Pixel Joint Forum: Wet street right before dawn

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Last tuesday while we were having the SQL issues, I started on drawing a scene I saw while driving a few days earlier: The empty, wet highway, right before sunrise began. It's still at a very bare-bone stage, but been stuck for days on the road, both the shine of the lamps and how to get the road to look wet. Been using these as reference material, which helped alot already:

http://www.wildlife-photography.com/prodzoomimg303.jpg
http://img02.deviantart.net/ce17/i/2012/324/4/e/puerto_madero_at_night_20___wet_street_by_maxi_exequiel-d5lmge0.jpg
http://stormandsky.com/stormpictures/2012/2012_01_24_32244.jpg
http://cloud.graphicleftovers.com/48699/1655410/cars-on-wet-road-at-night.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lcZ57Z3.png
http://www.digitalartistdaily.com/users/1014/thm1024/wetstreetda.jpg

They've helped me alot already, but simply can't find that one breakthrough I need. Hence posting here.

Below's a bit of an evolution of all the attempts I've made:

As you can see, I'm a bit at a loss here. Any help on how to get the effect I'm looking for, would be appreciated.

Edited by Raf - 24 July 2015 at 5:00pm

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Raf Commander Joined: 18 January 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Topic: Wet street right before dawn Posted: 24 July 2015 at 4:56pm
	Last tuesday while we were having the SQL issues, I started on drawing a scene I saw while driving a few days earlier: The empty, wet highway, right before sunrise began. It's still at a very bare-bone stage, but been stuck for days on the road, both the shine of the lamps and how to get the road to look wet. Been using these as reference material, which helped alot already: http://www.wildlife-photography.com/prodzoomimg303.jpg http://img02.deviantart.net/ce17/i/2012/324/4/e/puerto_madero_at_night_20___wet_street_by_maxi_exequiel-d5lmge0.jpg http://stormandsky.com/stormpictures/2012/2012_01_24_32244.jpg http://cloud.graphicleftovers.com/48699/1655410/cars-on-wet-road-at-night.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lcZ57Z3.png http://www.digitalartistdaily.com/users/1014/thm1024/wetstreetda.jpg They've helped me alot already, but simply can't find that one breakthrough I need. Hence posting here. Below's a bit of an evolution of all the attempts I've made: As you can see, I'm a bit at a loss here. Any help on how to get the effect I'm looking for, would be appreciated. Edited by Raf - 24 July 2015 at 5:00pm
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Brink Midshipman Joined: 19 June 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Posted: 25 July 2015 at 3:18am
	The image has a strange composition (I can't tell what the focal point is) and lacks visual interest. I would just use the rule of third and crop the image to focus on the only visually interesting thing in the scene - the lamp posts. It's also really(!) dark. Add some lighter values, epecially in the light sources and reflected light. When you're lighting the scene, just take a look at those photos you linked and analyze them. I would porbably also add some rain. Here's a quick paintover: I hope this is of some help. Keep in mind that I'm not an expert and this is just what I think. There's probably a lot of people who would disagree with what I'm saying. Happy pixelling!
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jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 27 July 2015 at 6:29pm
	I agree, especially, the too dark part. Monitor calibration time.
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Raf Commander Joined: 18 January 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Posted: 29 July 2015 at 3:02pm
	So if I get it right, 1. idea is crap, 2. composition is crap, 3. colors are crap. Basically, the whole thing is crap and I shouldn't put my time in it any further then?
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jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 29 July 2015 at 3:19pm
	c'mon :/ These are the opinions of two people only for your consideration. Nothing said has been a flame or a crit that's harsh even.
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Raf Commander Joined: 18 January 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 109	Posted: 29 July 2015 at 3:54pm
	Nah, I didn't mean it as that harsh. If it's all basically crap, it can be said as such. If I better spend my time on a more feasible picture, then that can be said. Going: "Aw yeah, you can do it!" knowing fully well the result will be a disappointment isn't exactly a nice thing to do The criticism I got here, which I know has been given with the best intentions in mind, do seem to come down to having to restart the entire thing. The main issue here is that the guy above is right: there's no real visual interest. I'm mainly trying to capture the impression I got while driving. That may be too much for me to chew for now, but might be something I can do after enough practice. That is, unless you can figure out how someone with my current abilities can do something like capturing a feeling within a scene that really has no real visual interest.
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jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 29 July 2015 at 4:48pm
	No. Not crap. You started a pixel and felt you needed feedback and then you got some. Use it to update and edit with the wisdom of others in mind while retaining your own artistic vision. In pixelart the smaller the better and easier ;) Edited by jalonso - 29 July 2015 at 4:48pm
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