Most entries ever? Well done, everyone!
Some observations…
Chavis: I appreciate the excitement you were going for – and achieved – here, among other things, such as the variations in the stone wall (textural and modeled), and the rising conflagration.
3dnotguru: This is a very different take on the topic, one with historical significance, and it’s rendered in a convincingly ominous manner.
LeoBlenderToon: I was hoping to see some sand castles, and you did not disappoint! The tiny shovel and flag are extra details that make this even more pleasing to see.
purbosky: Millani (in comments above) mentioned video game, and I too saw this as a game, but more of a board game, complete with tiny plastic soldiers. The arrangement of pieces and overal composition is perfect, in my opinion. Soft shadows look great, too!
FlyingBanana: Another sand castle, which I am happy to see, as well as a beach with nice details (starfish, umbrella, trees, etc.) which make for a complete and pleasing scene.
Millani: I love the visual play on words here, and I just want them to be so careful =) not to hit the ball too hard. The slight rotation on the cards makes this more convincing and less uniform. Shadows are complex, but can be expected in a scene like this.
DigitalDemon: This made me smile. The eyes really help to “animate” this wonderful piece. The castle looks a little friendly to me, but even a handshake from it would probably hurt =)
kate_all: This is beautiful, and, to concur with Millani’s remarks above, reminiscent of classic Taj Mahal photos. The sheer amount of symmetry here is pleasantly offset by suble variations in the trees, the sky, and the texturing on the castle.
Unicornaphobist: I recently built a LEGO castle for someone, and I smiled as soon as I saw this. Lovely colors, and a testament to the power of simple, clear ideas expertly executed.
joshwinkler3d: Setting the castle in a winter scene is a good way to distinguish this from the many other fine entries in this Weekend Challenge. I feel bad for that poor snow person. I wish Olaf could come along and make him smile =)
didierv: Another sand castle, and another job well done! The composition here is very appealing as well!
benla: A buried castle in the sand - great idea and very nicely done! I like that we can barely discern some sand / land formation in the back: this gives us a great sense of the density of the sand in the air. The color toning also helps make that sandstorm convincing.
RayVelcoro: I remember you said you ran into some memory/CUDA issues while working on this, but I’m glad you got this far. I have discovered most of the CUDA errors I’ve encountered could be traced to setting the render tiles too large. Samples too.I know 256 by 256 is the most popularly recommended setting, but I’ve found that lower settings sometimes work out better. Lowering “maximum bounces” and tweaking other sample/render quality settings (especially with the new denoising Blender 2.79rc2) can help reduce CUDA errors while speeding up render times.
g60: Besides sand castles, I was also looking forward to a chess reference or two, and I’m glad to see this one! Pieces are stacked convincingly, and I like the materials as well.
Photox: In 2006, I made an image called Grace’s Dream, and I also tried to have the main character deliberately out of focus so she (and we) could share in her focal point and begin to vicariously participate within her wonder. I know that was not easy to do, and I appreciate the effort you put into your image, the spark of light and life in your character’s eyes. I also appreciate what I’d like to take for as a Kafka reference (i.e. his novel Das Schloss / The Castle) – the castle everyone sees and hears about but always seems out of reach. VERY well done, Photox.
texasfunk101: This looks like an authentic paper (cardboard) model, something one might actually build in real life, and that is great! I especially love the notches in the cardboard and the little cobblestone road.
fcharr: The materials throughout this image are really nice, and I admire the tiny variations in the water reflections and things like the interesting variations in the brickwork on the castle itself.
Roken: Great idea going with an interior shot of the castle. And then to do it with stained glass! Those are some beautiful colors, especially as they are cast on the stone. The wood and stone textures help make this more convincing as well.
usernew: This has such a unique style to it, and the perspective is interesting as well. Any minute I hope to see someone peak out from one of those windows to see if the fog has cleared =)
Fulip: This is a bold and exciting piece, complete with glow and motion blur! I like how the wall slopes down where it was breached. The physics at play here are convincing and energetic.
kr4st: I have always admired the “low poly” look, and you pull it off here quite well! There’s quite a bit of action going on here! If I’m seeing correctly, there’s someone leaping from the castle wall to take on the green creature.
SonnySee: There’s a mysterious and mystic energy to this piece, even as I hear the Monty Python reference =) Always difficult to pull off very dark images, but, at least on this screen, I can see hints of bricks and trees behind the castle.
str11: A beautifully constructed castle, and yet so precariously placed – and just like the real one =) Very well done!
YAFU: Some humorous interplay between characters definitely makes this fun to watch and it helps to distinguish this image from the many other fine and serious entries in this Challenge. Great expressions too! He looks genuinely startled =)
Miatpi: You beat the clock, and it was certainly a render worth waiting for. Congratulations on such a creatively conceived castle. The falling sand particles produce a real sense of motion and passage of time.
caz747: You mentioned MakeHuman, and then I realized, after zooming in, where =) The castle and sky have a diistinctly sinister appearance, and I particularly like the angle and distance at which you chose to display the castle.
Helge: First, I want to thank you for your comment about the sky and my procedural texture work in the entry thread. I’ve been experimenting with Cycles procedural texture possibilities almost too much, but I am saving some stuff as I go along and will soon be releasing some very cool things. Now, on to your image: too bad about that bag of peanuts =) At least it did eventually serve as some inspiration for a completely unique and aesthetically admirable image! That’s one of the funniest things about inspiration: so many things, even random things, can eventually inspire some productive, if not important thoughts and creations. All the more reason to live mindfully!
OLG: I like the juxtaposition of textures and contrasts going on in your image, and the unique approach you took with your castle. The aline moon reflection in the water is also a nice thing!
DoriNori: First, congratulations on your winning the previous challenge! Never underestimate the power of “blue with a little purple” =) Now, on to your castle: absolutely wonderful modeling and a really nice render to show it all off. Bravo!
Hiryuusan: It is so nice to see another fellow “sky castle” builder out there =) I like that yours has something of a substantial foundation (unlike mine), and there’s definitely the sense of altitude and distance at work here. Great job!
RobertT