Somewhere Else

[masonspappy]

Started out as one thing, ended up as something entirely different.

[TheBadger]

First class Man! The image is really sold by the little girl, both the story and the esthetic.

Good one!

[AP]

That is very nice.

[Lady of the Lake]

What a great image.  Love your country church. 

[DocCharly65]

Touching image! Great!

[inkydigit]

nicely done!

J

[masonspappy]

Thanks all. Very much appreciate the feedback.

[DannyG]

Nice Mason

[Hannes]

Very moody image and nice rays. The lighting looks a bit strange imho (additional lightsources?), but maybe this is intended?

[WAS]

This is really well done. I have to say the girl on the bench is well executed. The benches themselves sort look like they're floating. Maybe it's alternate light sources as previously mentioned. It just seems the legs should be more shadowed towards the ground?

Overall though looks pretty well awesome. I wish I could use objects this well. Working on it.

[Hannes]

Had another look at your image. The front bench is frontally lit, so I bet there are other lightsources. I'd really like to know, how this image would look like just with ONE sun and ONE environment light, if you had a photoreal image in mind. I really prefer increasing the environment light strength instead of adding other lightsources. 
Of course it's your baby!!!

[masonspappy]

The front bench is frontally lit, so I bet there are other lightsources. I'd really like to know, how this image would look like just with ONE sun and ONE environment light, if you had a photoreal image in mind. I really prefer increasing the environment light strength instead of adding other lightsources. 

Hannes you are absolutely right about the extra light sources (actually there are 8 of them!).  The problem I've never been able to overcome is that when using Godrays as done here, much of the image is too dark (shadows) so I resort to strategically placed small lights for additional illumination. Including a lower-res image here with all additional lights turned off. 

[Hannes]

8 extra lights! Wow!
I'd say if you increase the environment light strength on surfaces, you wouldn't need those extra lights.
And I guess GISD is off? A little more occlusion weight would add a bit more depth.

[DocCharly65]

I do not want you to feel disappointed but I like the second image without the other light sources better.

First one is very impressive but the second one feels just somehow true for me.
I agree wit Hannes and would be happy to see what happens following his suggestions.
Perhaps you can also play with gamma and contrast?

Anyway I love the second one! 

[Kadri]

I like the second one more too.