This is the first Vue 5 render that I've felt able to put up for comments. To keep the size down the background is 2 vertical alpha planes and the pool an horizontal Alpha plane. The Animals are Daz's Bengal Tiger and the Chital which I think is based on the Daz bfBuck. Advice welcomed. Regards Alex

Another render trying for a more dramatic effect

Personally, I like the first one better.

I can't comment on technique, as I am not good enough to do so.

I can comment on composition, but keep in mind this is rather subjective; meaning I could be totally offbase. I think the composition could be improved a little. I don't think the Chital that is drinking would be drinking with the two tigers so close. And I wouldn't guess that the tigers would have their mouth open, yet. If they did, it would be a warning growl that would be noticed by all Chitals. I could see the Chital still drinking if the tigers mouths weren't open, but even then I would think the tigers would have been detected by all, especially since the other two definately see them.

I do like the picture though. It has a lot of promise. This is the type of pic that I try to do myself, but usually don't do as well!

I agree with Jcleaver. Also, I believe tigers hunt alone, plus they don't usually go after healthy adult males. They don't want a fight...they want an easy meal. Unless they're desperate, most cats hunt the very young, sick, or old.

I like the idea of using the mapped planes, as being now a fan of HDRI lighting, this would be a good technique for getting faster, more realistic HDRI renders of the main animal characters in a natural Vue type setting. While I don't do animation, its also a very good technique for animation, as- if you have good action, people won't notice that the backgrounds are 2D- and you will save yourself a lot of rendering time...

I really like the top one. As far the 'reality' I think it all works. Could be yearling cub along with mom. Also cats often have their mouths open. Read somewhere about helping them breath in the scent. As for looking for the weak, all preditators do, but not saying if one of those deer took off they could't take him down. Got to check them out to see if their's a weakling. ~s~ Anyway... very nice picture. Like that the planes don't look like planes.

What if those are just plastic dummy tigers some humans put up to keep the deer from messing up there private swiming hole and the dear are looking at the bogus tigers and thinking they look real fake and stupid and so the deer aren't going anywhere?

The pond doesn't read clearly as a pond in the first picture. Could the camera be moved up so more of the pond is seen?

Message edited on: 10/27/2004 15:10

Tigers and Deers need some noise because they looks so "Stand Still" and plastic. Hope this helps

Nice ...Very nice... The first image is the better. Its a good compost image, like a story summary type of page, in a children's book Detailed but simplified and dramatic. Your on the right track if your comments are about the content not the technique... Some day I would like my work to evok what you have here. Cheers

I've noted your comments. I must say I was trying for artisticor dramatic effect rather than real life exactness.here is my latest try

Here is the same scene with postwork in VUE5 to make it greyscale