Nice Scene! I particularly like the galaxy in the sky

beautiful night sci-fi scene

I like your use of light and shadow, effectively used to create a sense of visual drama. The other aspect of this work which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed is the visual journey in exploration of the Fermi Paradox I see in it. I am not sure if this was your intent or not, but the entire composition can be viewed as a visual re-statement of the substance of the Fermi Paradox, and even, in some elements, of the Drake Equation. The visual symbolism seems to evoke specific components of both the Fermi Paradox and the Drake Equation (particularly the prominent red light suggestively mounted on a lamppost – which I read as a pointer to the fact that red dwarf stars by far outnumber yellow G2 type stars (of which our sun is an example: G2V) which is particularly relevant to the Drake Equation in that, thus far, we have found far more examples of exo planets in total (and indeed exo planets actually within the “Goldilocks Zone”) around red and orange dwarf stars than around other types of stars – caveat that this may merely reflect the numerable fact (of a greater number of red dwarf stars to sample) rather than the physical fact of the required developmental conditions for life)). The star in the sky with the dust ring – can be viewed to reference that dust rings around stars are clues to the formation and presence of planetary systems. The Fermi Paradox has become more directly relevant in recent years because presently we are finding worlds around other stars at an astonishing rate, and surely among these are habitable planets, the galaxy should be literally teeming with life and sophisticated civilizations – so, where are they? For those who are not familiar with the Fermi Paradox: The Fermi paradox is the apparent contradiction between high estimates of the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and the lack of evidence for such civilizations. The theories and principles in the Drake equation are closely related to the Fermi paradox. The equation was formulated by Frank Drake in 1961, a decade after the objections raised by Enrico Fermi, in an attempt to find a systematic means to evaluate the numerous probabilities involved in the existence of alien life. The speculative equation factors in: the rate of star formation in the galaxy; the fraction of stars with planets and the number per star that are habitable; the fraction of those planets which develop life, the fraction of intelligent life, and the further fraction of detectable technological intelligent life; and finally the length of time such civilizations are detectable. The fundamental problem is that the last four terms (fraction of planets with life, odds life becomes intelligent, odds intelligent life becomes detectable, and detectable lifetime of civilizations) are completely unknown. We have only one example, rendering statistical estimates impossible, and even the example we have is subject to a strong anthropic bias. For those interested there are Wikipedia pages for both the Fermi Paradox and the Drake Equation. The dusk lit landscape is rather desolate, one might even say lonely, which addresses the observation contained within Fermi’s statement, the sky is dark, and against this sky are a few isolate points of light, and on this landscape the artifacts of civilization are rare and isolated. The focal figures, a human female and, an apparently alien, life form walking side by side out of the darkness of the back lit scene. In this context the expression on your human character is delightful. Really well done all around. 5+

Thanks to everyone for looking and commenting. wblack-- Checked out your gallery and I am humbled that you provided such a detailed and wonderful comment. Fermi's paradox has been on my mind recently, especially since reading Brin's "Existence". Personally, I'd prefer the optimistic conceit that we're the first space-faring race but alas I suspect technological intelligence (small value of fc in the Drake equation) is rare in our universe and we'll only discover alien civilizations through exo-archeology. (Value for L is long but the universe is very old.) I wish I was half as clever as your analysis! The dust ring was, in fact, meant as a galaxy which makes little sense except as eye-candy. As soon as I read your remarks that it's a proto-planetary disk the light went on and I now prefer that interpretation much better.

Great job!

Fantastic scene... Wonderfully done !