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Posted on 04/03/10 2:18:09 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply  |
2050: A Space Odyssey
When I started this particular project I set out to reproduce some of the iconic images from Stanley Kubrik’s film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. As it evolved I decided that, rather than use the original ‘PAN AM’ colours featured on the Orion space ship, I should bring it up to date and use Richard Branson’s ‘Virgin Galactic’ colours. And yes, ‘Virgin Galactic’ really does exist and yes, you really can go into space with them – well sub-orbital anyway. Cinema 4D, Photoshop and Body Paint. Hope you like it. 
_________________ Why isn't 'phonetic' spelled the way it sounds? |
Posted on 05/03/10 08:30:08 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7042 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
I like the extreme close-up distortion of the plane - it brings it nicely forward. But the same distortion on the space station makes it look much too close: a longer focal length (or do I mean shorter?) would make this recede into the distance more. |
Posted on 05/03/10 08:51:52 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Yes I noticed this late last night. I had forgotten to change the 'camera' back from the scene camera to the render camera which had been given a much longer focal length to cater for exactly this problem. The scene camera has a default focal length of 36mm whereas the render camera has something like 150mm. I'll post a revised image later today. _________________ Why is there only one word for ‘Thesaurus’? |
Posted on 05/03/10 09:22:05 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
And here it is! 
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/GKBphoto/SpaceStationOrion.jpg _________________ Why is there only one word for ‘Thesaurus’? |
Posted on 05/03/10 10:01:21 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2899 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Excellent Gordon! _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |
Posted on 05/03/10 10:03:20 AM |
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laddition
femme fatale Posts: 585 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Comme toujours... Très bien!  _________________ Mais je me connais, je lâcherais pas l'affaire.... Je vais piquer de grève comme on pique une colère... Plus têtue que tous les vieil homme et la mer... Pour que continue le combat ordinaire! |
Posted on 05/03/10 6:06:57 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
I need to learn this program!!! Fabulous work! Now I'm going to be really picky... the Earth and the Orion ship have the same tonal values. I think (but I might be wrong) the Earth needs to be more luminous - you will then get a highlight along the edge of the plane, if you know what I mean. Also, the space station needs to be toned down slightly to throw it in the the background - not too much as there is no atmosphere in space to get in the way. The space station also needs some reflected light on its dark side from Earth. I've just read this back - hope it doesn't come across too negative. It's a great piece of work and think this might really make it. Look at the NASA picture library for reference. Cheers Chris |
Posted on 05/03/10 6:29:59 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Thanks Chris, it's not negative at all. I agree about the luminosity of the Earth. I'll look at that. I also think that the Spaceship itself needs to be lightened. The lighting for the composition was all done in Cinema 4D with a single spot light to light the Spaceship. I used a couple of lights on the station. It would be so much more fun if NASA would let me have a ride to taker my own shots before they stop flying the Shuttle......only 4 more flights to go! Gordon _________________ Why isn't 'phonetic' spelled the way it sounds? |
Posted on 06/03/10 6:11:51 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Cheers Gordon Look forward to seeing the next version. Thinking of doing the USS Enterprise at some point, though looking at yours I think I have a way to go! |
Posted on 07/03/10 8:56:28 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7042 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
The only thing I'm now wondering is... the back of the spaceship is in very deep shadow. Well, fair enough, it's away from the light source. But surely a lot of light would reflect of the very brightly-lit planet? Something about the depth of the shadow looks a little harsh to me. |
Posted on 07/03/10 9:17:06 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
I did a very quick re-render earlier today and have only just had time to post it. How does this look? I dropped in a star field on the backdrop as well. If I get time during the week I'll be working on an other version of this which will be a much closer look at the space station with the Orion docking. 
_________________ Why is there only one body to investigate Monopolies ? |
Posted on 09/03/10 1:49:47 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
I spent ages trying to get the lighting and composition sorted out but it still doesn't seem quite right. 
Much larger at: http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s93/GKBphoto/Docking3.jpg _________________ Why is there only one body to investigate Monopolies ? |
Posted on 10/03/10 07:33:19 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7042 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
I think the problem might simply be the lack of dirt and detail on the space station. At this proximity, we should be able to see panels, joins, a hint of rivets, pipework, tubes, vents... but what a huge job that would be! |
Posted on 10/03/10 08:32:56 AM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
The saga continues... In space there is no atmosphere to dull tonal values, therefore there is a lot more contrast between light and shade. Look at the NASA shots on the moon surface and you'll see what I mean. The lighting on the ship is a lot better, I just think the shadows need to be deeper. The same for the space station. Treat the earth as a secondary, not quite as bright sun. Putting more of the space station in shadow will also help you get around the panels-rivets thing a little bit as they won't be visible in deep shadow! Hope this helps - still a great piece of work!! |
Posted on 10/03/10 10:17:09 AM |
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Nick Curtain
Model Master Posts: 1768 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Agree with Chris Gordon and I think the key here is consistency of lighting direction. The shodow cast by the foot of the 'spoke' on the station means that the lighting is coming from above and behind the craft. Therefore the upper wings would not be in shadow. Given that the craft is nearer to us and looking at the size of the cockpit in human terms, that station is immense and would have taken hundreds of trips and years to build. The edge of the earth looks very sharp and I wonder whether a softening asmospheric mist / glow would add realism? Also, could greater depth be achieved my throwing some elements out of focus slightly. It all seems a little too sharp. Great work all the same. Nick |
Posted on 10/03/10 11:07:28 AM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Atmospheric mist - brilliant idea! I think that will make it. I think we're getting hyper-critical here - but only because it's already a great piece of work with the potential to be even better! Out of focus elements would strengthen it too. Keep going Gordon!! Chris |
Posted on 10/03/10 11:36:13 AM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 4023 Reply |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Thanks for the comments guys. All taken on board. I was very much in two minds about the 'grunge' aspect as, in theory, there shouldn't be any of that sort of thing in space but I can see the advantage of grungeing up the surface. Pipes and rivets are lacking, though so I'll do a bit more with that. I think that an atmospheric glow could certainly enhance the earth's rim. I'll give that a shot, also. It probably won't work but I might also try a sunburst coming up over the horizon (with some lens flare?) I think I may keep the basic composition unless anyone has any other ideas? The lighting was particularly difficult because of the harsh shadow problem of space. I wanted detail in many areas to be seen but this doesn't fit well with this problem. In the end I used three spotlights in this image - one lit the space station and the other two lit the space ship with different intensity settings from two sides. The original 2001 space station was, indeed, a gigantic structure. After all that's what technology could do in the far off future of 2001, wasn't it? No computer graphics or 3D in those days so the space station was actually built as a gigantic model with an equally large planet earth for filming. All that effort resulted in what I feel is one of the most beautiful pieces of cinematography ever filmed - all to the music of Strauss. Unfortunately this is work in progress and I have now run out of time to continue the work before I go off to Sweden for a few weeks so don't expect an update on this for some time. I will still be doing the Friday Challenge, though! _________________ Why is there only one word for ‘Thesaurus’? |
Posted on 10/03/10 12:04:09 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply  |
Re: 2050: A Space Odyssey
Great project Gordon. Some good comments and thoughts returned I think. Just a couple of additional comments, similar in some ways to Nick, Chris and Steve.: As the ships are quite close to the earth, the earth becomes a large diffuse source of reflected light. It will tend to give diffuse shadows where not illuminated by the sun. The sun is a relatively much brighter and spot like source, so its cast shadows will much shaper and darker, excepting where the Earth's reflected light helps illuminate: Here are a couple of NASA ISS photos that might help as source of reference, but the aspects are quite different to yours I think. http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081202.html http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100303.html http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100224.html As per Nick's comment on the last one you can also see the Earth's thin blue atmosphere and the aspect is similar to yours. For composition, depending on scale of the space station, it is maybe more interesting if it intersects the earth, as per your latest, or way out in space to give feeling of remoteness, but these are just subjective thoughts. Great work and I like the space ship very much. What a challenge 
Trevor |