Who is 'Markal'?
Markal is Mark Edwards who lives in Mississippi – originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2003 after 23 years and decided to stay here in the warm gulf coast south along with my wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.
How long have you been rendering/doing computer graphics?
My last five years in the Air Force I designed and developed computer-based training. We used PhotoShop, Flash and even wrote code in HTML, so I guess I started in the late 90’s. My terragen work began in 2003.
Do you have traditional art experience?
No real art experience just the standard art classes in high school and college.
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What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a collaboration with a Bryce artist…he is making a ship for one of my space landscape images. Learning Terragen 2 and possibly Vue may be in the works soon.
What software/equipment do you use and why?
Software used is Terragen .9.43, PaintShopPro 7 and LunarCell. I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP. I was going to upgrade but, this very large screen HDTV deal fell into my lap so I had to upgrade my other love…. watching Blue-Ray movies…first. Hopefully I’ll upgrade to a quad 4 before the end of the year.
What do you think your best piece of work is and why?
One of my latest favorites is Rigel III. The foreground is a stone BMP overlay I applied in Terragen…. the shading and shadows were in-line with the sun angle and it worked very well. The only post work was the LunarCell moons and I think they also add a realistic touch. It still amazes me how computer graphics can make an imaginary place look so real and believable.
Why do you like to work with 3D software?
It’s a fun hobby for me and when I focus on the work it carries me away from the hustle and worries of this world.ÂÂ
Who/what inspires you?
All the wonderful artists here at ReRo are great inspirations. National Geographic Magazine, NASA and all the space missions has also influenced and inspired me. Of course our creator….Almighty God….the greatest artist of all.
How has this online community (Renderosity) enhanced your work, relationships, and learning?
Not only comments but also other artists sharing their files have helped me grow artistically by leaps and bounds.
Parting Comments / Advice to other Artists?
I try to focus on what I love. I have a passion for Space Art so 99% of my work is Space art. Some may think I need to branch out and explore other areas but I say branch out to what….something I don’t love? Go with what you love and your rewards will be many.
Comments (30)
artgum
I like it! Has a hot feel to the atmo- I can imagine that water is like a hot spring. Excellent caustics effect.
BlackWidow77
It kind of reminds me of the world from a movie I once saw called Pitch Black. One of my favorite movies. You did a beautiful job with this. It's so pretty.
Chaosphoto
Hmmm, you wanted honest comments. Ok, I like this lots and can't see anythiing wrong with it at all. From a realism point of view the terrain you use is a bit too rectangular for my tastes but then you are doing it for you and it is a sci fi concept so should be a little unreal anyway so back to can't see anything wrong with it again and I like it :)
choronr
Subjectivity is only aimed at one's own tastes. What I like, you may not. In this case, I'm not a fan of predominant yellow unless there is a balance of 'blue' (opposite of yellow). I do like the rocks and caustic in the lower right of the scene. You've worked hard on this one and deserve credit for your production.
faroutsider
Outstanding image - fabulous terrain work, toxic sulphur atmosphere and water. My only (minor) niggle is the placement of the terrain - too central in the frame, although the foreground landmass and gaseous swirl do pull the eye away from the centre.
Kattey
Somehow it looks like a big goldfish in sky or a magical ball held in a palm. I honestly like it and especially because yellow-and-black colors are hard to combine tastefully :) Thank you for making that picture.
Petra-S
Oh wow..kann man da nur sagen!!!!
DeathTwister
Oh wow I love how you got the caustics in the water, wow very well done mate.
prutzworks
agree with Bob
WeeLaddie
Quality Terragening as always; I particularly like the rippled waves. For me the post sky is to busy (too much going on).
Art_Ramos
Thanks for the generation info!!! I definitely have to jump back into Terragen!
ISSE
Done super
X-PaX
Very nice image Mark. Thank you for the detailed information upon the generation. Maybe the rendertime would be worth to mention also. Your image looks like it take ages to render ;)
Rich2
Oh, I would probably put my viewers to sleep if I explained every detail on my renders - but it is nice to know. Yellow is hard to work with - as is red, but you pulled it off all right. And that Hubble image: I think I recognize it as being the Horseass Nebula! Hey, I know my space stuff!
Maori
Beautiful water and outstanding surfaces!!!
GPensanti
Love the warmth that this one exudes.
lumi
fantastic underwater textures - excellent job!
nikki112459
I just love the lost feeling I get when ever I view one of your renders.
me109
I really like, how the nebula seems to embrace the planet/moon. Excellent work! Agree with chaosphoto about the terrain. Should look a bit more eroded imho. Now i am gonna prepare myself for a "Yellow Challenge" :)
scifibabe
Honestly, I am in love with this picture. I'm not a big fan of yellow but this picture is awesome! Great composition. Wonderful job on the water. Great feeling of energy in this picture. Well done!
BenBischop
Awesome Scene....!!!
Alex_NIKO
Very beautiful scene!
mikeerson
the way you do it is good... I make my cloud images with cloneing and set the dials to where the tranparency is about 3%... I use to paint them, but now, I find some killer cloud images and clone sections where I want them.
ledwolorz
Beautiful scene and colors.Wonderful work.
kasalin
Wow.... super light and mood !!!
rmnative111
a beautiful place to visit...but I wouldn't want to live there! excellent textures!
lyron
Fascinating scene!!
capitanpescanova
Fantastic atmosphere and colours!
KatesFriend
A very foreboding place. Strong use of yellow works well here.
Naoo
Cool Coloring!