Well you guys are gonna be spoilt for choice soon! Just back from a day at 'Slimbridge' armed with a ton of photo's to texture my swan model with (saw and photographed 6 species!). Still a way behind Lynne whose images I've really enjoyed seeing. But here's a look at my offering_ the mute swan is all textured up with all the easy-pose done.

I'm particularly pleased with the Easi-pose which produces incredibly realistic movement, without visible kinking.

I've concentrated on detail and worked hard on the photo-real textures to allow close up renders. The webbed feet employ Brycetec's tecnique to allow bending of the webs and digits independantly (not possible with conventional poser set up). Here's a few close up's to demonstrate

Wow, gorgeous! Very realistic and smooth. :)

OH MY GOD! Nigel, I wanna have your children!...LOL ;o) This is just so damn fine. I think it'll be my favorite of yours to date. Can't wait to get my grubby little "hands" on it...hehehehehe. Fantastic!! Laurie

Wonderful work!!!

Very beutiful!!!!

will this be at Daz ?

Hope so Firebirdz. Laurie! LoL_ you can have my eggs in true Leda fashion! ;o)

Hehehe...a mythology buff ;o). A man after my own heart...LOL. The swan is breathtaking :o). Laurie

(Grins) _ glad you knew the allusion Laurie_ you never know when you post! Once the models up and running I hope to create a Leda pose set based on classical art images. Here's the Bewick (Tundra) and Whistler heads. Haven't done the morphs yet to support these textures_ that's next on the agenda! Then its the two Southern hemisphere species.

Stunning! And I've been a Greek mythology fanatic ever since the third grade (back in the stone age). I've had to buy "Edith Hamilton's Mythology" no less than 4 times because I wore the previous one's out...LOL. My current one is a hardcover and a bit more sturdy, but I'm wearing it thin...hehehehe... Can't wait to see the morphs and other textures. Hope there'll be a black one in there ;o). Laurie

Yep Black swan planned_ got some excellent photos so the texture should be a snip. I'm going to have to add some mesh tho to suggest the furled feathers down on the back/wings. The black swan has a gorgeous red beak and red rimmed eye_ a real stunner!

Hmm... how difficult would it be to add a cormorant morph to the swan?? I need both birds for a project I've had on hold forever. :) Kate the Strange

Excellent Nigel! I've been hoping for a swan, now there will be two large packages!

Absolutely gorgeous! I'll be broke but I need both your package and Lyne's :) Bravo!!!!!! :) Irene

I agree with Irish & Judith, i will get both..definitely need swans to float around in Judiths wonderful ruins. Cant wait to see the Black swan

? Just curious the ducks in our area are so wild you couldnt get close..were these beauties just so friendly they came up to you, expecting them to feed them? Wonderful picture...

OOOOOh I see a mother goose pic in my future! Beautiful work!

I got all the photos at Slimbridge Wetlands Trust(UK) Its the bird sanctuary founded by Sir Peter Scott the famous ornithologist.Its just down the road and has the most amazing collection of wetland bird either permanently resident or visiting on their migratory routes. The birds are all pretty tame so great for close up work. Kate a cormorant would be a tricky morph_ but might make a nice model in its own right! Thanks everyone for the nice comments_ I'll keep you posted. Nigel

hey Nigel - how long do we have to wait for this ? Now that you've whet our appetites!

My guess (and it is a guess!) is probably 3-4weeks_depends on the day job! There's a bit more minor modelling (as you'll see from this picture of the black swan texture_ which needs its curly feathers made) and I'd like to create a few morphs to make the swan species more accurate_ mostly beak shape and neck thickness. I've all the joint limits to set yet and create some easypose foot grasp dials, and of course there's the flying wings to set up and texture. Sigh!...make that 4-6w ( :o))_be patient _it'll be worth waiting for. Anyway finally to celebrate the end of a texturing weekend_ the Australian Black Swan (minus frill feathers!)

Thanks Nigel, at least you can be assured that I am saving up for this.

Well here's the final species texture : the black necked swan with, in the background, the black swan with its fluffy feathers.

Yah, a cormorant would be tough to morph. But I'll tell you right now, even as a separate model you would have at least one guaranteed customer. I've been dying to illustrate one of my all time favorite fairy tales, but in addition to swans, cormorants are involved, darnit, and I can't find hide nor hair of one anywhere. :) Kate