Canyon Bend

[moodflow]

Here's an image I've been working on off and on over a few weeks.  Its nothing fancy.  My goal with this image was to try and get as photo-real as possible by combining some new lighting techniques I've been working on that really make use of TG2's GI.

All rocks, stones, and colors are procedural with no image maps used.

I still notice some issues with the renderer (such as some flat coloring), and since I had to render the image in 2 halves, the GI issue was still an "issue" (which had to be taken care of in photoshop).

Otherwise, only postwork was minor color/contrast/sharpening/blurring.

Stats:
quality = 1.0
res = 1024x768
render time = 14 hours total (4 cores)  - rendered in 2 halves once per night since I use my PC in the days - I wish there was a render pause/save option.
GI = 2/2
AA= 5

Many thanks for looking...
Jeffro

[nvseal]

  Wow, outstanding work Moodflow. Extremely realistic result. I'd be interested in hearing some more about your lighting techniques if you are interested in elaborating.

[mr-miley]

Moodflow.... Outstanding work. Your quest for photorealism has been achieved. Its so nice to see a "real world" render. The rock looks like real rock, boring drab unexciting colours (not meant sarchasticly  ), just like most rock in the real world looks like. The lighting is just spot on. I love the way you have managed to get the sky to white out. The best bit for me is the far bank of the river / lake. The colouring, displacement etc is just superb, realy muted but still with enough of the colour coming through. One of the most realistic renders I think I have ever seen.

Go to the top of the class, have a gold star and a cookie 

Miles

[Phylloxera]

I like it, it's so realistic ! Very good work !

I think that you can still improve this image; already perfect; by working this time on the setting in light!

[schmeerlap]

Excellent scene-setting work. A cold, desolate place is accurately depicted, reminding one of Bergman's "The Seventh Seal" perhaps.

John

[bri]

Really nice. I agree with NVSeal. I'd like to know your new lighting techniques.

[buzzzzz1]

Really nice work man!  The lighting looks like it's just a overcast day to me. Very realistic work! Huzzzzzah!

[Martchi]

Wonderfull work,Bravo!

[Seth]

very very good render !!!
it's very realistic and i agree with Phylloxera...
do you have the same realism with another light ?

[rcallicotte]

Very realistic.  The sky is a bit hazy, but then it might be.   

[inkydigit]

exceptional....love the rocks especially!!

[Tangled-Universe]

Very realistic work, really like it! Only would like to see some bushes here and there, but not necessarily at all. The colors and water look just fine and so do the displacements.
I also would like to know how you did the lighting. Is it the same way (or derived from) as you described here?:

http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=3055.0

Martin

[moodflow]

Many thanks for the comments, all.

I did have foliage on the rocks and background hills, but it really added to the render times, so I left it out for now.  I'd really like to dial foliage in better.

@NvSeal and Tangled Universe:
It IS the same technique used in the post:  http://forums.planetside.co.uk/index.php?topic=3055.0

I'll render it again with direct sunlight so we can check the differences.  I just did a small test render, and it seems to work as well.

[moodflow]

@TU - I wonder how this technique would look on your "Brand New Day" image?

[jcinbama]

very nice render, looks like a photo to me.
yea a pause button would be nice