Just got in and have a question for anyone interested.

I just got in from Hoover Dam, and the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

i took a s**tload of pictures, but it would be some work to upload them.

would anyone be interested in them?

i can zip them according to locale if that is easiest, BUT there are a total of 148 megs and i really don't wanna waste my time, or yours.

lemme know soonish, as i am leaving out again Sunday and it will take time.

Perhaps a few so I can see what it looks like :smile:

^ What he said ^ :smile:

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Wild Card</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Perhaps a few so I can see what it looks like :smile: </DIV></DIV>

dude, i took 400 odd picture of 1288x966 and around 600k (my cameras lowest resolution. 1.2mp)

i took only 2 pictures at 2580x1720 and 1.2 megs (my cameras mid level res of 3.2mp)
would you like a sampling of the low res, or just the 2 higher ones?

Points to the first fellow to make a map based on his photos...

Points to the first fellow to make a map based on his photos...

Why stop there, a mod would be awesome, "HL2: Travel with Orph!" or something ^_^

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Points to the first fellow to make a map based on his photos... </DIV></DIV>

i would like to say, i took some pictures of a random gully.. we have had so many debates on "what a real cliff face looks like" that i felt it prudent to take a few of a real cliff.

secondly, as far as the canyon.. words fail to convey exactly what it is..

i have seen pictures before, i have seen movies, but nothing compares to standing on the edge of an abyss almost a mile up from the lowest level.. with drops of more than 1000 feet from directly under you.

if you can ever get a chance to see this thing, do so.. i was not disappointed.
lastly, one question kept haunting me the whole day.. "where the f**k did all that dirt go?" fundamentally, i know, but to see it missing, it just leaves you numb..

WARNING,WARNING,WARNING: EXTREMELY LARGE FILE SIZES!!!

http://www.snarkpit.com/pits/orpheus/pics/000_0001.JPG

http://www.snarkpit.com/pits/orpheus/pics/000_0002.JPG

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Points to the first fellow to make a map based on his photos... </DIV></DIV>

Not a bad idea...

Orph, send me both high res, and a few of the low res ones.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
i would like to say, i took some pictures of a random gully.. we have had so many debates on "what a real cliff face looks like" that i felt it prudent to take a few of a real cliff.

</DIV></DIV>
Funny, I never saw even one of those discussions. I could have added quite a bit to them. Doc Brasso once messaged me asking what my method was for rockwork, and I gave him a long breaking-down of how to make different types of rock formations, as I have observed many in my day. For example, the rocks in Fool's Paradise were, at the brushwork level, based on the kind of volcanic rock that I saw on a trip to Hawaii; I've also done rocks based off the kind of cliffs you see in Kentucky and Ohio, in the style of DaveJ and 3D-Mike, HL1SP and pre-triangle rockwork, everything. It's a damn shame that everyone is just going to use displacement maps for terrain from now until the end of time, I could have written a book on the subject.

God Jon, does are some really beautifull pictures... :sad: Wish I could see that for real.

Must look really nice from the air.

perhaps "debate" is misleading, but we have definitely had discussions on the subject.

also, i would like to point out, that its been 5 years or so, and many forums Cass, not just here.. i didn't get as good as i am at critiquing, from just being here :biggrin:

the most recent discussion (i think) is Mr. Manson's new map.. his cliffs are beautiful IMO, but some may think otherwise.

His cliffs are child's play.

My cliffs:



... versus single faces extending flat from floor to sky.

[/narcissism]

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>His cliffs are child's play.

</DIV></DIV>

thats not my point Cass.. they are still, well within his chosen theme..

i just used him cause he was the most recent.. i really think you grasp what i am talking about, without the need for me to sift through 100's of map posts :/
i think the problem is, people see the cliffs of their home, and forget that cliffs are formed in a multitude of ways in nature.. what looks good in one map, may not in another cause the conditions that formed that "style" of cliff, is not present in the chosen theme..

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Cassius</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>His cliffs are child's play.

</DIV></DIV>

thats not my point Cass.. they are still, well within his chosen theme..

i just used him cause he was the most recent.. i really think you grasp what i am talking about, without the need for me to sift through 100's of map posts :/
i think the problem is, people see the cliffs of their home, and forget that cliffs are formed in a multitude of ways in nature.. what looks good in one map, may not in another cause the conditions that formed that "style" of cliff, is not present in the chosen theme..

</DIV></DIV>
Then there are the basaltic cliffs in Oregon that would be impossible to model... It makes it somewhat difficult for me that the terrain I have the most experience with is impractical for the game environment.

Time for a new desktop background...

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting mazemaster</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Time for a new desktop background... </DIV></DIV>

blushes
that, may be the best compliment i have had in ages.. i assume you meant my pic, not cass's :heee:

BTW, which did you prefer?

Speaking of cliffs..

Cass, I hear what you're saying about the inevitable whoring of displacement surfaces; I have thought the same thing. Honestly, though, after playing with them it is easy to see just how versatile and powerful they really are. I think that Valve did a good job on their rock structures in HL2, but they were pretty simple. Of course, most of the time you only saw them for a fraction of a second, while flying by on a buggy or boat....simple but effective works.

I think, however, building on the same basic sculpting skills that HL1 rocks required, and using these displacements to to really push more natural forms, we will quickly see the competent/good mappers doing rockwork that easily smokes anything seen in HL2; much like the HL1 scene. In the end, it's just a tool that can either be used lazily, or with creativity and innovation; and that's what makes the artwork stand out.

i think the point is, if you chose a cliff type, that fits your theme, you cannot go wrong.. assuming you are adept enough to make cliffs of course.

i had real issues with water made cliffs, in an arid themed map, and ice sculptured cliffs in a hot climate map..

anyways, i am just blathering on i suppose, especially if i am the only one with the problem. :/

I like the 2nd pic - seeing the the low line of the canyon extending back all jagged is cool, and the contrast between the vibrant tree and the canyon with the blue sky-haze is cool.

Also as for displacements - there is definitely a lot of skill required to use them correctly. I only wish they had the power of modeling tools in terms of manipulation.

at the risk of sounding like a total hypocrite, i will refrain from posting any more pictures, but i have some that will have you drooling guys.

the pictures of hoover dam.. they have some mapping potential in them.. i tried very hard to capture anything that could be considered mappable..

they are however around 600k each, and i feel that to optimize them could harm the clarity, since the shots encompass several hundred, if not thousands of feet.

but i am open to any suggestion.. if you wanna see the dam, lemme know.

Did you go down the trail at all when you went to the grand
canyon? I remember as a young child we went there and went down a
little ways. It was gorgeous (but you know that already)

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting SaintGreg</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Did you go down the trail at all when you went to the grand canyon? I remember as a young child we went there and went down a little ways. It was gorgeous (but you know that already)
</DIV></DIV>

time constraints, and the bitter cold prevented me from venturing upon any trails, but i will definitely include them the next time.
i will say though, i have cramps aplenty, just wandering the cliff top trails alone.. i hurt, believe me i hurt.

Looks like a nice view orph :biggrin: Hehe, those pics would make a nice sky texture lol.

Wow, beautiful pictures. Wish I could see it for real someday.

the second picture is a damn nice desktop background!!