news:43c2da3d@news.povray.org...
> >
> Can't help thinking of the dragonriders of Pern... Nice picture.
>

Ah, Pern! Well, it might be that my subconscious dictated some elements to
me. However, it was not on my mind, as I was concerned mainly with the
representation of the cliff. My initial idea was Mount Lookitthat on Plateau
(Known Space, Larry Niven), or the Map of Mars on the Ringworld. But both
are much higher (40 mi) and need a different viewing angle.

Thomas

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"Bill Pragnell" <bil### [at] hotmailcom> schreef in bericht
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> It's very nice so far. The landscape looks realistically eroded. A couple
of

Thanks Bill! I have eroded the landscape some more, following Marc's
comment.

> comments:
>
> The landscape doesn't look as big as the balloon might indicate. Fine
detail
> would help here - for example, an extra, finer pigment function in the
> isosurface (slow!), coating the land in the foreground with vegetation,
> maybe some open water? Not sure what would work best.
>
I have trouble to get the perspective right, i.e. the feeling of sheer size
of the landscape (that is why I introduced the balloon). That is something I
shall have to work on. I have already reduced render time somewhat by a
better use of isosurface parameters, so I can concentrate on this.
Vegetation in the foreground is certainly an option; Water, I have
considered and I may try that as well.

> I think your haze needs to have a higher altitude: the landscape looks as
> though it ends suddenly, and there's no horizon gradient effect ... maybe
> use two layers if you're happy with the foreground haze.
>
Absolutely! That was already on my todo list. I have been experimenting with
a height_field in the background to get a better horizon and atmospheric
perspective, but that is not yet really satisfying.

> Good to see my moon formula getting plenty of mileage!
>
So simple really! Now, one has to be careful not to overdo it!  :-)

> I await the next instalment... :)

Sure! Will come!

Thomas

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"Jim Charter" <jrc### [at] msncom> schreef in bericht
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>
> I like the theme.  Takes me back to an epiphany I experienced once in my
> early twenties.  I was working as a bartender for CN Railroad on a
> cross-country train from Toronto to Windsor.  As we rattled across the
> late August farm-scape of southwestern Ontario I was watching the weeds
> and other vegetation along the tracks. It was late afternoon with low,
> warm, sunlight hitting the ripened heads of some Queen-Anne's Lace.  At
> that moment the full enormity of seed-time, and all of nature's
> fecundity took possession of me.
>
> Of cousre your alien setting also conjures thoughts of interstellar
> spores and the like, or the incredible variety of life on earth.
>
> One thing, your scene, especially with the alien planet context, seems
> to allude to a notion of contrast between a barren environment and it
> suddenly bursting forth with unexpected seed.  Yet the rich chocolate
> brown of the cliff suggests freshly cloven and fertile soil.
>

Many elements for thought in your careful comment, Jim. The bursting forth
of seeds like these is appearing a few times in my work, and there is that
fascination of spring and renewal. I am still struggling with the barrenness
of the landscape. I have increased the number of alien trees, giving them
also more personality, and the ground colour should suggest some kind of
alien grass or moss. Still not satisfactory. The cliff texture is inspired
by Old Red Sandstone, so I had not thought about your vision of fertile
soil! Still, that is an interesting notion...

Thomas

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"Thomas de Groot" <t.d### [at] internlnet> wrote:
> An alien planet with two suns and a big moon. Time of visit: exactly at
> annual seeding time of local vegetation.

Cool!

The one problem i see is with the sun in the picture:  the yellow is much
too saturated.  The color in stars is subtle, similar to black body
radiation.  A red star can be compared to an incandenscent light bulb, for
example.

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"Cousin Ricky" <ric### [at] yahoocom> schreef in bericht
news:web.43c3dcc4ca8efe6d43a5e2560@news.povray.org...
> "Thomas de Groot" <t.d### [at] internlnet> wrote:
> > An alien planet with two suns and a big moon. Time of visit: exactly at
> > annual seeding time of local vegetation.
>
> Cool!
>
> The one problem i see is with the sun in the picture:  the yellow is much
> too saturated.  The color in stars is subtle, similar to black body
> radiation.  A red star can be compared to an incandenscent light bulb, for
> example.
>

artistic licence?  ;-)

but seriously, I may tune it down a bit... perhaps!

Thomas

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