Contest ~~~ Because I Said So! (November 2015)

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Comments

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Sure, and if it doesn't work, we'll change it again. Not a problem, I laughed at yours- very clever. It's only the 7th of the month so anyone who has already posted an entry has all month to change theirs, and other participants know they have more leeway now, so it's worked out IMO. yes

  • 3WC3WC Posts: 1,091
    edited November 2015
    isidorn said:

    Just giving my opinion. Feel free to ignore it wink

    You can say quite a lot in 10 lines and this is a render contest and not a writing contest. Imo the picture should mostly speak for itself and the lines of text are just a complimentary extra.

    I kind of agree with you.  For this kind of contest, it is just fun, so I don't feel that strongly about it, but for my own work, I usually think, "If I have to explain it, then maybe the picture is not clear enough."  So personally I try to make the picture and title give you all the info you need, and then your imagination can take it from there.

    Post edited by 3WC on
  • wwes said:
    isidorn said:

    Just giving my opinion. Feel free to ignore it wink

    You can say quite a lot in 10 lines and this is a render contest and not a writing contest. Imo the picture should mostly speak for itself and the lines of text are just a complimentary extra.

    I kind of agree with you.  For this kind of contest, it is just fun, so I don't feel that strongly about it, but for my own work, I usually think, "If I have to explain it, then maybe the picture is not clear enough."  So personally I try to make the picture and title give you all the info you need, and then your imagination can take it from there.

    You are not wrong about that.  Art is a visual language.  Light, line and form make up the alphabet, and combine to form recognizable patterns that scale in complexity.  but that doesn't mean they always make sense.  Just as in literature, music, or any other use of language, the Artist has to strive to present their message in a way that is understood by the viewer, preferably without explanation.

    For myself, every picture tells a story, or at least part of a story, and ideally I want the viewer to be able to pick that story out of the picture without prompting.  If they can't, then that means I've used too vague a language, or my story isn't coherent. 

  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,133
    edited November 2015

    Hi Novica, I didn't see anywhere where in the guidlines that i could not use Poser for my entry render . I hope its alright that is what I used

    Post edited by Ivy on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    Ivy said:

    Hi Novica, I didn't see anywhere where in the guidlines that i could not use Poser for my entry render . I hope its alright that is what I used

    Definitely- that's great to see Poser renders!  I love that big screen in the background, so many well-thought-out details and the products used were very cohesive- they worked well together. Great use of the statement

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    WOOT is becoming my favorite word. Ken OBanion has also volunteered to co-sponsor the contest and with his $50 gift card donation, I've added another $20 gift card for first place, $15 gift card for second place, $10 gift card for third place, and while I don't sponsor a 4th place (FirstBastion does, and I do if there is one point difference in 3rd and 4th like last time) Ken is donating a $5 gift card. So with my 20/10/5/0 that means:

    1st place  $40 gift certificate and 3 products from FirstBastion's store

    2nd place  $25 gift certificate and 2 products from FirstBastion's store

    3rd place   $15 gift certificate and 1 product from FirstBastion's store

    4th place   $5 gift certificate (possibly $10) and 1 product from FirstBastion's store

    And yes, sponsors are eligible to participate like everyone else!  smiley   Thank you SO much Ken!!!

  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447

    Oh, snap!

    The render I've been cooking since..., for-freakin'-ever, it seems, sadly does not have a 'humorous' pixel in its entire raster!

    (And what is this weird fixation I seem to have lately with vampire renders!?  Okay, I'm writing a novel -- pretty much straight-up vampire-porn, as it happens -- but still...!  Do I need to go back into therapy?)

     

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Well, we'd still like to see it anyway! But yes, humor is one of the considerations. And no, you don't need to go back into therapy, there's a target audience for almost everything nowadays, so if you went into therapy, it would probably have to be group therapy!  And I've seen your RRRR renders, I know you can come up with something funny (you still have weeks to do it, so I have complete faith in you!) 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Lyam- very clever! I love the way the man's eyes are closed as he leaps out of the way- very natural! Great use of a FirstBastion product, the mall has so much space that this one even makes sense. (How scary!) 

  • LyamLyam Posts: 137
    Novica said:

    Lyam- very clever! I love the way the man's eyes are closed as he leaps out of the way- very natural! Great use of a FirstBastion product, the mall has so much space that this one even makes sense. (How scary!) 

    Thanks Novica.  The "Surburban Shopping Mall" by First Bastion really is fun and versatile.  And I figured if someone was nice enough to give me gift (from the last contest) the least I can do is try and showcase their product (even though I doubt my render conveys the coolness of the item).

  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,648

    I am working on another Idea for this great contest it is going to blow your socks off Novica (I think anyway) BIG SMILES so be on the look out for a brand new render with some new concepts.

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Looking forward to it! I'm sure with all the statements we're going to get quite a variety!

  • isidornisidorn Posts: 1,601

    I really need to get that mall some time. Seems to happen a lot of fun stuff there. wink

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    It's quite huge- there's an upstairs and downstairs and you can get lost!

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Lyam, love that your second entry mentions the dune buggy incident! BTW, you should add the statement about the movies up by your title, as you used more than one statement from the contest. Give yourself credit! (You have the Drama one, but not the movies one.) 

    The expressions are priceless btw- great work!

  • GopherusGopherus Posts: 1,103

    Thanks Novica for the detailed embedding and linking instructions. I would add that when everything jumbles up to go to the source code to untangle it.

  • GopherusGopherus Posts: 1,103
    edited November 2015

    sorry about the double post.. anyway to delete it?.

    Post edited by Gopherus on
  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447
    Novica said:

    Well, we'd still like to see it anyway! But yes, humor is one of the considerations. And no, you don't need to go back into therapy, there's a target audience for almost everything nowadays, so if you went into therapy, it would probably have to be group therapy!  And I've seen your RRRR renders, I know you can come up with something funny (you still have weeks to do it, so I have complete faith in you!) 

    Well, in that case..., here 'tis.

    Two major flaws:  First, it ain't funny.  And second, Iray didn't treat the flames in the brazier correctly; you can see the rectangles on which the flame textures were applied, and they're supposed to be transparent.  (And before anyone asks, yes, I made sure the Iray shaders were applied.)  So, for those two reasons, this will not be an entry.

    Title: When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted

    I'm going to blame my post-Halloween sugar rush from bingeing on candy corn (it's the only reason Halloween is even marginally tolerable for me!) for this one.

    DAZ Studio 4.8, rendered in Iray (33+ hours render time!)

     

    WhenTheHunter.png
    1300 x 731 - 2M
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    I really like the lighting though Ken! I don't know why the flames would do that, it's really strange. And I LOVE candy corn. My mom and I were talking about that Halloween night- we remember the ones that had the chocolate (brown) color instead of the hot orange (but it all tasted the same I think, nice and sugary sweet!) 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    Gopherus said:

    Thanks Novica for the detailed embedding and linking instructions. I would add that when everything jumbles up to go to the source code to untangle it.

    You're most welcome! And don't worry about the double post. With the darned draft feature putting text boxes below, I have done quite a few double posts when going back and forth to get the image URLs. No biggie.

  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447
    Novica said:

    I really like the lighting though Ken! I don't know why the flames would do that, it's really strange. And I LOVE candy corn. My mom and I were talking about that Halloween night- we remember the ones that had the chocolate (brown) color instead of the hot orange (but it all tasted the same I think, nice and sugary sweet!) 

    Thank you, Novica.

    Actually, that was one part of the render that really surprised me -- that the lightling turned out far better than I had either hoped, or expected!  (Because we all know that I seriously suck at lighting!)  And I was deeply gratified that it worked as well as it did.  (Well, apart from the flames, that is.  I was tempted to use Nerd3D's Smoke 'N' Flames tool, but it predates Iray by a few years, so I suspected that the textures wouldn't play well, so....)

    Anyway, I have a Plan-B idea in mind, and I'm busy working on it.  It's going to involve a bit of kit-bashing in Blender, but it should have the 'funny-factor' totally nailed!  (I just hope I don't unduly offend the British!)

    By the way, are 'Before-and-After', dual images permitted?

     

  • Oso3DOso3D Posts: 14,878
    edited November 2015

    Woops, wrong thread.

    Sorry, working out kinks. ;)

    Post edited by Oso3D on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859
    edited November 2015
    Novica said:
    By the way, are 'Before-and-After', dual images permitted?

     

    Sure! Before and after are fine.

    Post edited by Novica on
  • MelanieLMelanieL Posts: 7,092
    Novica said:

    ...

    Anyway, I have a Plan-B idea in mind, and I'm busy working on it.  It's going to involve a bit of kit-bashing in Blender, but it should have the 'funny-factor' totally nailed!  (I just hope I don't unduly offend the British!)

    ...

    I'll sharpen the pitchfork just in case...

    One day I even hope to get round to an entry in this competition myself - haven't had the time/inclination to complete anything for a couple of weeks (since getting the flu)

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    Ouch, the flu is nasty. Pamper yourself! 

  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    I had to laugh at the Chariots of Fire reference, could hear it playing in my head and seeing the slow-mo as the runner goes down the man hole drain!

  • GopherusGopherus Posts: 1,103

    Thanks Novica... I had that happen to myself twice.  The first time i was running down the hill for the mail and my halloween mask slipped and i ran straight into a maple tree.  Knocked me senseless.  Next time I was playing tag on the baseball diamond and just closed my eyes and ran full speed into the backstop.  Chipped a tooth.  But up to then it felt pretty good.

  • SaphirewildSaphirewild Posts: 6,648
    edited November 2015

    Here is my 2nd WIP for this month

    Title: OMG a Snowman With Dreds

    Statement: "Don't Ask!!"

    I am posting 2 of them cause I am not sure which one to use in the entry section. Can anyone help me with this delemia?

    OMG Snowman with Dreds.png
    600 x 600 - 490K
    OMG Snowman with Dreds futher back.png
    600 x 600 - 480K
    Post edited by Saphirewild on
  • NovicaNovica Posts: 23,859

    IMO keep the attention focused on the action by cutting out what you don't need, but including enough so the setting is known. I would probably get the sign in the image so it's apparent it's a bus stop- so honestly, I'd crop the second one a bit differently and include that. The first one doesn't leave enough space above the head, it seems crowded (and also on the right of the woman- leave a bit more space there too.) 

  • Ken OBanionKen OBanion Posts: 1,447
    Novica said:
    Novica said:
    By the way, are 'Before-and-After', dual images permitted?

     

    Sure! Before and after are fine.

    I'm close enough to completing the first entry, and a question popped into my head, to wit:

    What's the protocol for submitting 'before-and-after' entries?  Should it be a composite image, a la GIMP; two images, each with its own associated statement, dialog and product list; combining the story/dialog into a single block of text; or something altogether different?

     

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