February 2015 - Aaron McNaughton


#1

2A. EXT. LANDING FIELD - NIGHT

I learn’t my lesson with last brief to explore more which is what I’m going to be doing before I go ahead.

Anyway, here is first super simple sketch, not made the field highly sophisticated like stated in brief though just a warm up really I think with this one!

Idea is the ship is slightly out of view. I think I need more planets though! More sketches to come :slight_smile:


#2

It’s simple but it can be good with a few light effects . On the other hand , I think you can do better , I think of your DMP to Barlangis the lights ( in my opinion) were mastered.
Expect the following
Stef


#3

Yeah this one is just a warm up not going with this it didn’t take long at all, I kind of like the architecture style I’ve done though and that might help me decide a direction.

And thanks I’m glad you like that piece, I did spend a great deal of time particularly on the 3D and lighting. To be honest I’d like to push the boat out and do something as advantageous as that again I’m not sure its going to be this month though due to time constraints. Anyway going to experiment with more directions now, and perhaps alternative concepting method as painting everything is difficult, and I don’t see many people here doing a concept painting before hand which makes me believe I’m crazy for trying! I need to use 3D more!


#4

Great! Looks like final work)


#5

“suuper simple sketch” haha! :thumbsup:


#6

Thanks guys!

  1. EXT. - PLAZA - NIGHT - WIDE ANGLE LENS
    Another concept, and the direction I’m going this month. I thought as the script suggests (intricate architecture) what’s to say that couldn’t be sculpted out of the rocks. Gone for an alien feel with a totally different approach to concepting which is using photos to kit bash it all together. Still hand painted a few elements in the sketch. Anyway time to move onto the final MP now :smiley:


#7

Awesome! Love this idea. Feels very epic. :thumbsup:


#8

Thanks Hemal, glad you like :slight_smile:


#9

Nice. Intresting. Like the atmo and colors.


#10

Awesome! Fantastic idea. Like the atmosphere and colors.


#11

Thank you very much guys, I’m really enjoying this month’s competition I must say. Here’s WIP screeny, working back to front.

P.S I love Sci-fi, so this is the dream brief for me :smiley:


#12

Hey Aaron, sent u another message on your email lol… but still no answer !

i love the last one, and the 2nd with the weirdo archi/lava ! gj !

I’d like to see the last one polished ! :bounce: :thumbsup:


#13

Thanks again, and I haven’t received any mail. Your best to use PM’s on here, as I’ve not got any emails through my gmail account :confused:

I’m working through the piece now… Still got lots to do, even though I’ve zoomed in on some places up to 300% to paint details, I’ll take another pass over it all as things still look raw in places. Main structure still isn’t finished, and the lights in places need sorting, anyway plenty of time to wrap this one up though :smiley:


#14

Looking killer my man, as always.


#15

Thanks again Dylan, really appreciate your support :slight_smile:


#16

Still exploring options for this month, FG is roughly placed, still edge work, small planet to be added, general clean up & haze. I’ve deviated from my original concept to improve scale issues. I’m really liking the idea of low haze, just thrown in as a test. Is it normal to explore this much, I’d really like to know just how much change takes place from concept to final matte shot… on average.


#17

looks good can’t wait for the final product


#18

Hi Aaron,

i liked your piece from the start and i think your on the right way. The low fog idea is also great. Maybe think of another “building” in the foreground so the viewer has a better idea what these things are!

:beer:


#19

Great piece as always man! U should think about asteroid ring around planet for sure :smiley:


#20

Guys, thanks so much for your comments :slight_smile: I think one thing I’m guilty of with my entries is making the piece often too >enclosed< with a lot of foreground elements as I like to use them as a framing device for the focal point, but this can hurt scale a LOT…

As the brief states wide angle I think I want to keep just the foreground rocks close to camera, but I do see your point. I think however this can add to the mystery of the place, not being too sure about what your looking at.

Also, an asteroid belt is an awesome idea! I think though it would probably compete with the focal point for attention at this point. I’d love to go crazy and add more space elements but If I start I probably won’t stop lol. It definitely could do with some stars added to the piece though yet.