The Solemn Grave of the Fallen King (CLOSED) (CLOSED)

Abstract:
As a devoted admirer of Tolkien's Legends, I am profoundly captivated by the intricate interplay of light and darkness that permeates his narratives. Tolkien masterfully weaves tales where the triumph of good over evil is never without significant sacrifice, imbuing his stories with a poignant depth. The epic battles and heroic deeds are always shadowed by a sense of profound loss, creating a rich tapestry of emotions that resonate deeply with me. This delicate balance between victory and sorrow is what makes Tolkien's works timeless and endlessly compelling, as they reflect the complexities of the human condition and the enduring hope that shines through even the darkest of times.

Story: 
In the heart of the dark mountain, shrouded in eternal twilight, lies the grave of the fallen king Cordius the Just, a legendary ruler whose reign was marked by both unmatched valor and heartrending sacrifice. Deep within the mountain's cavernous depths, a devoted knight embarked on a perilous journey, guided by the whispers of ancient prophecies. Upon reaching the hallowed tomb, the knight discovered the king's sword, planted firmly in the stone above the grave, its blade aged and worn of its timeless luster. In a solemn ritual of reverence and humility, the knight stripped completely, kneeling bare before the grave, as was the custom among those who sought to honor the great king's legacy. This act of vulnerability and respect symbolized their unwavering devotion, acknowledging the profound sacrifices the king had made for his people. With bowed head and bated breath, the knight grasped the earth he knelt on with deep anguish and reverence, feeling the weight of history and the spirit of the fallen king.

Construction:
This entry was completely modelled in Blender, lit in blender, and composited in blender, using heavy displacement heightmaps for the environment. With a few touch ups and texturing in Photoshop, the real challenge was to create something  solemn. The atmosphere is one that is permeated by shadows and light, that had do penetrate through an organic mesh filter built to create the Godray effect diffusion. There was little volumetrics needed. This is the first time I modelled the character and environment completely in Blender. 

I  hope people find it beautiful and epic. I used heavy displacement designed in Substance though for the ground texture more prominently to provide a grave that was not arrayed in Gold or Silver or Jewels, but true to the king, his humility is demonstrated that he wanted a secluded environment that few would ever find, made of stone and earth. I also felt a 16:9 was appropriate for this scene, since the pathway needed context of how ominous the journey to the grave was.

Please let me know if the image I rendered displayed the story I wanted to tell. as well leave your impressions, it is always great to get feedback, it both encourages and teaches me to be a better artist.

Vesper



Highlights



Wire Frame





Best of Fortune to all the competitors.

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Good story, accompanying a nice work build up here. It's good seeing something besides your darker monochrome themes, as this looks softened down. Using the scene completely is another good thing, as it gave depth to your render, whereas in other ones, you limited the  wider camera angle and made it focus straight on your subjects. In other words, this work is more of a compositon as you used the light distribution throughly, but well balanced and  with every object in the scene interacting with light including the person in the scene.

I think it's will be epic win, Awsome job!

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Very nice volumetrics and composition. One of my favourites for this competition

Best of Fortune to all the designers that participated and supported provided encouragement for this entry! I am humbled by the support!  ♥

Color and I are totally geeking out over our shared love for LOTR, and let me tell you, our 3D contest entry is giving off major Middle Earth vibesit's like Gandalf himself waved his staff and conjured our imagination into reality!