Ways to improve image

lasersayspew

Hello! So, here's a pic attached. I feel like something is wrong but I can't seem to grasp what exactly. I see other different renders of people and mine looks...dull I guess. Not enough colour maybe? Or is it too dark?

Any tips on what to change/add/try? Or maybe remove? I'm lost, please help me!  

Paintbox

It's all in the lighting and composition. The best recommendation I can give you is to sign up for a photography class, preferably off-line, but on-line works as well. It will give you the tools to disect problems with composition and light set-up. Even watching Bob Ross (free on youtube) gives you some insights in the artists mind.

For instance, why did you bring the camera that high up? Why did you cut off the man standing on the lawn? Where is the light coming from, and what shadows does it cast? Is the grass texture convincing enough? This is just scratching the surface.

CGsociety has professional courses (if you have the money to burn) https://cgsociety.org/workshops/becoming-a-better-artist

lasersayspew

It's a set of pictures, he crosses the road to her house and in that one I wanted to make the main focus on her while still showing his position.

Brought camera so high to not include the horizon which is empty and kinda gives it away. xD

I don't understand the question about the light, what do you mean?

The grass texture looks awful. Not really sure what I can do about it other than stretch the plane less and add more planes with the same texture. Plus adjust pixel filter to 1 instead of default 1.5.

Paintbox

One of the options you see in movies is to put the camera behind him, like put the camera just left or right, so you can make out that it is the male actor, with the focus (camera target) on the female actor. If you work with focal length (camera parameters) you can crop it such a manner you only see the house. This will have the added benefit that the focus will be on her, as you intended.

With light I mean that your sun is creating the light AND the shadow. You might want to try putting it in different directions and see if the characters and scenery will come out better.
 

scorpio

Are you rendering in 3dl or Iray?

lasersayspew

Thanks for the advice, I'll try it out!

 

lasersayspew

scorpio said:

Are you rendering in 3dl or Iray?

Iray

IceDragonArt

Try changing the angle so the camera looks up at her like he is looking up at her.  You can still keep him in the shot just bring the camera lower and to the side of him.  Also, check out the New User Contests and Events.  There is TON of useful information there.  Shortened my learning curve by quite a bit when I first started here.

Hylas

I agree that the composition is awkward. The camera angle is unusual, and while "unusual" can be good, "tried to avoid the horizon" is not a great reason to do something. Why don't you try and set up a simple horizon (for example by using the Beach prop that comes with the base program). You seem to be using depth of field, so perhaps it won't matter if your background isn't that sophisticated.

I'm no expert when it comes to lights by any stretch, so take this with a grain of salt. But your light seems quite harsh, and it seems to be coming from one single source. Maybe set up some weaker lights from other directions to soften the scene a little. Also, your main source of light appears to be the setting sun (judging by its low angle), so maybe give the light a warm/red/orange tint, to give it more of that sunset atmosphere.

I also think filling up the scene with some objects will make it feel more "lived in". Perhaps a newspaper on the bench, a potted plant on the porch... And can you edit some of the textures of the house in a graphics editor to make them look a little more used?

Regarding the grass, perhaps this freebie will help? I haven't tried it myself, so this isn't a recommendation. https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/277246/erock3d-com-erock3d-free-grass-system/p1

Good luck!