In this version of my May challenge (I'm exploring different POV) the bench in the water would have caustics underneath on the leg where the sun reflects off the water, even thought the leg itself is in the shade, how would I get the reflections without the inevitable glow in the water from the light, is there a way to make an object invisible and still block light?

Are these the kinda caustic effects you're after? http://claygraphics.phase2.net/fillingpool2.mov and http://claygraphics.phase2.net/bryce5anitests.html The aquatic animation. all done and rendered in Bryce:-)

Hi clay, yes, in 'aquatic' the part of the cube that is in shadow from the sphere, has the caustic effect, yet the water is dark, that was what I was looking for, so how you do it, if I can be so bold to ask?

Yeah, that would be very interesting. Light gel on a light without shadows? Or a bump/transparency map on the surface of the watern like in the half-in-water camera.

Just stick a ranged light under the water, with some autophased texture on it and no shadows. I did this in a few seconds so the texture is not realistic, but it shows the effect and it won't light the water. Make sure you range the light properly or else it will light everything in your scene. I used a strength 11 for this.

Aye, if it's still "lighting" the water up, turn it to a spotlight, and set it to track the bench or a hidden, placer sphere where you want the light to focus at.... Looks cool, tuttle, I think that's exactly what he was looking for! Good luck, Zhann...

Can't help you Zhann, but this is sure a very nice picture. YOur models are good.:)