Sponza Lighting

Thanks for the comments it is nice to think I am making some progress because I don't feel that way but those are just feelings. The program is so extensive with much to learn and remember. Rashad you must have read my mind as I was thinking hte GI was enough after reading all the great reviews on global radiosity. I discovered if I wanted to bring out the texture on this Sponza some extra light was needed. I will try this one more time as this is good practice for me. I am learning that setting lights is an art by itself.

Much better. Seems to me you have learned a valuable lesson, and that is that even in programs that offer GI, one often will still need to help the GI with a few tradiditonal lighting tricks like radials. This is the most natural by far of your Sponza series. The render wuality seems better this time though not completely right yet. I must say Vue is impressive and you are becoming more familiar with it and the progression in your skills is obvious.

Thanks Horo for you honest comments. Very good eye I did look this over carefully before posting and rendered this scene more times than I would like to say. After looking at several pictures of this Sponza on the net I felt it would be hard to have it be convincing as there are so many variables. But I certainly can always improve. It is much different working in Vue than Bryce because the lights do bounce. In this picture above I had all the lights set with the global illumination and think it did fairly good job. The glowing pillar is more than likely my radial which could have been moved more to the left to create realism.

Yes, it looks more evenly lit, less contrast and the sky is blue as well. Judging from the shadows cast in the courtyard, I think the columns at right look like they were glowing. They look good on the left. I'm not sure that haze was a good idea. It is not easy to get atrium and vaulted corridors nicely lit. You did a good job here but I'm not fully convinced.