Sometimes creating a beautiful image is not enough. At monolot, we strive for perfection, however, when working on projects outside of Europe, we need to take it a step further. Read what essential steps we take to get closer to photorealism.
A step further
Taking it a step further means making sure that the viewer knows immediately: we are in a specific place in the world and nowhere else. To add elements and details that would portray the project in an unmistakable local context, so when the viewer would look at the image of the building, for instance, in Abu Dhabi, they would have no doubts that it is placed there. I’m talking about authenticity, believability, and photorealism. How do we try to accomplish it? There are several key elements that I will describe in this blog post.
I would use the images from one of our recent projects – Park Lane Apartments by NOA, as an example. This residential project is based in Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and the biggest challenge for us was to achieve the perfect recognisability of this unique context.
Step 1: Sky and Sun
What is the difference between Miami and Abu Dhabi? Beijing and Tenerife Island? The answer is – the sky. Getting the sky and sun right is the first essential step to creating the right atmosphere for visualizations.
Is it clear and bright, perfectly blue, or in constant overcast such as on the Northern side of Tenerife island? Particles of sand in the air make the Abu Dhabi sky hazy and a little beige. The high position of the sun in the early afternoon hours creates deep and dark shadows, in comparison with the Netherlands, where shadows are softer.
In ideal circumstances, the viewer should also be able to feel the air temperature in the image: is it cold or hot, dry or wet? Small, subtle details in the intensity of colors and transparency of air help create the right atmosphere in the visualization.
Step 2: Vegetation
What kinds of plants grow here? This may seem obvious: you should study the local photos to put suitable vegetation in your images so it doesn’t look out of place. However, this simple task can require more research and dedication than just basic scrolling through Google.
One of our projects was based on the seafront, so our first instinct was to place a lot of palms to create an atmosphere of a pleasant vacation. Photographs from the site had palms in them, so what could go wrong? Later we learned from the client that all the palms in this area were brought from elsewhere and aren’t local at all. And since the project’s goal was to return as many local plant species to the area as possible, palms did not belong there.
This information may be hard to find just by looking at the photos, so sometimes you must put more effort into the research and find information from different sources.
Step 3: People
Spaces and inhabited by people, so putting the right people in your scenes would immediately improve the believability of the visuals.
Learn what kind of people can be found around the space you are going to visualize. What do they wear? What kinds of activities do they do in the area? In hot places, people don’t usually roam the streets during the afternoon hours, but during later evening hours, the streets are filled with action.
Touristy areas are usually full of very diverse visitors, while more secluded local towns tend to have more homogenous residents.
Are you portraying a luxury residence or a lively public space? In the Park Lane Apartments project, we needed to visualize the exclusive residential complex inhabited by local people and some expats. Therefore the attires of people had to match the region, and visualizations couldn’t be too “crowded.” On the other hand, spaces without any people could look too empty and hence uninviting. It took us a few attempts to get the right balance between exclusivity and liveliness.
Step 4: Architecture and colors
What holds the Genius Loci or the spirit of the space better than architecture? Only the color of local traffic cones. But in all seriousness, even the most minor details make a big difference in making the space look authentic.
While placing the proposed project in the context, it is essential to remember that not only the immediate surroundings but also the background plays a huge role. Many countries in the world have different colors of asphalt on the roads, different types of sidewalks, traffic, and street signage. Some places have certain kinds of popular cars, and license plates also vary from country to country.
For aerial views, it could be important to think about what the roofs of context buildings would look like. Are there water tanks placed on top of them? What is the color and material of the typical roof? Do people keep the roofs empty, or do they tend to have small plant gardens on top? While working in the European context, it is also important to remember that many cities often have a very distinctive “roof landscape,” such as Prague, where monolot studio is based.
In conclusion, I would like to say that excellent results can be achieved when you are attentive to the smallest details and dedicate time to the research process before starting to work on images. Those details may sometimes seem unimportant, especially when deadlines are approaching. However, even tiny things can catch the eye of the viewer and immediately break the illusion of the reality of the space.
Don’t be afraid to ask your clients as many questions as possible, especially when working on projects based in an area local to them. You will get the most vital information about the details that you would never guess. This conscientious approach would definitely pay off in the end.
