BoneHead WIP need critiques and help with composition

[Tyler Figueira]

Hey everybody! So I'm working on this guy below who I've named Bonehead. The character and his shaders are almost finished aside from a few little issues. In the final comp his fins will be somewhat transpearant.

My original idea was to have him underwater with a submarine shining a light on him but something just doesn't work. I really want to show the scale of the creature but maybe a sub isn't the best way about it. Maybe it is and I just dont have the right composition. Either way I'd really like to get this forum's feedback on what could help me make this image feel epic. Thanks in advance and enjoy!

Rendering in Maya btw.




First shot at a mockup

Second photoshop mockup

Link to turntable of model

Thanks again for viewing and I really look forward to everyone's critiques and comments.

Just as a side note, I'm not bent on keeping anything in the image except the character itself, lol. I've even thought about having the sub destroyed at his feet or removing it all together. I just want something in the shot to show the scale.

[Sowelu]

Tyler congratulations, this is a beautiful work and the concept art is great.
Keep going this way!!!

[EvilSmiley]

Looks nice, perhaps having an underwater city like Atlantis by him to really give a scale....people know how big buildings are so it'd be a great way to convey scale.

[SinisterUrge]

Beautiful character design, but I'd love to see it have eyes. It would allow your audience to bond far easier with your creature

[fattkid]

I found myself spending a bit more time than usual checking out your model and images..lots of cool things going on here. Maybe give him a face and eyes etc. I feel cheated that he doesn't have a face The composition with the sub really showcases the model well too. Spend a bit more time on the seabed/atmosphere/sub/skin specularity to make it look wet etc. and you'll have a really cool image. Nice job.

[Pittgilman]

I like the no face look, but I agree with the eyes, or maybe give him one of those bio-illuminescent eyes that hangs from the forehead or something. Love the scene with the submarine, really neat pose. Excited to see more!

[Drummer]

great work! I really like the design of this creature.
it reminds me a little of Evangelion...that is very cool!

congrats!

[Tyler Figueira]

Hey I'm glad you guys like the character design, I think he's pretty cool too!

I'm definitely going to put in some eyes that will kind of be really burried in the sockets and just catching a very bright yellow glint. Another thing I kind of want to stay away from IS the wet look. From references and such , underwater creatures don't appear wet. More blurry than anything.

I guess what would really help out is if anyone could think of a cool scene from a movie or a picture they have seen or something I can use as a reference for a good composition that'd be awesome. Even if it's just a mention and I could go look for it.

Attatched is just a zbrush shot of the model, (forgot to post this yesterday)

[qmanning]

No need for eyes or expression, man. I get what you're doing, very Miyazaki. Makes it far more powerful in my opinion.

Fantastic.