Hi Dravenfr,
Yes it’s done with Blender. The shader is my own but it only uses Blender inbuilt procedurals. I must say that this is a really challenging exercise. I suspect the real essence of it will be to produce something very real that dosen’t also say its was made in so and so package.
I am doing the Open Ocean challenge but I want to attempt calm, rough and storm weather waves if possible.
Cog
Hi all,
I have been developing concepts ready for render in this ocean challenge. I'm developing a little story that may eventually become a short.
[img]http://www.cogfilms.com/images/mine-in-water-lg.jpg[/img]
The story has the ocean (of course), a warning buoy, and a sea mine as can be seen in the image. That picture is just a concept, but the mood and lighting are coming on nicely.
For this example I have used a paint package to help blend the mine into the sea. Harsh CGI transitions break the illusion. However, everything you see in the picture is produced in [b]Blender.
[/b]Here’s the mine ( if you click the image a short turnview animation will show the rust damage I’m trying to produce)
.
C&C on either of the concepts gratefully received.
CogIts coming along Cog. Like I said before the foam looks really good, just keep it coming 
Hi all,
Just a little update and a concept movie. I call this the Cruel Sea after watching that film for inspiration last weekend.
If you click the heavily modified image above a short quicktime animation of the scene will be displayed in a separate window.
At the moment I have to do some work on the mine lighting and its interaction with the ocean. No inbuilt ocean modifiers in Blender as yet so a little careful hand animating is required.
Cog
hmmm feels more like a river than an ocean i dont know why…
but it looks splendid you really captured the feel
youre right, im feeling that too, maybe is because the waves are too fast and is running in the same direction
Didn’t feel the river thing, but the mine looks like a lightweight ball to me.
Splendid water and bounce animation, though. 
Cheers,
Hi R.Quinn,
I agree and I need to do work on both the speed of the main waves and also the tiny waves on the surface. I’m also currently not puting the camera in motion which make it look as though the viewer is on a bank or solid surface just off screen.
I’ve done some tests of camera motion which I will post at some time but at the moment it’s kind of concept work to show possible textures, interaction, lighting (most difficult as some shots will be low light and low contrast) and also FX.
Here’s one I’ve been working on to test a mine surfacing. I have to add wake and some spay but it’s begining to work I think?
Click on the image to see a short concept of the mine surfacing. (QT 1.1Mb)
Cog
Good stuff! that is getting too close to real!
Only thing it might need is some particles dribbling down on the mine cause it sorta looks as if the water is going through the mine and not around it…
And the camera motion will help for sure!
Good stuff
Hi Cog!
I agree. The CG is magnificent, but the waves all seem to be traveling toward the mine. From what I’ve observed, I’ve always felt waves in the ocean just bob up and down unless they’ve reached a certain size. You might need to do some research on that. Otherwise: Great work! Keep it up!
Hi all,
Time for another update. I have been completing the modelling for the characters in my entry for the FXWars! The Ocean challenge. This is Buoy, based on that seen in the 1951 film ‘The Cruel Sea’.
My short, also called the cruel sea, examines the struggle against the elements made worse by man, but all from the buoys perspective. I still have to rig the buoy and add further texturing to complete. However, I can start the animation process tomorrow which leaves 2 weeks before I need to worry about rendering. That’s about 11 days for final render, post processing, compositing and editing. A tight schedule but I’m enjoying it.
I shall be using a 6 Linux PC render farm for final render probably working 24 hours a day.
I will try to keep this thread uptodate with progress.
Cog
Wow! That’s looking really good. The only thing is that the sea doesn’t seem like it’s splashing onto the buoy, but I’m guessing that you’ll add that later.
Hi leojd,
Yes your right about the need for splashes and other interaction between the waves and the buoy. I’ve done some experimantation using blurred masks and particles of course. However, I’ve got to get on with the animation so that I have all the action required then worry about those compositing details as I come to final render. It’s a tight schedule but I’m really enjoying it.
Cog
Hope to see an update soon. The dateline is fast approaching, so you have enought time to render the final scene.
-R
Hi all,
A final update before my entry is completed (only 6 days!!! Is it 12pm GMT?)
Here is my hero character, hero as in the Buoy is the hero in the story rather than this being a hero render. Just realised I'm going bonkers after that sentance.
[img]http://www.cogfilms.com/images/buoy3a.jpg[/img]
Just too much to render now but I'm keen to finish.
Good luck to everyone entering.
Cog