Enchanted Forest - Environment/Character - Mike Pauza

[robpauza]

Hey Mike,

Will it be an enchanted anaconda? :)

Sounds a little crazy, but I can't wait. I decided to stay out of this challenge. I need some sleep this month. Your painting is still pretty early to comment on, but it looks like it you're going toward an interesting mood.

Good luck with it,
-Rob

[robpauza]

I forgot to say...

I love the above & below water camera view angle. That could be really interesting.

-Rob

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks Rob. This is just an exercise in "modeling from images", matte painting, and compositing.

PS. The annaconda will not be enchanting...he's rather misunderstood.

[Mike Pauza]

BTW, somebody give me "1" star.

I got four last time, but only when the challenge was about over.
This way people will look at my stuff just to see how bad a "1 star WIP" is. It is possible to give only one star isn't it??? If not don't worry about it.

[Mike Pauza]

And please, one star only...it will make me feel special.

[robpauza]

One ping only.....

(You do realize that it says that 1 star =the worst... right?)

[ZrO-1]

hehehe Enchanted Anaconda. Sounds like a pet name for us guy's little buddy ;)

I like the darkness you have going on...I think that getting a good render in low light has to be the hardest thing involved with lighting. If you pull it off (like I'm sure you will) it should rock. The idea with the above/below water camera position should be great! Are you going to try and do it in 3D with one camera, or in photoshop from two cameras (one for above, one for below) in post?

[leigh]

Hey Mike, ggod to see you in another challenge, and your concept is looking great so far :thumbsup:
As for that 1 star rating - possible it was some peep who is jealous of your work. :annoyed: Some people really can be bastards.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing what you are going to produce for this challenge. :bounce:

[hypercube]

Very cool..that really looks creepy, get the sense that's the last bit of light you'll see, and maybe the last thing you'll see, period. Dig the idea of the split level as well, that should be cool to see.

Hmm, for the enchanted angle, maybe it's murdering an elf? :D



P.S. Definitely weenie of someone to strafe with a one star..but then if one star is worst, what's no stars? worst-er? Maybe if they grade on a curve they'd have to invent negative stars for my thread :rolleyes: Nothing to sweat anyway, if you're good you're good, and you're good, some people just gotta cope. :)

[Clanger]

I really love this one.
I do hope you can keep the painterly feeling.

[robpauza]

I'm the 1 star "bastard." :) BUT.... if you read Mike's post, he specifically asked for 1 star.

Can't wait to see more Mike.
-Rob

[hypercube]

doh! :rolleyes: Ah I gotta pay better attention, thought it was "someone gave me one star", the real exchange there is actually funny. :D

[robpauza]

No problem. I thought it was funny too. I sort of like the title of "One Star Bastard" :) I may have to update my avatar with that. :p

-Rob

[leigh]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Sorry Rob, I didn't mean to brand you like that :p
It's just that you do get nasty peeps out there who will do that kind of thing out of malice :annoyed:

[ZrO-1]

hehehe "one star bastard" AKA "the sheriff".

[Mike Pauza]

Sorry for the whole star thing everybody.

ZrO-1:
Glad you like the idea. I do plan to use two cameras.

Leigh:
Your right Leigh, that one star dude is just jealous of my work...LOL. Thank you mam.

Hypercube:
Glad you like it so far.

Clanger:
Thanks, the painterly feeling will be gone soon. Sorry, I liked it too.

Rob:
So it was you...can't handle the competition eh??? Where's Skippy gonna play? Just joking bro.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Anyway, here's an update...please excuse how rough this is but do tell if you like where I am going with it ir not.

[hypercube]

Like where it's going..definitely the kind of nasty stuff that you'd think would be there to snag or scrape at unfortunate visitors.

Not sure how it'd read visually, but might be cool if there was a stray bone or so in there, or whatever snakes usually hork up after they're done, from past victims. Just a thought.

[ZrO-1]

Being that it's in water, I'd look at a bunch of pics about the mangrove swamps/forrests. That should give you some specific referances for "rooty" trees under water. Not that I think there's anything wrong with the underwater pic you did. In fact I think you're heading in the right direction. :thumbsup: :D

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks Hypercube & ZeO-1...I probably do need to do some research to see what else I should stick down there.

Here's an update that is more polished. This is my "background" (a matte painting). What can I do to make it more realistic looking and what do people think about the style?

[Mike Pauza]

Oh, and here's my "enchanted annaconda" reference pics (a few may be pythons). I have a few ideas, but haven't decided for sure what I want to do with him...any suggestions???

[ZrO-1]

OK, well your background looks so good you almost don't even need any 3D in it :p . One thing that's bugging me a bit is the surface of the water. To my eyes it looks like it should be flatter, more like a narrow line than the plane that it is in the image.

That guy in the second pic is so totally screwed. He's like: "so this is why mom said don't play with pythons..."

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks ZrO-1, you got me thinking...what about something like this:??? :thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[ZrO-1]

:insane: Is that supposed to be the snake eating the forrest? :shrug: It could be cool if that's the idea. Otherwise I think I missed it. :blush:

[Mike Pauza]

Sorry, it's supposed to be a guy with a swim mask on...about to be eaten.

This was a really quick comp to just test the idea. If people like it, then I'll create a higher quality version with hopefully enough detail so the scene is obvious...detailed modeling/texturing, water drops on the mask, the guys reflection in the glass, etc.

Comments???

[ZrO-1]

OOoooohhhhh I get it. That's an awesome idea! I'd just pay real close attention to making it obvious that the view is through a diver's point of view. LOL this could be a really cool one.

[sean_G]

i think its a fantastically artistic idea to put the viewer in that position\perspective... awsome. i really like that idea, only i Zro has a valid point about it being a bit confusing--but then again getting eaten by a snake could be a bit confusing!-- maybe the viewers hand trying in vain to hold back one of the serpents undulating coils?that might help to distinguish the fact that it is indeed the viewer and not the forest thats being swallowed.

also i think your matte background is looking really good it has that dialated look that everything takes on the moment before you lose consciesness... and pretty realistic too as far as the basic respresentation goes.

im subscribing. and looking foward to your next post.

[hypercube]

Kickass idea. I think with the drops and stuff you could sell it..or make it a reverse angle and a reflection off the mask itself, see a little of the guy through it instead. Ah actually if it's his POV, add an arm or something trying to shoo it away like people always seem to do before they're eaten by giant things.

Only dumb comment I can think of is, story wise, what kind of insane person would be scuba diving or snorkling in an evil swamp? :D

[Renderedbrian]

Originally posted by Mike Pauza
Oh, and here's my "enchanted annaconda" reference pics (a few may be pythons). I have a few ideas, but haven't decided for sure what I want to do with him...any suggestions???

Yes, have a look at the film "Anaconda", which featured a giant man eating Anaconda! :eek:

-
brian

[J. Epp (Moksha)]

I think it would be raelly cool if you anaconda had some caustic work on the skin in the underwater shot.

[Mike Pauza]

ZrO-1:
Thanks for the encouragement. Hopefully I have enough time to sweat the details.

sean_G:
Thanks man, hopefully with a bunch of detail and depth of field I can pull it off. Don't really have time or the inclination to create a realistic hand, but that is a good idea. Thanks for the crit.

hypercube:
Thanks again. Your thinking about what I am. BTW, the scuba diver would not have been aware of this puppy. I hope to show show the guy's wild eyes with a slight reflection off the glass.

Renderedbrian:
Yeah, "Anaconda" is a great "bad movie". I think I have enough stuff to do a decent still, but if I ever want to animate this bad boy then I will definately have to take a close second look at the film...problem is it scares me cause I'm a big chicken.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a minor modeling update just to show I'm still here.

[Mike Pauza]

Here's some minor minor painting on my snake ref image. Gotta fix the mouth shape I know, but does anybody know about where the teeth are???

I think I found some uppers where I painted some white dots, and the lowers are just those thin lines that follow the "lip". Am I right???

Any other comments or questions are welcome as well. -Mike


BTW...a few of you folks are confusing me with Rob Pauza the Raptor guy, he's my brother.

[sean_G]

yea doing a great hi-res hand can be pretty tasking especially one that would be that close to the camera. i thought you might have one by chance in your "library", but no such luck. no bother though i personally dont feel the composition needs it, i only felt it might help make the comp. a little more readable for some.

--i dont know if youve considered this mike,and you probably have, but theres a funny property of water, no matter which way you turn your head, it always seems to run parrallel to the ground--
personally i like the unbalanced effect in your use of a tilted camera angle, and wouldnt change it, but i just thought id bring it to your attention.

im looking foward to a great texture from you, on the serpentine beast. maybe an effect similar to your dialated-photo-surrealistic trees? well in any event i like the artistic style youve executed with the forest, i cant wait to see what you do with the creature. . .but i guess ill have to.
take it easy and give it hard. . .later mike

[sean_G]

im not sure about the ones in the front of the mouth but i know they have quite a few in the back by the throat, to help with swallowing large prey etc. sorry im no anaconda-dundee mike, if i find any good refs ill post for you though if you want.

[hypercube]

Cool beans. Nice coil flow. Might be a bit too pronounced a 'middle' to it but then gotta get something in there..heh. Maybe a spiked anaconda would be interesting?

Scared face should be great in there..

I think as far as the teeth go, I may be fuzzy on my TDC shows, but isn't it that constrictors don't have teeth? I think if they do they're very small and could be what you picked out on top, just for hanging on..

Oh and if you don't want to do a detailed hand, maybe cover it with bubbles, or even disappearing into coils..

anyway..keep on keepin' on

[Mike Pauza]

Unfortunately my work is piling up and getting worse, so I will have to drop out of this one...looks like Howard's a shoe-in anyway. Thanks everyone for the support, it means a lot.

-Mike Pauza

[ZrO-1]

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that Mike. i really like your concept, I wouldn't scrap it. It could be a cool piece in it's own right outside of this chalenge. Don't let the real world get ya down man. :wavey:

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