Well I believe I’m getting pretty close to submitting this image to cgcookie. Still feels bare to me but simple is sometimes best. Hopeing to get some final critic here.
This is the best render so far. Simple snowman snow globe scene.
love the image, but the background doesnt feel right 
i think a wallpaper would be better. also, everything looks just a tiny bit too clean…
i also think you should direct more attention the the very nicley modelled snow globe, the first thing you see should be that.
finally, the letter opener’s handle blends in too well with the wood, making it hard to notice, maybe you could use a different wood texture for it?
Good image…
I thought you would maybe like to see the result of another participant (to compare them)
Here is my Result:
Wow Mr. Lasla you got this comp in the bag XD. Looks very nice. And I agree casio The back ground i will change for sure and the table texture as well because it stands out way to much.
Looks good Levi. The table texture could be helped with a normal map (and don’t short change it with a bump, you’re too close with the camera). Background for sure… I suggest some falling snow or something. Snow globe looks mint, but the base (specifically red) feels a little short… maybe more of a red paint or anodized metal. Lighten the vignette just a smooch too, it looks good heavy, but it’s a little too heavy.
Did I mention how good the globe looks yet!? I can tell that was the focus of your attention, it very much does look mint!
One other thing, maybe makes no sense, but a mere thought I just had… The letter opener feels “threatening”, I think due to it’s orientation… I knife pointed at a person (the viewer) creates tension. Spin it a bit, point the blade away, would feel more “welcoming”. This though is just some flotsam thought I had.
Oh I will take all that into consideration. Never thought about the blade angle. The vignette was supposed to be white. As far as the red stripes I was thinking about doing a large holly leaf with berries on the front bottum. The back ground is something I just through on there and no one likes it lol. So yea that will be changed for shure.
Ok another one. Quandtum changed the back ground the table texture(i think this one looks better) and rotated the knife. Plus I decided to add some holly leaves and berries.
Here we go. Guess there is still much to do.
I think the last composition is much better. However I do not feel the perspective with the background, it does not feel like there is an sky way far from that table. Maybe some sort of plane clouds that help to create the perspective? You know you need something relative to trick the brain…I am not an expert on this matter, just telling you what I would do.
cheers !
I was going more inside scene maybe some wall paper or something like that. I might just model a whole new background interior scene. Thanks for the crit. ttyl
I like the new background, however the angle isn’t quite right… The pictures would probably not be hung that low on the wall. Instead you should either change the angle and hang the pictures a bit higher, or only show the bottoms of the frames.
Nice…
The background is realy good.
You should try to add a dirty lens effect on the image’s corners.
And try to make the vinjeting effect black not white.
That should look good (I think)
Well, attempting to add some atmosphere and a little more dept. Added an HDRI map to make some better reflections. Moved the picture frame up some added back a dark vignette and some dark reds in the back ground to try and simulate a warm setting.
Here we go again XD.
Looking good, only thing I don’t really like are the arms. They don’t seem to be attached right, I think the traditional stick would have looked better. Here’s my entry (feel free to critique!): 
looking good levi!
one thing i might change is the IOR of the globe, i find it slightly distracting and a bit sharp, so although it may not be physically correct, it might look better.
@dobz it looks good, but if you make a snowman, it normally has footprints etc. around it.
oh noooz. I wish I would have waited. I already submitted my image cause there was no feed back for a while on here. And the IOR I used is that of water. And you are right i shoulda used a lower value. As far as the hands Dobz yours look awesome! But I’m referencing a snow globe i have here and it has ugly little plastic arms lol. gg btw looks awesome
@ dobz more texture spec would make the snow look more real and the foot prints I agree as stated by casio23.
Oh, and the hat. Need more shape and less sharp edges. It looks brand new.
Levisarts, I believe the reason the glass globe looks unnatural in the image in post #13 is because you have a solid glass sphere. To make it just a thin layer on the outside, duplicate the vertices, scale it down just a tiny bit, then press Cntrl-Shift-N to recalc normal INSIDE. Now your glass sphere is hollow as are most snowglobes that I’ve ever seen.
Hmmm. That makes since thanks a lot. I use a solidify modifier for the globe so the inner mesh is not real. Originally I was using lower IOR with ray-trace but it was making crazy results like graying of material colors inside the globe.
after looking at your first image and your last image, i saw what you were trying to achieve, and i think you have
Thanks. I just hope the judges agree as well XD.