Underwater City/Etymon

[Ariel DK]

Thinking in the KB3D contest (I also need a TG contest too ), i made this two ones..
The theme is "Post-apocalyptic", so there we go. i can't spend money in a new kit, so im only using the free mini kit
WIP, C&C is very welcome, kelps made in ST, wich one looks better/realistic?

[Dune]

No. 4 definitely. Maybe do some lightrays into water! Even some spotlights pointing down might work in a strange way.

[gasbutan]

The setup of the scene looks pretty good. For my taste both of them are too dark, especially the second one.

[cyphyr]

Hey great idea!
I think it does need to be a bit (quite a lot) lighter.
It won't be that realistic I know  but if the viewer can't see what is happening that the work and effort is lost.

[Hannes]

Agree with Ulco and Richard, and I vote for No. 4.

[bobbystahr]

Echo more light, even light rays as Dune recommended...#4 for me as well

[DocCharly65]

#4

If it was animated I wouldn't change anything but for a still shot it needs in fact some more brightness.

[Ariel DK]

Ok guys, thanks for all your feedback.

(...) Even some spotlights pointing down might work in a strange way.

I already planned that. I no added it yet.

(...) It won't be that realistic I know  but if the viewer can't see what is happening that the work and effort is lost.

That's true, but tell him that to Denis Villeneuve in BR 2049 

[Ariel DK]

And finally, a new iteration. some lightrays added to simulate caustic illumination (thanks gasbutan).
is still a little bit dark, but nothing that i can't correct in PS with some post work and HDR..

[cyphyr]

Looking good ...
I really don't know if this would look but how would it work if you put a large white plane vertically behind the camera to reflect some light back into the scene. (path tracing and ray detail region set to 360deg).

[Oshyan]

I think this looks really cool, but agree it's pretty dark. It's a hard thing to deal with if you want realism. One option that would not be strictly realistic but would hint at a correct result while being brighter overall would be to lighten just the top half of the image or so, essentially dramatizing the attenuation of light at depth, and allowing you to have a brighter part of the image for mood and aesthetics. This could probably be done mostly in post work on your latest version. You'd get a brighter area where it is pseudo-realistic to have one (higher up in the water), and still the mystery and drama of the dark area at the bottom, and the contrast may enhance the overall story of the image too. Something to experiment with. Use an EXR or 16 bit TIFF as a base for post processing if you can.

- Oshyan

[WAS]

I also feel that a highlight accent would help a lot too. In PS you can use levels to make things that are caught in Highlights super bright, and everything else black, add a little Gaussian blur, desaturate, and you can use this to give highlight detail to the structures, plants or however it translates. You can fade this off towards the bottom of the image like Oshyan suggested and it would give the appearance of lumens falling off.

[cocateho26]

Reminds me of the movie Waterworld!

[WAS]

Reminds me of the movie Waterworld!

I had the same impression. The diving bell scene.

Also for all the crap that movie gets, I sure really enjoyed it.

[bobbystahr]

(path tracing and ray detail region set to 360deg).

where does one find/set these settings man?