Environment: First Contact

**Franz Steiner** · November 7th, 2003, 03:06 PM

In this picture I concentrated on a interesting ambiance and lighting. Took me around 16 hours.

Those are the sketches to it.

**Shambacca** · November 7th, 2003, 03:35 PM

That's a pretty creepy picture, man. The whole look of the peice implies that the characters are teeny tiny and the setting is in a patch of grass. The lighting is fantastic.

**Franz Steiner** · November 7th, 2003, 10:17 PM

Thanx Shambacca,

**DanSTC** · November 8th, 2003, 02:21 AM

It looks great, but I personally think I'd like it better if the nude figure didn't look so "cheesecake." But that's just my personal taste, of course.

**William b. Hand** · November 8th, 2003, 06:21 AM

I agree about the "cheesecake" thing...

but as far as what you were focusing on, I really dig what you came up with --- Especially the creature(s)! Is this the size you worked at, or can we see a close-up of the alien and "rider"?

I LOVE that little alien!

**Franz Steiner** · November 8th, 2003, 07:51 AM

its a little bigger than the post. ill see if I can make a nice closeup of that creature.

**Goro** · November 8th, 2003, 11:01 AM

very nice athmosphere! You're improving your skills fast!

**Franz Steiner** · November 8th, 2003, 12:53 PM

"man who ever said that progress was a slow process wasnt
talking about me! Im a p i m p plus i got the magic stick. "

just kiddin. thanx Goro.

**Loga4** · November 8th, 2003, 08:56 PM

Great piece and sketch,Frants!

**Rusty Red Robot** · November 8th, 2003, 11:31 PM

Great picture! The colors are awesome!

**DanSTC** · November 9th, 2003, 04:25 AM

Oh yeah, I also think that a few more better-defined highlights on the creatures would make it a stronger composition. You designed these great little animals for the piece, so it's a shame that the casual viewer's eye misses out on them in favor of the aforementioned "cheesecake" model.

**Franz Steiner** · November 9th, 2003, 06:44 AM

thanx guys, some interesting hints. I will definetely try to improve the image.

**Franz Steiner** · November 12th, 2003, 05:00 AM

here is a close from the rider.

**Tomasis** · November 13th, 2003, 10:09 AM

what impressive

the little dog is cute

**sandgrain** · November 13th, 2003, 10:42 AM

that's a groovy lil wombat!
awesome stuff.

**imzadione** · November 13th, 2003, 11:12 AM

i like what you've got going on here, just one quick change you might want to make. there is too much black at the top of the picture plane. the visual weight is cramming down on top of the focus, by cropping the picture, you could get rid of this. you could also expand your composition to have details added in what is now all black.

**Muttonhead** · November 13th, 2003, 11:33 AM

Yeah, the mood and the composition in this piece are fantastic. I also agree about the female, I think she has too much of that naive look, and for a woman who lives nude out in the forest, her hair is just a little too perfect.

Otherwise this is a very effective piece. It gets the message across and conveys a strong sense of space. Nice job.

-Muttonhead

**bizarre** · November 13th, 2003, 02:47 PM

not to hijack the thread, but... what's cheesecake? i've heard the expression many times before, never knew what it meant.

as for comments, i think it'd balance the piece out more if you were to add a few shafts of volumetric light.. um... fog beams? whatever the word is, into the upper right corner, to sort of make it seem less diorama-ish, like as if the scene extended behind the viewer, so... so it feels more complete.

i dont know if it was deliberate or not but the black, blurred shapes in the foreground really add a nice touch, sort of a depth of field thing, like if you focus on something far away witha camera and there's something right in front of the lense, you know? smooth. very smooth.

eh, my Adderal is about to run out, and i only post useful info when i'm on it, so... bye.

**talmir** · November 13th, 2003, 03:50 PM

I think a cheesecake is basically a cake, made with cheese in it...

Well, I'm icelandic... Might be highly wrong, as it were...

**Franz Steiner** · November 14th, 2003, 07:02 AM

Tomasis- thanx

sandgrain- ya think it looks like a wombat?

Imzadione- you might be right about the black part. I felt if I
crop it too much you get too close to her. eveything is a little sketchy around there. I need to work on anatomy and this kind of stuff. thanx for your help.

Muttonhead- I had some problems with her hair and making it look believable. Im still not satisfied with it. Maybe I try your version with some loose hair.

bizarre- Ill try that one too. I just wanted to make sure the center of interest is on her.

talmir- thanx helping out