This is a WIP I've been working on the last couple of nights. It's got a lot of issues I need to fix yet but wanted to kinda give everyone a heads up on it to see if any comments/suggestions are in order. I'm really hoping to put out a quality image because I haven't done the best of work here lately in my own opinion. Maybe I'm pushing myself too hard to start, not sure...it's been a month. Anyhow, lemme know what ya think so far.

Also, I'm gonna read some tuts by DryFly on nature scene stuff so this stuff gets easier...more to come on that though. :)

Regards,
MadDog31

what is a WIP?

WIP= work in progress

I think you need something happening like some people fishing off the dock or loading up a boat. What you have so far looks mighty good.

Thanks for the plug MadDog :) You've certainly got a great start here. No hard lines in your terrains, your foliage color doesn't come off as plastic and it's got really good depth to it as well as believable texture scale. If you don't mind I'll pop in a couple of suggestions that you can take or leave. :) Firstly you might consider backing off the foliage density just a little, both in the underbrush and in the canopy trees. This combined with more diversity of scale and placement will give you much less of a definable top to the trees and the undergrowth. Second, try a little more run-out by putting a few more trees leaving the scene, the sudden end to the forest in this image can be spotted. However if your shooting for an island that fills the frame, you can feel free to ignore me. :) Lastly the textures on your dock planks have the sort of spiral star effect that sometimes pops up, you might try changing the mapping of the planks to cylindrical. You may have to adjust the scale back to where you like it but it may clear up the stars. Just my two cents and I do hope you don't take it the wrong way. The work your investing is obvious, I'm just very opinionated and mouthy. :) I do look forward to the final render. :)

That's coming along nicely madDog, just to chime in a little if I may and add my 2 cents, foliage comes in different shades, if you can add some more diversity to your shades of foliage green and place them randomly around the setting, that would help to make your nature more believable to the eye. Also, maybe you can scatter some dead trees about since nature is not complete without them and stagger their heights (bare branches sticking up in the background here and there). As was already mentioned but might be too early in your WIP, you need some kind of action; maybe a sea gull or a pelican perched on the piling somewhere with maybe an empty boat moored near by. Personally I think your deck planks needs some more meat to them. They seem awfully flimsy to support someones weight. Just my opinion and thoughts, do with them as you see fit. I like the concept of looking down towards the other end of the pier. Its kind of like looking at whats going on behind you. Most pier scenes show them from the other angle. Good going so far.

IMHO, if this is a jungle, go for some objects that make it more obvious that this is South America or Africa. Perhaps some bright flowers or dugout canoes. Maybe a strange fish swimming near the surface by the dock. This is definitely an interesting view back along the dock. Lin

One thing is, the forest is a little too uniform, might want some color/size/rotation/position changes. If they are bryce trees, use some randomization or dispersement of branches, just change a little for each.