Attached Link: http://www.3dtotal.com/home2/gallery/getgalleryitem.asp?id=749

I spotted this image in the 3D Total gallery and my jaw dropped. I've seen some amazing work, but this is so completely photoreal that I can't work out how, even with high-end software like Maya, a 3D rendering that looks like this is possible. The website listed under the image is a dead link, so I can't seem to find out any more about it. Does anyone here have any thoughts on how the artist could have achieved this effect?

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/index.ez?viewStory=2839

His work is most impressive. He is the artist of the month currently and there is a nice story about him here at R'ostiy. You should check out the rest of his gallery... Completely amazing!

You're right... I looked at his gallery and I'm completely blown away. I really need to look at the front page of R'osity more often. :) sigh The bar just got raised another mile or thousand higher than I'm ever going to be able to jump.

Some of us have to be satisfied with sneaking under the bar.

Dialyn, did you see the part of his interview where he says he's been doing 3d work for all of eighteen months? :-0 ...Pardon me while I go find a bridge to jump off of.

Yes, his work is impressive...but he's also using Maya and not Poser. If we all had Maya, then we could compare our work to his and it would be much fairer comparison. I'm not taking anything away from his work, it is excellent, but just saying Maya vs Poser we are comparing apples to oranges... So fauve, please don't go jump off bridges just yet :) Pendy

OH my!!! This is amazing. and only in 18 months!!! That is absolutely incredible work. I guess I need to visit the front page more often too!

3D Total is a great site, with lots of good resources and links. But don't be disheartened. Some folks who have posted character stuff there use Poser and we don't know how durable or flexible those Maya-built characters are. They look great in one render, but . . . . . . . . . Also there's one pic in the scenes gallery there that is barely 3D work at all. I know, because I've seen the original photo that was essentially just manipped a bit. My plug for a great site I found out about thru 3D Total: http://www.amazonsoul.com/

I remember some really great looking renders of faces by Catherina Przazak (now Harders i guess, sorry for the spelling) and those were done in Poser 4 with her own made textures! Don't know if someone has a link to those (i know she had her own site now).

She's at Mec4d.com now, and yeah, her characters are top-of-the-line, right up there with SteffyZZ. When I get discouraged with Poser, I go to their sites and feel my jaw drop (for the 'leventy-sixth' time!) and go back to my struggles recharged with hope...Poser people can look lifelike! For Dark Fantasy inspiration, I go to RDNA and immerse myself in Sydd Raven's lovely, twisted creatures. But that '18 months' bit----jeez! Fauve, you may have company on that bridge ;)