Plaza Rain

Like the colors. I agree with Mike on the ground puddling. I am not sure the reflection and puddling feels right. The entire surface should have some reflection that is slightly blurred and has some anisotropy. The reflection can vary where there is a slightly deeper puddle, but it is a little to water/no water on the ground for me right now. The anisotropy should be really apparent when a light strikes the wet pavement. I also think it would be better to use a hand painted refletion map for the foreground reflections rather than a procedural. One that reacts to the joint lines in the paver, showing more reflection in the joints, and puddling slightly based on the shape of the paver. I think it would really set off the image. Reflection references... http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9pVIP7KsgO0/THeVmoVG9nI/AAAAAAAAHC4/HHzfzAA4pW8/s1600/100825-F-2907C-001.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2318703147_4dfc0d136b_o.jpg I'm a bit impartial on the compositing of the clouds too. I think they need to transition more towards an overhead type of cloud as it reaches the top of the image given the proximity tot he building, and the camera angle.

nice one Brian, Like the atmosphere. Makes me feel like the air is clean and refreshing. Only crit I have is regarding the sky reflected in the puddles to the left. My eye keeps going to the overly bright spots and keeps me from looking further into the other image details. Perhaps toning down the exposure on the reflections would help. Or maybe making more ripple textures in the puddles to help break up the uniformity of the reflections.... after all it is raining something fierce out there :) Really like the gesture to link the interior with the exterior via the orange lighting and orange umbrella, very nice. M-