When I read the contest rules I immediately thought of film noir, with their femme fatales, black and white color palette, stark shadows and sharp lighting. I tried to create a scene that takes inspiration from that source and evokes ambiguity, uncertainty and unknown.

We are witnessing the aftermath of a brutal and violent act but do not know what exactly led to it. The scene captures only the stillness just after the moment of action, where emotion and intent remain unreadable. Is she just a victim forced to do terrible things in self defense or a cunning temptress, ruthlessly killing her target after seducing him. We may never know.

1. The contest entry
2. Daz3d raw render
3. Viewport texture shaded view