Here's a project I'm working on with pilot Don Laubman who shot down 15 enemy fighters during his career. This was his first and he shot it down at very low level.

I've done 3 variations and I'm trying to decide which I like better. Any comments/ideas/crits most welcome of course. Cheers!





Higher-res links:

http://www.actionart.ca/ForumPics/DonT3a.jpg
http://www.actionart.ca/ForumPics/DonT3b.jpg

Probably stupid question: What should the "fiery swirl" in the right-side background represent? In neither version it seems very convincing ATM, somehow it doesn't seem to "gel" (?) with the rest of the image...

He's made a few hits on the aircraft in front, the flame would be from a fuel tank being hit and then flying though it, which was common. I am debating whether to use it or not.

I like it, the only crit i'd made is the grass color, being a little too much, maybe add some variation and lower a little the saturation it kinda gives away the "fake" look
Great work!

Thanks Maximus, yes, the grass (crop) in the field might be a bit rich.

What's your opinion on the fire in the background?

Another great wip, ActionArt.

The vortex / wake turbulence need more kick. Here is some reference for you to look at:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Airplane_vortex_edit.jpg
http://aviationtroubleshooting.blogspot.ca/2009/01/winglet-for-older-military-aircraft.html
http://www.flyingstart.ca/FlightTraining/PSTAR/7As.htm
http://www.compadre.org/informal/index.cfm?Issue=120
http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~glhmm/gfd/MHutchinson_airplane.jpg

I prefer the last one less distracting, but what do I know!

So far looking very good! Keep it up!

Thanks for the great reference pics! You're right, it needs a bit more. I remember watching some raw footage they shot for Pearl Harbor and it was quite dramatic. I'll have to dig that up too.

It seems the consensus is the fire is a bit much/doesn't look right so I think I'll end up going with a variation of the last one.

I'm still waiting to hear from the pilot himself so that'll influence it.

Nice work. Couple of crits:

It doesn't really feel like the lighting of the ground matches the sky - the sunset suggests a lower sun and also the sun is further round behind the craft. So you might have to make a decision to change the sky, or lose the nicely positioned shadow on the ground and change the lighting.

The greens are a bit oversaturated, and the grass is too thin near the screen - either use a texture map to fake it or a weightmap to drive density? Or change the grey colour underneath for a more muddy/earthy texture maybe?

The flame does feel a bit distracting to the overall image.

I like the composition a lot, very dramatic and involving.

Thanks mattmos! You've got sharp eyes, I think you're the first to notice the lighting angles are a little bit off. I think I'll live with it though. The shadow is essential as an indicator of how high (or low) the aircraft is and I like it's placement. The angle is also ideal for the key light on the aircraft. When I shot the reference photo I used for the background the sun was actually higher than it may seem so it's not too far off. I really like the look of the sky which is hugely important. In this case I think the artistic look is more important that absolute accuracy on the light angle. Thanks for pointing it out though.

The grass (new crop in the field, probably not actually grass) is thinner on the edge on purpose (weight map). It's on the other side of the fence near a road and also wanted a clear place for the pilot signatures at the bottom. I guess I should check the average color of farm soil in France! I'm just going by what a field looks like here but that might be very wrong

Thanks!

PS - I should mention I'm using the very handy Zybrand grass, I love it!

Edit: Looks like my dirt color is off for typical France (at least the references I can find). Damn! Should have thought of that sooner...

Great work! really liking it
maybe it you warm up the light a bit to look more like sunset the light angle won't matter as much anymore.

PS: new version of the grass compounds coming soon.