Lighting an Outdoor Scene
4/12/23
Autodesk Maya
I created this image using given shaded models, by aranging them into a dynamic scene and experimenting with the lighting and the camera. The focus of this study was composition and lighting.

My vision was for this shot to be from the perspective of someone getting off a trolley to walk into the Crown Hotel. The focus of the shot is the hotel's sign. I chose a somewhat medium shot with a focal length of 40 to put the camera in the perspective of the viewer. I wanted the sky to look overcast, maybe even a little rainy or right before a thunderstorm. The time is about 5pm, before it really starts getting dark.

Process
DRAFT 1:
  • Position of camera too close to trolley, trolley is unreadable.
  • Double sun: two spotlights used for lighting…
  • Sky is missing (black, without an image).
DRAFT 2:
  • Added an overcast sky.
  • Lit up the Crown Hotel sign to bring attention to it.
  • Added specular to sidewalk shader to give it a wet, rained on look.
  • Darkened the lighting to allow more of an overcast look.
  • Shadow on Crown Hotel building is too strong. Sign blends in too much with the building behind it.
DRAFT 3:
  • Experimented with lighter shadows, by giving shadows a light blue tint.
  • Missing the greenish tint of the original, which brought more contrast to the red Crown Hotel sign.
FINAL IMAGE:
  • Added a more greenish tint to shadows.
  • Made the sign a brighter red to bring back the focus to it.