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CageyJay [2009-09-11 16:43:55 +0000 UTC]

Overall

Vision

Originality

Technique

Impact

This is a powerful picture in that you made light the subject, as opposed to any singular object. The high contrasts and the strong colors dazzle your viewer with a composition that first appears simple, but then has a complexity of detail.

The shape of the walls and depth of the darkness in the foreground structures act to make your viewer feel a little claustrophobic or oppressed, so the eye naturally travels almost immediately to the golden floor, and from there up the spill of light to the ceiling. The pale-gold ribbing on the ceiling is beautiful, and you did some nice work recessing the rectangles on the vaults. They aren't quite consistent, but that is good, since it serves to distract the viewer from the black lateral supports.

You also executed the crenelated moulding very well. The suggestion that it echoes back through the hall in a stepped fashion works to draw the viewer forward into the picture. Also, that you splashed light back up onto the same moulding on the right side of the picture, "nearest" the viewer serves as a supreme little bit of eye-candy that makes the whole scene feel almost real.

There are two things in this picture that prove rather confusing for a viewer. First is the tri-directional strong beams of light. Your viewers are accustomed to a world with a single point light source-- we have rarely, if ever, seen beams of light come through windows from more than one direction. While this picture, with strong light from the end of the barrel vault and both sides, will suggest to sci-fi fans that perhaps this building rests on a world with three suns, it will likely just confuse the rest of your viewers because it isn't quite "surreal" enough. Second is the architecture of the hall/niche on the left in the midground. As a matter of perspective, and possibly even of the way the structure was built, it seems to lean forward, ready to fall on someone who might haplessly stand in the pool of light before it. This promotes a sense of unease that will cause your viewer to hurry away from this particular part of the image. Unlike the light beams, it is quite surreal, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend changing it.

My favorite parts of this picture rest in the repetition of shapes. You re-use the arch form in the ceiling, in the windows, in the side halls, and even in the designs on the floor, trying the whole thing together. And then you go and use the fluting on the columns to recall the rectangles in the vaulted ceilings to recall the green and gold leading patterns on the floor. Absolutely gorgeous.

All in all, a detailed and glorious design that does justice to its inspiration. Great work.

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Sereena [2011-12-17 06:02:53 +0000 UTC]

This is gorgeous! Would you mind if I used this as a background on a temple website?
Please let me know.

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Patuco [2009-09-16 16:11:35 +0000 UTC]

Enfolding atmosphere

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