Ok, I fixed the path and the lighting. I did a mix of the lighting of the past and I think it works better. I also got rid of most of the desaturation. Also texture tweaks in a lot of areas. Now I need to get back to work on the inn and add more detail and props around it to give it some life.
Adam: I focused on putting grass primarily where my main shots are then everywhere else it is more sparse and further back none at all. I want to create the illusion of extensive open fields as well as pockets of trees and the transitions of fields and forested area.

Showing my work

More Trees

 Here are a couple of shots of my current progress on this scene. I am working on an inn and I plan on repopulating the environment soon.

Jump Ahead

Ok so I'm back with that I think is some major progress before I go forward with creating the next part of this scene. I recreated the trees to get better shapes as well as to optimize them a bit better. I've been following the 3dmotive tutorial a fair bit to see what I could improve on. So I've completely reworked the shaders on the trees as well as added some improved textures for the foliage with more overall detail and color. I've changed my lighting and the distance fog as well.
The next part of my scene is to create a shack on the edge of the lake that will be my focal point. The goal is to create a believable wilderness that has some human elements as well. My next step is to start asset creation including:
Wooden shack, boat, barrel, axe, logs, stump, ferns, wildflowers, pans, glass bottles, animal furs, daisies, and buckets. I also want to do nighttime lighting as well.

Deep Forest

Here is a pretty big update. I reworked my tree models a bit as well as added a bush model. I'll add more ground plants as I go. I fixed my water shader so it now gets clearer as it hits the ground. I've made changes to my post processing and completely fixed my shadow problems. Right now I'm just playing with the deeper darker forest. I know I will have some elements of that in the final but it will be a bit lighter as I vary my tree sizes.

Better Post and Ligting

Getting there

Lots of little tweaks, I also created a water material but it's not finalized yet. The reflection also doesn't show in screenshots for some reason.

more trees

Trees

I've added tree models and edited the grasses making a more realistic look.

Updated Lighting

More models soon

I'll be doing some props for the scene but in the meantime, some greenness.

More mountains

Lots of little updates plus I learned collision in UDK today. So productive.

Greener Pastures?

Here's a new update on my mountain valley scene with updated textures for practically everything. I like doing textures. I desaturated many of the textures and gave it a slightly browner feel. Eventually I'll mix it up with greener and browner grasses. I'm going to add trees and rocks and better water. Also I found this awesome tutorial on 3D motive, so hopefully I'll be able to afford it soon and learn something new.

Mountain Valley

While messing around in UDK I found the opportunity to create a larger level based around a central lake mountain valley. I sculpted the terrain and I'm still working on the texture placement for it. I worked from a lot of the same props I used in the forest and indeed will continue to fill the scene with updated props as I go along. I edited the rock textures as well as the grass textures. I also created a new post processing and a new background mountain texture. I'll post more updates as soon as more progress is made.

Forest Updates

Here are some more updates for the little forest test. I've made changes to the grasses, post processing and some of the ground textures.

Forest Test

I have been trying out the newest version of UDK between assignments and here's some progress on it. As a note, the trees are not mine except for the birch and the pavilion is not mine. The water is stock UDK as well.

The Artist at Bethesda are Amazing

I have been playing Skyrim lately and doing a bit of light modding to the textures as well. I have to say that after looking at the textures, the artist did a great job of crafting their textures. My only real critique is that many of their props have a lot left over space in the uv maps. The actual painting is beautiful and artistic and inspires me to no end. I cannot wait until the creation kit comes out so I can do some more modding, and in the meantime I shall continue to play in the wonderful world that Bethesda has created.

Post Renewed

Hi, I've been working hard to learn both UDK and Unity. Both programs are awesome and offer different ways to put together good game art. I like that Unity is similar to Maya and updates are easy. I love how powerful UDK is and that it is so diverse in it's tools.

I've been working hard at Ossian Studio's working on a new iphone game that should release soon, so I haven't been updating my portfolio art as much as I want to. Plus I've been playing a lot of Battlefield 3 and Skyrim lately so that eats into my time.

Since I have learned so much about UDK in the last year or so, I will be creating my fall scene anew. I will have a new style of lighting as well as some new technique in my art. Hopefully it comes across in my scene which I will be uploading soon. In the meantime I will update my blog more often and post some smaller projects which I have been working on.

Marquis

Steel Longsword

After some great feedback here she is with a smaller texture, same great detail.

Great Sword

I really had a lot of fun with this model and I hope it shows in the final shots! It's a pretty straightforward broadsword model.