WIP: KREOLA - Zak Seymour

#1

Hello everyone! I found this challenge a couple days ago and decided to give it a go.

First off, huge thanks to the Judges and sponsors. Good luck to all there’s already some really strong work!

After scratching my head for too long trying to decide how to approach the plate, I opted to break it up in a few places to extend what was provided. Doing so required a bit of perspective correction that I hope looks sound. I then did a really basic monochrome block in with the aim of experimenting with composition, values, and shapes. For the bg I ended up liking a canyon wall that felt closer to the camera, but left a sliver of sky exposed to “convey a feeling of the city expanding into infinity.”

I’m starting to think more about fg design at this point and have been browsing travel photos for ideas. Lots to do!

Any crits or comments are always appreciated…


https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/97237732/Kreola%20public/matte%20paint%20challenge%206.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/97237732/Kreola%20public/matte%20paint%20challenge%2010.jpg

#2

Update:

My workflow has been a little backwards with this one. I usually try and start back to front but the foreground had me tied in knots and I ended up getting crazy addicted to it. I felt that my original concept was a little suffocating and was preventing me from giving the view of Flussdorf the epic treatment it calls for, so I opened it up a bit to let it breath. I’m looking forward to getting started on the opposing canyon wall, I have a stash of travel photos that are screaming to join the party.

Still brainstorming about what to do with the left side of the foreground/ plate. Might just clean it up and add some different wall textures and mini details.

Besides architecture, I plan on dotting the fg with vegetation and maybe a few exposed rock elements to give it a dense, congested feel. Other than that I’ll toy with some random design details like lamp posts etc.

Crits/comments always appreciated!

I haven’t had a chance to take a look at everyones progress but I hope to do so in the next couple days and share some thoughts.

Also, question for the judges: Are you looking for the shot to be populated by ships/people etc? Just curious. Thanks!

Onward!

#3

I made some progress on the background.

My aim was to create the look of the canyon walls sort of zig zagging into the distance. I had fun messing with the lighting of the opposing canyon wall and tried to complement both the architecture and composition through the use of shadows. I’m a sucker for atmosphere so a good chunk of time was dedicated to that.

#4

The background on this is looking really cool! I love the haze and the atmospheric perspective you have going, and interesting shapes of mountains with the buildings. You can add a few more defined clouds here and there to give it more detail. The foreground generally works, but the bottom water surface with the rocks integration can be improved some more.

“Also, question for the judges: Are you looking for the shot to be populated by ships/people etc? Just curious. Thanks!”

Nay, as this is a Styleframe, we want a clean plate for the people/ships and have nothing else “animatable” inside the matte painting environment.

#5

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