Field in dunes

Started by Dune, August 18, 2017, 02:43:16 AM

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Dune

I try to make this as real as possible, but it's not there yet. I like some parts of the background and lighting, but the foreground is too simple, so needs work. Any suggestions/critics are welcome, as always.

fleetwood


House and plowman in front are the first things my eye goes toward. The lighting angle is good for the terrain and sky, but the plower and house end up kind of undefined in the shade.

I guess if sand is all you've got, then you plant in sand. Does make me wonder, in primitive agriculture, is it necessary or useful to plow sand? Is there new better sand under the top layer, or is it some kind of hard sand.     

mhaze

Some stones, twigs, a log maybe?

Dune

No stones present here, but in the meantime I added some twigs indeed, some other veggies, some procedural dirt, lost the ripples, added some mossy parts. Logs wouldn't be there either. And you're right about the field and sand; it would probably be very meagre/lean/poor and mixed with peat from nearby marshes. It might need to be lighter. I'll check.
You're also right about the plowman and beasts, they need something.... the oxen look a bit dull also.

Kadri


Don't know what you can add but i like it already.
Have you tried different sun angles? Could bring a different look. But i like the lighting as it is now actually.

bobbystahr

I couldn't add to this...like it a lot......But the crossing furrows in the plowed field...is that a Dutch thing?
something borrowed,
something Blue.
Ring out the Old.
Bring in the New
Bobby Stahr, Paracosmologist

Dune

That's the way they plowed in old times, crosswise. But I have to check this with the specialists to be sure. I might have it completely wrong  :(
Lighted up the soil, put the plowers elsewhere, added some more veggies. Now maybe the sand needs a little fractal warp... (masking out the mossy bits of course).
I deliberately put the sun at this angle to better show both angles of the furrows. With different light they easily get lost.
And there's a grass I don't like, too straight blades. have to mod that.

J_Con

I agree with Fleetwood about the house being in full shadow. If the sunlight was in the exact opposite position would it show the same shadows in the furrows , but in reverse ? Though the strong shadows would probably move to top right as appose to bottom left? Or rotate the house so that its in 3/4 view so that one side is illuminated?
It must be said, offering Dune critique is like telling Yoda how to use the force. :D

Lady of the Lake

Quote from: J_Con on August 19, 2017, 06:06:04 AM
It must be said, offering Dune critique is like telling Yoda how to use the force. :D

I agree completely with this statement.

Great image.....although plowing sand is really weird to this ole Kansas girl that is used to wheat fields.   ;D

bobbystahr

#9
Quote from: Dune on August 19, 2017, 02:57:32 AM
That's the way they plowed in old times, crosswise. But I have to check this with the specialists to be sure. I might have it completely wrong 

Well I could find no reference to this so please let me/us know what you find. Thanks.

Tenacious to a T I kept at it and found this...Egyptian no less...maybe useful in your Dorian project

These were known as a crooked ploughs because the beam curved forwards to the draft animal. The fitment of wheels provided far greater control and manoeuvrability. Oak was used for the share beam, elm the draught beam and iron for the shares. Iron at that time was very precious, so plough share metal was used and shaped into weapons in times of war. The Romans however, were very efficient with their conquering advances, but their ploughs were simple and crude in design. Although there had been enormous advances from the simple stirring sticks, for these early ploughs to produce well tilled soil, the land would have to be cross ploughed at right angles to the first operation to ensure all the land was well prepared for sowing.

full article here
http://www.ploughmen.co.uk/about-us/history-of-the-plough
something borrowed,
something Blue.
Ring out the Old.
Bring in the New
Bobby Stahr, Paracosmologist

Dune

Thanks guys and ole Kansas girl. These guys had very little to live on and the new dunes (Netherlands grew out of the sea) provided at least some dry feet in this very marshy early country. Probably hard living. Interesting article, Bobby. See, crossplowing was the way. Though it wasn't really turning the earth like a plow does, but just cutting it open to get weeds out. Had to be done several times in several angles.
Turning the house might be an idea. I indeed tried several other sun positions, but none gave the nice lighted atmo (I like bleached skies).

bobbystahr

Quote from: Dune on August 20, 2017, 03:01:44 AM
Interesting article, Bobby. See, crossplowing was the way. Though it wasn't really turning the earth like a plow does, but just cutting it open to get weeds out. Had to be done several times in several angles.


We live and we Learn...so it goes.
something borrowed,
something Blue.
Ring out the Old.
Bring in the New
Bobby Stahr, Paracosmologist

KlausK

Maybe some "Light Source" objects to the rescue? Like in the old days in any 3D software when there was no GI.
If you like your sunlights position, you could try lighting up the people, animals and the house with a dim soft spot
light or a surrounding light source. Perhaps. Maybe.
Always great to see how you get those specific landscapes and structures.
Cheers, Klaus
/ ASUS WS Mainboard / Dual XEON E5-2640v3 / 64GB RAM / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 TI / Win7 Ultimate . . . still (||-:-||)

Dune

Thanks Klaus. I also deploy a screen sometimes, to catch some extra bouncing light near an object.

dorianvan

#14
Hi Ulco. First off, fantastic work here! However, is there a way to lift up just the grassy area higher with more dirt under it instead of sand? Kind of like a small butte. Even spread some rocks around. Next, if part of the focus/story is the fields, move the sun down to either side so you can see the plowed areas better (shadows), barn might even look cooler. Also, the field color looks pretty much the same, can you have some areas that are freshly plowed? In the foreground left, a log would be good with a couple of dirty towels and a few jugs of water next to it. Finally, looks so dry I imagine that they would kick up a little dust. Just some fresh ideas.
-Dorian