The Breakfast Scene

I tell you what I have huge respect for those involved with lighting. It is the key element to any 3d subject.

So the Evaluation:

For a 1st time go at making a full scene, I haven't done too badly. The models are how I envisioned them on paper, the materials worked well especially the loaf of bread, that is my favourite element. I am though so happy not to have used V ray or any types of plugins, all the materials have been made completely from scratch. I felt it very important to fully appreciate the capabilities of the 3d software including my own skill. There is no point in cheating using the Arch and Design elements if you don't undertsand them, maybe my scene would have looked more realistic, but I wouldn't have learnt the key basics to make me better. For my next project I will be ready to use the plugin materials. Although maybe not for my Jar, as I'm not sure if it will make the glass any better than what i have created, really really happy I figured out that, especially in the last shot with the shadow it casts.
Now to my arch nemesis, LIGHTING. This is probably the area that has most let me down,  no it was the shadows that were the element that was the hardest for me. Creating a sense of weight is key to any scene and if you havent got the right shadows it looks like its all floating. I have spent hours upon hours tweaking and deleting entire light setups over and over again trying to see what works best. It got to a point where I almost handed in the entire project with no lighting!! But persistance is key, it may not be spot on but I can honestly say this was the best attempt I could make to perfect. I also was admiring other peoples work on the course and I realised many were just using one main light source like a candle or lamp, I feel that i pushed myself further than that, and hopefully this has worked in my favour. Perhaps not now, but in the future. I know now from this project where my weakness is, and where I really need to read up on, perfecting it can only come from practice, I can't even begin to say how much I appreciate the work of the lighting crew in companies like Pixar and Dreamworks, their skill is what brings the film to life.
I am happy that i re made the background to, especially as it again helps give it weight, also the kitchen reflection in the border really helps set the scene. I would have liked to add a few crumbs but when I did, it looked out of place and all wrong, it does look quite clear and clean cut but its like an narrative advert for family breakfast in a sunny kitchen.
Once I've cracked and fully undertsand the use of lighting I think my scenes and designs will truly look realistic and believable. Thats what i wanted from this sequence of shots, a believable narrative, a reflection of my home life, especially when at my mums, the food rapidly dispappeares, its 1st come 1st served or be left with the end crusts.