free preview models)
lightning (Bush pack)
thefree3dmodels.com (people, sheep)
Dune (help with procedural stone wall)
archibase.net (falcon)

Finally, credit goes to the regulars at Terranuts, who helped me move it along and improve the render. Here is the WIP thread if interested: http://www.terranuts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14123

Render settings: .95 detail, AA6, raytrace objects OFF, raytrace atmosphere ON, most populations at very high quality, second enviro light used and soft shadows enabled

It was a 17 hour render (on a 2600k system!), but only because I rendered it twice as large and then resized in PS. Also adjusted the curves and exposure a bit and sharpened a tad. It was many weeks (months actually) in coming and I am ready for new challenges now.

Would be happy about any feedback. Thank you!

[TheBadger]

Good shot. I can see a slow camera fall to ground level as the rider enters the castle. Would make a nice classic sequence.

But I would definitely work on the rocks on the path. Way to big. That horse would have fallen long before it got to the castle. Also, if you add greater size variation to the prairie plants, you can get rid of repeating patterns in your populations.

[Jo Kariboo]

I like the vegetation and light.
Miles Davis    

[otakar]

I like the vegetation and light.
Miles Davis    

Also known here as mr-miley

Thank you

[Dune]

Very comprehensive setup, you got. A great start, but there are some comments I'd like to make;
1. the castle and wall are too clean and light, add dirt and it'll blend more into the surroundings.
2. the path is too 'rough stoned'
3. the  grass object is too large and gives a repetitive pattern. I think in this case the internal grass would do fine (add population variation), in combi with a fake grass shader (2 tiny stones @ 0.005m and 12 high or so)
4. more atmo