Uhu vs Mossie

[jiverson]

Here's one I've been working on. I hope you like it. :D
-Jamie

[kevjon]

Thats a great action image. Like it a lot.

I think your the first one to post a night scene as a finished render !

[jiverson]

Thanks Kevjon!
Wow, first night scene huh? They are fun to do, I like the high contrast.

[digiartist]

Very dramatic stuff Jamie, good to see the UHU and a nice composition too

[Skyraider3D]

The image as a whole is awesome, mate!
What's letting it down a bit though are the plain textures of the Mosquito (looks like a solid colour with panel lines drawn on) and the somewhat strange looking special effects. Also the Uhu could do with (better?) specular maps, as for instance the flame dampers wouldn't reflect much I suspect.
But the composition is spectacular. I like the action in the cockpit too, though perhaps have the guys lean a bit to the right of their aircraft than twisting their necks too much. I doubt they'll be able to se anything with the Uhu's engines, but their involvement adds a lot of drama and excitement to the piece. All to often the victorious pilot is shown looking straight forward. Nie touch!

[Mirko]

Excellent stuff! Very drammatic night scene.
:salute:

[jiverson]

Thanks guys!
Yes, the Mosquito was an older model of mine. I'll see what I can do about making some improvements on the details.
-Jamie

[kiwi123]

I really love this one, looks very painterly ! I guess the mossie does indeed not nearly as good as the uhu, but nothing you can't fix in photoshop.... a bit of work and you have a header on your hands !

[Art 111]

Colors like at Carravagio's paintings!!! Really great composition!

[Zorin]

Really nice composition, a bit to close but that is my personal taste. Reminds me a lot of this one: http://www.daveswarbirds.com/glennill/images/he-219.jpg

[jiverson]

I have not seen that one before Zorin, thanks!
How come so many artists lighten up night scenes? I mean, it's dark afterall...
Kinda takes the realism out of it I think. I spoke to an Me 262 nightfighter pilot and he stressed how dark it often was. On a dark night he was lucky to see the blue exhaust from another aircraft.

[digiartist]

think it really depends on how much cloud cover there is, I would guess it would be pretty light above the clouds with a full moon. I suppose a lot of artists take a bit of artistic licence to get more detail into the painting that way. Personally I think your render works perfectly with that very black background.

[Skyraider3D]

I agree with Jamie on this. What's the point of painting a night scene if you light it as if it was overcast? Depending on time, moon, clouds, it can be light enough to see stuff, but not as bright as that painting...