Tower Ruins Composite

[Pnagle]

Hello,

This is a composite i did of my friends matte painting.(http://www.mattepainting.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1145)

[Ratman]

Looking really good, though in the first image on the right, the pants color look a bit odd, and it just didn't feel right when i looked at it, might also be the edges.

[stevenbray1]

Can we see it move?

[arlen]

can u post up a video clip? it is great

[Pnagle]

here you are chaps...

let me know what you think!

i fixed the color issue on the pants also, i had been debating it before i posted the first version...

[hcompston]

Nice work.

Just a quick question. How did you track the footage was it by hand or did you use software?

Harry

[Pnagle]

i used shake to track the matte painting into the plate.

[hcompston]

Hi Pnagle

That was quick

So it was just a 2D Track. Sorry if this sounds real obvious but just getting my head round this at the moment.

Harry

[Pnagle]

ya its just a 2d track in shake, there was some things i had to get matched like the lens distortion and there was some distortion in the grass due to a slight perspective change that was kinda tricky...

[SalaTar]

Birds, or sheep Cant figure what it needs more Birds flying out of shubbery on tower or sheep on hill you need to walk through
Great track btw

[Pnagle]

i think that birds are WAY overdone and almost cliche for compositing shots....sheep would be interesting, but we dont have them in minneasota so a little tough to get some sheep footage....mm the only thing i could think of adding would be a little movement in the shrubbery from the wind, cut the there isnt any movement on the distant trees that i can tell from in the orginal plate. personally i think its fine with out any other movement than the guy, because the focal point is the the tower and our 2nd interest is the guy, and i dont want to take away from the composition and focal point(s) by throwing in some birds ect ect.

my 2 cents..
Cheers,
Pat Nagle

[ShadowMaker SdR]

That's were the composition part of compositing comes in. Of course the tower is a good focal point, but birds (or whatever) could also be made to fly in such a direction, that they guide the eye to the tower at the moment when you want the eye of the viewer to go there.

[Aedilhum]

Hey Pat,
I know I emailed you but figured I'd give you a post as well. Good to finally see brandons painting in action. Didn't know they had a forum like this here, looks like another good place to post stuff .
I agree that there doesn't need to be any movement in the bushes. But I do think that the last 3 seconds are a little dull, nothing happens, brandon (the actor/matte painter) doesn't move, and the camera doesn't move, so your eyes get bored. At this time I would either cut the shot or possible add some animal life like the others were talking about.
I do have a sheep farm right next door to me if you want to try and arrange some sort of online sheep shipment.
Cheers, Jared

[scwatman]

Hey

Nice work on your composite. The only thing id say needs fixing is the parallax (the things further away from the camera moving differently). As the camera tilts up u wouldnt be able to see the very bottom of the hill until the camera was at the top of the tilt. im talking a very slight movement but i think it could make a big difference. Maybe soften the edges of the castle abit aswell.

keep up the good work

cheers

[Pnagle]

es-diar, good point about the birds being used as a leading line to the focal point to draw the eye.

Jared, i will let brandon know about the sheep, and i agree that the shot gets VERY dull the last 3 seconds and I was going to cut it for my reel.

Scwataman, I will take a look at the parrallax idea, i usually reference my plate for that kind of stuff, and i didnt notice any in the plate, but i will for sure take another look.

cheers,
Pat Nagle

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!