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.
ÂÂ
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 I use an outdated Dell Pentium 4, 1.4GHZ, running Windows XP.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 (32)
shayhurs
VERY cool!
choronr
Excellent arrangement of the vegetation and general point of view. The foreground tree looks good with the exposed roots - more tree models should be made this way. I would be tempted to try the Cubic Spline B (soft) filter for rendering to bring about a reduction of sharpness. In all, you've done fine work here.
Danny_G
Great image Mark, lots of depth and lots to look at in the foreground
kftate
This is gorgeous and so realistic! Outstanding work!!
Chaosphoto
very very nicely done
GPensanti
BRAVO.............another great wallpaper for my desktop.
artgum
Wow- this is a beauty. I could use a place like this right now!
masonspappy
Very, very nice. This is one of those uncommon images where everything just "feels right".
Savage_dragon
Kewl, Mark. ")
NefariousDrO
Wow, words fail me. This is magnificent. So many of these kinds have that distinct "CGI" look, especially composition-wise. You're getting really good and it's getting so that these look more and more like a photograph and less like a computer graphic all of the time. Exceptional work, you're turning into quite the Terragen Guru, aren't you?
mikeerson
the tree actually looks like it's trucking down to the river = I like it.
psyoshida
Superb work. The river is beautifully done with wonderful depth.
peedy
Lovely image! Corrie
shingleboot
Very beautiful scene
Hubert
A beautiful scene. Great details and fantastic foliage/water.
SIGMAWORLD
Very nice landscape scene!
Coppens
That's more like it!
azrabella
Probably your best TG2 yet!
bloodnok
Stunningly lifelike. Very well done Mark
Thelby
Very nicely put together. Looks like a scene I saw on Carroll Roberson! Watch out for textures close to the camera, they may need scaling down a little. 5 from me !!!!!
starfire777
Excellent Terragen world!!!
mnmpm
beautiful!! terragen only? how did you put the trees in terragen?
X-PaX
I like the giant bonsai ;) Very nice work. Well done Mark.
ialora
Wow! Looks almost like a photo!
scifibabe
Seriously awesome render. It truly looks real - especially that river. Really great job on this.
volcomman1
great work!
faroutsider
Marvelous light quality, Mark. Excellent.
kasalin
Everything is so perfect and berautiful hre
LindaMcC
Lovely varied foliage and terrain. Wonderful point of view. I agree with Bob re the Cubic Spline B (soft) render filter. Excellent work.
KatesFriend
Excellent.