Partly inspired by my past participation in seti@home
Some post-processing was done. Lots of jpeg artifacts. Border was just a last minute experiment just for web use. An ever so slightly retro look was intended.
Although I continue to experiment on this, this particular version is finished.
As always, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
nice colors and atmosphere. It has that whole "War of the Worlds’-look going on, and it kinda reminds of the movie ‘Contact’ (God, that ending sucked).
Sago: LOL hey Sago Thanks! I’ve tried around 30 fonts so far, but I’m sure there’s a better one I just haven’t come across yet Not many good fonts out there. Actually two fonts were used here, one for the period.
HellBok: Thanks! The actual render is huge, so more details are apparent at that level. Over a million verts in this one An additional scale reference could be useful. These radio telescopes tend to be massive.
It’s a nice render, as always. My only gripe is from an overall design standpoint. The heavy visual weight of the word Listen make the thing feel top-heavy to me. It’s out of balance, and not in a good edge of your seat way.
Not saying you should do this, but here’s an example of what would balance it more compositionally: have the sky appear in lighter and lighter shades of purples/pinks/nice sunset, going up to the top bleed of the sheet. Then, put Listen in black type, with a white stroke on the type. Then, you can have the bottom grow very dark as it approaches the viewer. Of course, this ruins some of the things you’re going for, and is just an example.
Alternative: extend the bottom area, and move the word listen to the bottom. After all, the dishes are pointed at the sky - why restrict their reception with your words?
But as well I´d like to point out that the image also lack overall depth.
It´s like the rendered objects are “standalone” objects rather than
part of something if you catch my drift.
harkyman: Thank you for the excellent suggestions harkyman. In another version I’m also experimenting with transparency and word size/placement. I may post a second version if it turns out well.
JoOngle: Thanks for the feedback! Most of these radio telescopes in real life are situated out in flat fields, often in desert like areas, and tend to look like they’re just standing there. Some are attached to tracks while others are equidistant in a fixed formation, which is more of the style I went for here. I have several separate test cameras in the scene at different positions, angles, and lens values, and this is probably the flattest one. I also might try this widescreen/landscaped style with a couple more radio telescopes encircling the view and broadening the sense of depth.
i think it’s great, but i think something that would bring in a better sense of scale would help it as well, maybe like a person looking where all the radio telescopes are pointing. of course what do i know :-?
I like the first one best, but I do like the second version a lot too.
A lot of people seem to be recommending that you throw in something else for perspective of how huge those things are. But I think most people do know already how huge they are, and that isn’t what is important about the picture. I like it as it is.
i like the second one best, great lighting
my only crit for the second one is that it seems too cropped, the thrid dish on the left is cut in half.
i think it would look best as a long narrow panoramic shot with all dishes included with a little sky and ground space on the left and the right of the shot.
i really like your realism modeling (windmill, satelite dishes, and the steel mill scene)
great work mate!
harkyman: Thanks so much Your gradient suggestion was actually quite good!
byte_me: Thanks! The more I thought about it, the more I was concerned another object other than another radio telescope might distract the viewer. The small details in the structure holding up the dishes hopefully will indicate on some level the enormity of these things
paroneayea: Thank you paroneayea. I’m very glad you made that comment, because it helped me decide against adding another object (and saved me time on modeling something else and making it fit in;))
Wu: Thanks so much Wu I went a little more panoramic on the third and final update I’ll be posting below. Still cropped closely, but I think there’s some more space in this one and a better balance with the introduction of a fourth radio telescope.
rush2049_: Thanks! I appreciate the kind words
_balooo: Cool thanks _balooo The updates are decidedly less retro, so in the end I’m “keeping” all three (third one coming up soon below).
BgDM: Thank you very much BgDM. I tweaked everything including the lighting in the third and final update coming up below.
Here is the third and final update of the LISTEN poster (1024x768; expand if shrunk by web browser).
Everything was tweaked, and a fourth radio telescope was added. Render time verts at over 2 million, with over a gig of RAM claimed for the render at OSA 8/AO 5. Jpeg artifacts are present.
This was rendered massive then scaled down and sharpened. The project itself, however, is considered finished at this point, and this will in all likelihood is the final poster.
I liked the first one, but that final one… wow! It’s much better with the word no longer dominating, there’s a greater sense of quiet awe, especially with all of the dishes pointed up toward it attentively.
Thanks! I’ve tried around 30 fonts so far, but I’m sure there’s a better one I just haven’t come across yet 
