Hi all. I was working on this for a while. If I could get some C&C, it would be greatly appreciated. The first image is with AO (both and plain). The 2nd is with AO (both and sky texture.) While I prefer the “creepy” look of the 2nd image its takes away A LOT of the image.
Lighting in both need work. In the first one the key light is too bright w/o indication of it’s source. Also there are lots of deep dark shadows that need some fill.
I’ll focus more on the 2nd because it better plays to the feel you’re trying to make. In this one again, need some soft fills. I can’t give exact advice, but I would maybe start by placing a key light slightly higher then the camer and to the left of it but not by much. Give this a soft, light blue, intesity and a low intesity. Next make two fill lights, one at about (rotateed about the house 90 degrees) to the camera facing the house, half intesity of the key and about 50% of it. I would go the same or close light blue on this light. Disable it from casting shadows. Duplicate that light and rotate 180 about the house. Typically a soft orange, but in this case I would mix more blue into it, so maybe a more “white” soft blue. Maintaining a blue tone will bring the cold shrill feeling into it. Adjust the lights so that you can see into the shadows sum w/o over lighting the house. A rim behind the house may or may not add a eerie effect… that might be cool with red/orange instead of a typical light to bring hte fear of blood into it. Hard to say though. Ultimately though control the shadows, don’t let them be so deep and dark, those are pixels to help you build your story, put them to work, even if it is just a ambient light.
You know, thinking a lil more, maybe on the first one, turn your key light from white to a moonlight blue. Switch the shadow to ray, change soft to like 4, steps to like 4. One fill light that doesnt cast shadows to teh left of the camera on a very very low setting to soften the shadow, also a light soft blue, a little bit darker then the moonlight.
Might be that simple.
the grass is too straight and it all points straight up - there is also too little grass i think
and i agree that the lighting needs work
but nice models
Ok, excuse my stupidity here. I do keep messing with the lights ( I know its a major downfall of mine.) When you say “fill” light which type do you mean? Or is that just whichever I chose to use? And none of the light options have anything for “steps”, or would that be samples? Im using 2.49b if that changes the terminology at all.
It’s a typically spot light with shadows and specular disabled. Sometimes the spot radius is enlarge too (from the standard 45 degrees). This might help you too: http://www.blendercookie.com/2009/07/07/learning-3pt-lighting/
Here’s the update as of right now following your advice and watching the video, which by the way thank you for both. I know its not perfect yet, but definitely better than it was.
This is with AO ( both and plain). The 2nd pic is with a blue key light.
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I’m not that sure about that grass, this might help; http://www.blenderguru.com/the-secret-to-creating-realistic-grass/
But, I must say, nice modeling there! I’ve never really made a house so I admire this work.
Thanks for that tutorial and for the compliment! Unfortunately, my computer hates me. I only made it through the first part of the tutorial (on ONE plane) before blender threatens to stop responding. Gonna keep trying, but it may not be able to happen. 
EDIT: Only did one side with that. No matter what I sit there with it threatening for 5 min.
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OK, fixed the grass. (Please say its ok…or my comp is gonna throw ME out the window. 
)
What do you guys think? Anything else?
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ok you just killed the grass (not literally)
It’s way to dense, but not because there is to much, its because the grass particles are way too thick. The grass particles are thicker than the blade of the knife. and they are tall too (i can see them going through the person’s leg)
There is also an obvious line behind the house where you can see the end of the plane of grass
The lighting is nice though
I can’t wait to see the image when it is done.
I’m just curious is that an image as your background, it looks like it but just making sure
Ok fixed again. I think. Cut down the grass around the persons legs. If thickness is still the issue, which one is the setting to change it? I wish there was a way to achieve this nice effect without over-running my computer.
And yes, that is an image for the clouds. I’ll eventually learn how to make them on my own.
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Looking pretty spooky now, very cool. Might try some caustics on the lights for more added effect too. I’m not suggesting you ought, but suggesting you might happen across a “happy accident” if you play a bit (spooky faces projections, but you might like what you find by chance).