Very nice! Maybe angle the camera to let the hosizon cut through the sphere somewhere to help add visual depth while still focusing on the Crosses in the reflection. Also darken the shadows a bit. Or even try a tan color to the ground texture to simulate sand. The sand and the visual depth could signify emptiness, with the crosses signifying (sp) fullfilment and desire of not feeling empty. Just a though. TMGraphics (still a newbie himself)

Keep working at it, you're getting the hang of it. You may be confusing New Year's with Easter though. :^)

I'm not too sure about what you mean by angling the camera to cut through the sphere. I probably don't know how to do it anyway either. On the shadows, how exactly would you darken them?? Also, the ground texture is a sand texture...it's actually supposed to be beach sand but the sky I chose darkened it a little. By the way, I would have liked to experiment with a New Year's theme...but I couldn't think of anything!

I also had a hard time coming up with a good new year theme, hence no new year renders from me. You are coming along nicely. Funny you should post this as I was thinking of the futility of religous oppression and wishing that people everywhere could worship the god of their choice without fear.

I like this one more, being able to see the sky directly and not just reflecting in the red sphere. I would pull the camera back just a little bit more so that a little more of the foreground would show, the sand texture is working really well for me. And I think the symbolism here is appropriate to the season, so I retract my earlier statement about this being more of an Easter motif. Don't know if you intended a deeper meaning here, but this is what I see: 1. This is a Christmas ornament, which is a part of the generic celebration of Christmas enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike. 2. However, the reflection shows what Christians believe is the real "reason for the season". 3. The red sphere is symbolic of the blood shed on the cross. Sorry if this is too preachy, but we all interpret art from our own points of view, based on our beliefs and life experiences. And I would like to echo the sentiments of GG about the freedom to worship God (or not to worship) as we wish, and to recognize that the only way to ensure that freedom for ourselves is to do what we can to make sure that all people within the nations where we live have freedom from religious oppression. The United States Constitution is written to guarantee that right to all its citizens. Sometimes we U.S. citizens forget that freedom is only real when all are equally free to make their personal choices. I hope that no one is offended by anything I have written here, I realize that not everyone here is a citizen of my country, I only wish for you to live happy and free, wherever you may be, my friends.

That is looking alot better. I agree with tjohn, just a touch more foreground. Keep up the good work! TMG