My background as me:
Though born in Cornwall in the UK, we emigrated to Melbourne, Australia way back in 1981 and have lived here ever since. Outside of creating stuff on my computer, I love to travel (Africa, South America and South East Asia), ride my motorbike (currently a Honda CBR900RR Fireblade), keep fit, go mountain-biking, rockclimbing (mostly indoor, but occasionally outdoors too), a bit of snowskiing and just generally spend time with friends. Oh, yes and work and sleep too ;-)
...and as an 'artist':
From an early age I always loved drawing. When I was about 12, I was right into boats (particularly those huge expensives ones you see docked in places like Monaco!) and would draw these ships in painstaking detail and plan out how they would look inside as well. My father served for many years in the Royal Navy and we lived close to the sea, so I was always very influenced by the water. I think this nautical heritage explains why so many of my works feature water, not to mention structures with stainless steel railings around them! :-)
After boats, I became very interested in science fiction: not just the stories, but even more so the fantastic illustrations. I always remember buying my first book of sci-fi illustrations: "21st Century Foss" by Chris Foss. That book provided an endless source of wonder and inspiration and I still have it today. I bought many other books of a similar nature and set about drawing my own amazing spacecraft. I made many drawings, but sadly I threw them all away (I thought people might think they were a bit weird! They weren't of course, but in the mind of an artistic 14 year old who was more concerned with trying to fit in, then they were weird!) I was always frustrated, however, by the fact that I couldn't bring my drawings more to life - I had the imaginaton, but not the skills to paint or airbrush like Chris Foss, Peter Elson, Angus McKie or countless other British sci-fi artists of the late seventies, early eighties.
So my next step along the artistic road was photography. I hassled my poor Dad endlessly until he bought a very cool Olympus OM-10 SLR as the family camera. Of course, it didn't belong to our family - it was mine! :-) So began a lifelong love of photography which allowed me to really express my creativity. I learned everything I possibly could about not only the creative aspects of photography, but the technical ones too - I like to really get into stuff!
Some time later, I discovered music, not the enjoyment of listening to it (something I've always loved too), but playing it myself. Though at first fascinated by electronic music, I learned to play guitar initially and then, later on when I could afford it, I indulged my passion for electronic keyboards. Here was another medium which I found to be really expressive too, but, like my drawing, I didn't have the skills to play guitar or keyboards particularly well (I could, however, make lots of very cool sounds...at least I thought so anyway :-) More frustration....
Around the turn of the Millennium (I've always wanted to say that) as I became more heavily involved with computers through work and study, I discovered 3D computer art. Though I don't recall any images in particular, I was fascinated by how these pictures were created. After a bit of searching around I discovered Terragen - I couldn't believe that such a sophistcated program could be free!! I downloaded the free version and played with it and very quickly fell in love with it - so easy to use, yet so creative and the results looked so professional! So I spent quite a few months creating worlds of my own using Terragen before discovering computer based music. Another creative outlet to fall in love with! :-) Here was a music making system that allowed me to finally create whatever I could imagine!! Yet I still needed to find the same outlet in the visual arts field...
Sometime in early 2006 I started looking at 3D computer art once more. Again, I was so impressed by what I saw. This time however, I distinctly remember those first images I saw - they were Joe Vinton's (better known as Orbital, of course, around these parts) series of images that featured a balloon in them. I couldn't believe what I was seeing - there was something so touching and wonderful about this series - Orbital had created such places of wonder that were so realistic and believable that I just had to find out which program he had used to create such works of wonder. The program of course is Bryce! Finally I had found my creative Nirvana! Not only that, but Orbital's stunning images were, of course, posted here at Renderosity where I have laid my creative hat ever since! Then, in November 2007, I finally took the plunge and bought Vue 6 Infinite and have never looked back!
The Origin of my Name:
The name SunsetHunter was bestowed on my while travelling on a riverboat along the Rio Madeira in Brazil in October 1999. I was travelling with a Japanese backpacker, called Moto, at the time. We chugged along the river for about 4 days altogether and I always remember it being one of the most peaceful times in my (already peaceful) life. I would quite happily spend the entire day perched at the edge of the boat just watching the river and the vast jungle go by. We made about 1000kms in those 4 days on the boat and the scenery was virtually unchanged all that time. A magnificent place. At the end of each day, I always made a point of standing at the bow of the vessel to watch the sunset across the jungle off our port side. My Japanese friend, Moto, called me The Hunter of Sunsets and even wrote the Japanese script for this in my travel journal which I still have. I always thought it was a great nom de plume, but had never used it until I became a member here in May 2006.
Anything Else?:
Other than I don't look anything like my avatar....ummm...no, not really - thats about it! You can go and check out my gallery if you like! I will certainly check your's out too!! :-)
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Comments (26)
Sharwyn
Outstanding atmosphere . It looks fantastic!
TuranMirza
Wonderful image - sorry to read of your current situation. Turan
bejopalu
I dont have sufficient english level to say you all things I would. But in this afternoon of your image I think you have to rest and think what you made wrong or what the others made wrong. Tomorrow, the sun will grow other time and its light will show you the rigth directtion. Your lost ship could be other time in your waters or any day when you dont think, other ship will be in this orange waters. In this day, you will have to jump down another time to travel in the love ship. Dear friend, tomorrow, after the night, the sun will be in your sky again. Sure.
MagikUnicorn
Sweeeeet POV I saw your logo in that world :)
carlx
Impressive and wonderful scene!!! Excellent POV, too!!!
2121
Out of pain comes a beautiful and sriking image
jocko500
wonderful looking
starlightpainter
A truely phenominal image. Very deep and encompassing. Like bing lost inside of the cliff itself.
soffy
so beautiful and expressive art work,so sorry about your situation,take care,Love and Hugzz***
sudafed
i like the picture alot :) sorry to hear things arent going well for you right now ,keep your head up ;)
Star4mation
Magnificent lighting and texturing in this scene :)
SunsetHunter
This image it seems once more involves me. I wept reading your words. I felt the loss but long ago and I hate that you have to feel it now. What we shared was a wonderful experience and I will treasure it always. Another holds my heart now and it is forward I must travel. Thankyou once again for letting me see a side to you that was hidden away when I was with you. Take care my good friend. I love this image. Luv Mother Earth
mikeywilliam
FANTASTIC! A new Favorite from one of my Favorite Artists!
dhama
I'm such a Bryce fanatic and I like this image. Set together with your words it feels very sad and almost trapped in the narrow walls of the canyon moving slowing inward. The light at the end is a much warmer place. And even though you leave a little of yourself behind each time, you add so much more to your life. dhama. :-)
hipps13
very beautiuful words so is the image touched me deeply Sweet day to you with a hug
alexclark
This is a great work, and a very sorrowful piece. I'm sorry to hear of your current situation - I hope you come out the other side alright.
Burpee
I love this image for it's simplicity and beauty...then I read your words. I am very touched and moved by you realizing your own actions and not blaming someone else. It takes a great person to be able to do that. You are not the first to lose but your loss of 'family' is so sad. You had love and you let it go. I am sorry sincerely.
Questor4
I have been somewhere similar too. Another inspiring & great image !
gmvgmvgmv
Sorry to hear of your loss. Wonderful image, though - simple yet powerful.
FarAnAway
A very moving visual statement of one's eternal will to survive, even in the very face of endings we anticipate, as well as those we don't. The image speaks of profound inevitability, as truly as your words speak of a heart as tenacious as nature herself.
ModuleOne
Very serene atmosphere. Makes me want to go cliff diving:)
nazul
Made me feel sad to read your words, sorry for your loss. And at the same time made me think ... and feel ...that i maybe should appreciate more what i've got :-) ...thanx
NefariousDrO
I wish I could say something to help with what you are going through, except to say that I am truly sorry for what has happened. I hope in time you meet someone you'll love again, because a heart like yours deserves to be happy. Hang in there, and don't forget to take care of yourself.
eyeland
A strong image - simple, but it does a good job of conveying what you were trying to communicate. It immediately brought to mind the Dylan song "I Threw It All Away", which you've probably heard, but in case not, here are the lyrics: "I once held her in my arms, She said she would always stay. But I was cruel, I treated her like a fool, I threw it all away. Once I had mountains in the palm of my hand, And rivers that ran through ev'ry day. I must have been mad, I never knew what I had, Until I threw it all away. Love is all there is, it makes the world go 'round, Love and only love, it can't be denied. No matter what you think about it You just won't be able to do without it. Take a tip from one who's tried. So if you find someone that gives you all of her love, Take it to your heart, don't let it stray, For one thing that's certain, You will surely be a-hurtin', If you throw it all away." We all do things we regret. Expressing them honestly (either in words or through art or some other means) & learning from them are the healthiest ways to deal with them. Often they lead you to other positive pathways & experiences in your life that you would have missed otherwise...
wawadave
i know this pain only far too well. i see the chasm as a cut through the soul its self. I too have been bashed on those jagged rocks. And through depression and i,ll health brought on after. poverty soon after haveing to buy a house on back taxes very cheap. but learned why because the town was nazi supporters during ww2 and still act like them today. I knew pain all too well. now i allso know loneliness after 8 years of solitary confinement at the hands of the nazi,s nazi spy decendents,nazi colaberators. i do know pain and loneliness allso oh far to well. 8 years with out ever haveing a conversation with some one you can trust. 8 years with out haveing to watch any word spoken because they are just weaseling for info to use to gossip about and against you. 8 years of being hated and persicuted by them and their churches. all i wanted was a roof over my head and be left alone if they could not manage to be even slightly human. so i know pain and lonelyness far to well. i hope you never ever learn this pain......
MirageBay
A very thought provoking image and words...thank you for sharing both, and best wishes to you:)