First, I need to say I started this thread to avoid conversations in the voting thread. I wanted to tell you all how VERY difficult it was to vote this month. There are some brilliant entries into this month's contest. Some of the talent is downright intimitidating!!!! :-) I had something that I had started to work on and at the last minute decided not to enter. I'm thinking of posting it here, just to get some tips on how I might finish it. I sort of hit a wall and am not sure that I'm going in the right direction. Anyway, getting back to the point, you all did some amazing stuff and there are some great works in there. Best of luck to all!!!!

Yes... this was an exceptional one. I almost forgot too... before you vote, make sure you check both pages of entries (there are more entries than can fit on a single page).

Oh that's the best part - truly - is going through all the images and seeing everyone's take on it.

Well. . . are you going to share your image elektra? I'd like to see more. It was a great model and the number of different ways it was used was very inspiring. So many different ideas. I'm ready for more. grin

Hang on, let me do a quick render and post it.

Okay, here's what I was woking on. The ruin is a magical place and it's very old. It's been forgotten to many, but not all. It lies deep in a forest, where there was once a thriving civilization. It's now all grown over with remanents of the old world. All that is left is this place and the last guardian. I was going for at night, with low level moonlight. I was trying to give depth of forest. I didn't have much luck including mountains to create a valley. I was also trying to give the ruin itself a magical feel. What I was working on last are the trees and the forest and the lighting.

YAY! What about adding some spot or point lights with a blue tint? A low-level blue light should give some highlights that resemble moonlight. I love the dragon.

I can try that. Thanks for the tip.

Are you going to post it here when you're satisfied with it? Or shall I just watch your gallery? Does anyone else want to share their uses for the ruins that they didn't enter in the contest? I'd love to see more. Thank you Elektra, Abby

Abby - thanks for the help and feedback and I can post it here when I've had a chance to play a bit more. I also would love to see other folks ideas and such and wouldn't mind further feedback either.