I'm not sure if this has enough contrast, or if it is washed out. Feedback appreciated. Any ideas for the underwater enviro. ? Looks too clean still. I could add more fish, small trout or sculpin, but don't want to detract from the salmon. So far, no Photoshop - all Carrara. Thanks for looking.

Great start. Overall you might try enhancing the atmospherics/distance effects. The current effects has little depth because the mountain top and the fish share the same level of lights and darks. In a related comment, the green on the trees is a little hot/bright. Toning that down will prevent it from becoming the focus of the image like it is now because of it's intensity. For the water, maybe making the water less transparent. Then add several spot lights with water caustic gels punching up the dark and light areas under the water surface. Also, you might try using the particle generator to create some underwater floating "stuff". You can create an irregular alpha mask for the particles so they don't look geometric. The water is fairly turbulent. A large boulder or two might provide a "visual excuse" for the turbulence. Just the mad ravings of a lunatic illustrator.... ;-)

Wow! Thank you for spending the time Mark to give me feedback I can use. I'll get back to it and play with the atmospherics. The background - cloud is an image rendered and applied to a plane. I could not get the altitude right and had to cheat. Yeah, the trees are perma-green. I wanted some contrast on the hillside, but I agree, it is too much bright green. I'll play with the water, it is too dull. Is there a way to add "dark" lights - black holes? I like the idea for using alpha mask on generated particles. I don't have experience using alpha mesks, except in photoshop. Thanks again Mark.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=1205242&Start=1&Artist=anastasis20&ByArtist=Yes

Definately up the contrast and try switching on caustics that should create interesting patterns/highlight to give you more of an underwater feel. The link goes to one of my photos that shows caustics in action. And how about some depth of field, that should highlight the salmon and also help to knock the perma-green trees out of focus.

Full agreement with Mark, "underwater floating stuff" is all important - that's where most of Pixars effort went in creating convincing scenes for Finding Nemo.

"I don't have experience using alpha mesks, except in photoshop." - that could be what you need. Lots of people create grass and hair on a plane with alpha masks. Create your underwater stuff and masks in Photoshop and put it on a plane in Carrara.

Yeah, I agree with statements. Too saturated in some areas altho the water looks a bit grayed, as well as clear, but I think some of those suggestions would fix that. If you are using caustics I have found in situations it can oversaturate, but you can always post-process.I was using irradiance mapping and think it may have a bug there. Will have to look at it further. Your fish looks happy!

I enjoyed the tips. Please fix it and lets see the results. Put a rusty tin can in the water. What adds realism is the noise. Adding imperfection to a scene keeps it real.

I like the color and texture of the  water surface. Nice

I'de have him going for a fishing lure. just a thought