17 Sep 2009 at 02:17 - 7
I'll join the "too dark" crowd. I know you are going for correct lighting, but... I think Scott Sava (of Dreamland Chronicles semi-fame) put it best:
Quote:
I’ve finally come around to the theory that just because you’re in a dark room…you can’t have some lights in it.
I’ve always tried to light “naturally”, but felt they lacked any cinematic quality.
So after watching Fellowship of the Rings again…I realized that if Gandalf and gang could be in a CAVE with no electricity and no flames…and still look that nice.
Then I could play around in a sleep lab.
So you can use your power as the artist to bend reality a little. 
Also, what is that little glowy will-o-the-wisp thing up on the hill? Is that the orb the Derv is inspecting?
Overall, a great concept, and it's shaping up to be a great piece! Reminds me of my old trick-or-treating days... but eerier.
17 Sep 2009 at 06:10 - 8
Oh wow, I didn't even notice there were gravestones and grass on the hill! Looks much better now. However I have to kinda squint to see the characters, I'm not sure if its because they are too small or that the lighting is still a little dark on them. Since it is for a GW themed contest, I think that they should have more focus in the picture.
Definitely has improved though. =) GJ!
17 Sep 2009 at 06:11 - 9
Yep, tis an obligatory Orb because I like them. 
And thanks guy, I'll go back and try to make the scene a little less dark.
17 Sep 2009 at 07:12 - 10
What I think is that you should have watermarked this picture so no one tries to steal it as their own.
On-topic: I think the picture is 3 or 4 shades too dark.
~LeNa~
17 Sep 2009 at 07:50 - 11
Point taken about the security, especially since I mentioned that the piece I took my inspiration from was first brought to my attention because someone had plagiarized it and sent it in as their own.
*Adds watermark, hopes it is sufficent*
I'm thinking that my monitor might be brighter than average. When I was going through and adding in the colors and shadows, I was using less than 10 shades above black. It became an issue because I couldn't get enough contrast in areas where I needed it, like shadows or the like. To me the image looks fine, if anything a little too bright. I'm going to play with it and see if I can't lighten it a bit.
Thank you all thus far, your comments have been very helpful.
17 Sep 2009 at 08:09 - 12
You know that scarecrow piece?
That piece had a Razah pasted over it for a Halloween contest two years ago. The person who submitted the entry was not the original author, and after being declared a winner, his prize was revoked.
17 Sep 2009 at 08:11 - 13
Well if anything happens at least this thread exists as proof that it is indeed yours. I'd like to say let's hope we won't have to worry about that but considering how many people have won for stolen art lately...
17 Sep 2009 at 08:11 - 14
Hi, I've been idling here a while, so hi guys.
Let me start off with saying this is a great start! You've got a great atmosphere going which I think you were looking for.
As the others have said the darkness of the characters seems to be the problem, I agree. Though I think the main issue is the lack of contrast around them. There's a huge wall of blackness behind them; there's no silhouette. With something light behind them it'll break up the clump of dark colours and hopefully make the characters "pop".
Also maybe consider tightening the whole image, it seems a little spacious with not much going on in half. Consider maybe cropping it?
Good luck with the competition.
17 Sep 2009 at 20:04 - 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chicken of the Seas
Well if anything happens at least this thread exists as proof that it is indeed yours. I'd like to say let's hope we won't have to worry about that but considering how many people have won for stolen art lately...
I also have a post on another forum that's from September 5th, and then the original .psd with dozens of layers to it for all the background work; several layers each for the clouds, trees, tombstones, character shadows and each ToT bag, and not to mention individual layers with the grass. If someone ripped off the .jpg I posted earlier, they would have a heck of a time (I hope) arguing it was original when I have 100+ layers showing things that couldn't possible be shown because they'd have to reconstruct, for instance, the base color of the tree, the barks lines, and all of that stuff. At least I'd hope it works that way *gulp.*
And yep Skye, that was originally how I found the original, when someone posted it to tell Arenanet what had happened.
17 Sep 2009 at 20:15 - 17
It looks great! Things I would like to see for it: 1) The entire front scene brighter including the tree and the tombstones. If some of the trunk has light brightening it then the larger branches on that side should as well. 2) Another orb or two :-) Just one seems lonely. 3) The extra brightness to only one Mad King eye seems unbalanced/too bright, especially being the side closer to the moon.
There is going to be fierce competition this year :-)
17 Sep 2009 at 20:40 - 18
Thanks! I was sort of trying to make it look lonely, hence why it was coming out to see everyone.
Here's a newer, brighter version. What do you guys think? It looks almost a smidgen to bright in my opinion, though I think everything is a lot clearer.
17 Sep 2009 at 21:00 - 19
I would say the darkest parts of their armors are still too black. The detail is lost and with the highlights popping out so much the depth of the figures compared with the background seems really off.
I tried a quick adjustment to see if I could show what I mean since Im not good at putting things into words.
The glowing trick or treat bag would cast a warm glow on the armors near it lighting the area up to their shoulders. It would kind of create a spherish glow lighting up most of the people near it. If you put them in layers to compare maybe you can see what I mean. (All this is just my personal opinion, others might see it differently)
17 Sep 2009 at 22:02 - 20
Ah, yes, more of a diffuse glow. I like the effect, it doesn't look as harsh.
18 Sep 2009 at 16:21 - 21
I like kiya's suggestion, but you could spill some more light in there yet. Have objects closer to, but not in front of, the moon be a little brighter. Also, the characters could be bigger, maybe? It's difficult to tell what the crowd consists of, and what they're doing. At least shine some more light on them. the glow from the pumpkin heads and the halloween bag can be other sources of light. you could also just pretend there's a light-source in the midst of the group, which we cant see, illuminating them further.
I feel the graveyard is a little boring, too. Might want to make the stones different from one another, also in size, maybe add some moss and growths around and upon them. As it is, I think you should have some sort of center of attention there too, so it doesnt just become a wide open space without any significance. Something guild wars related, dont forget. the guild wars element(s) is/are very important, it/they must be as obvious as possible.
I think it's a pretty piece of art so far though! I like the sky in the background, and the mood and feel of the whole scene. Very halloween-y, no doubt.
| 
