Nokia 8800 (Updated)

[Benny L]

Feeling bit nostalgic when came across a photo of it recently, so I decided to do a quick tribute render before I get back to my main project.
So back in the days, I really loved the first Nokia 8800, from the aesthetics, form factor, and that sleek ball bearing sliding mechanism and the sound it makes.

Anyways, I'm still refining some details but I feel good enough to share these before moving further.  I added a MB key fob for that storytelling element, I wanted it to look like a lifestyle product photography and I think the MB key fob goes well with the luxury mobile phone of that era.
In short, I want honest/constructive critiques + vote for one of the shots before based on angle + composition (maybe lighting too) 

[Hossein Alfideh]

Haa this reminds me of my old phone!nice rendering Benny!

[Jeff Hayden]

Love it Benny. Nice work!

[Will Gibbons]

Cool! Since you asked, here's my honest Crit:

1. I think the first of the two has better composition.
2. I think it's too dark overall.
3. It looks like you could tessellate a bit higher (highlights seem faceted)
4. I think you need a low, small, bright light source to pop out details like the edges of buttons, etc.

I think those items could take it from being a good rendering and make it a great rendering.

On #2, I find that this is one of my biggest challenges personally. I work on a large monitor and when using dark environments/backgrounds, we get used to seeing all the details and even a 50% gray looks 'bright'. 90% of the time, I send an image to my iPhone to post on IG and I notice it looks too dark, so I edit it once more on my phone pushing highlights and darks to create a tonally-balanced composition. The little rim light I mentioned above too could help separate the object/geometry from the background.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

[Benny L]

Cool! Since you asked, here's my honest Crit:

1. I think the first of the two has better composition.
2. I think it's too dark overall.
3. It looks like you could tessellate a bit higher (highlights seem faceted)
4. I think you need a low, small, bright light source to pop out details like the edges of buttons, etc.

I think those items could take it from being a good rendering and make it a great rendering.

On #2, I find that this is one of my biggest challenges personally. I work on a large monitor and when using dark environments/backgrounds, we get used to seeing all the details and even a 50% gray looks 'bright'. 90% of the time, I send an image to my iPhone to post on IG and I notice it looks too dark, so I edit it once more on my phone pushing highlights and darks to create a tonally-balanced composition. The little rim light I mentioned above too could help separate the object/geometry from the background.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Thanks Will, that's what I'm looking for and after another look at it the next day, I do feel the first has stronger composition. Interesting point about working on large monitor in dark environment, I do have a large monitor + dim light so that prob made add another layer of vignette. Great idea to send to the cellphone to double check.

Love it Benny. Nice work!

Thanks Jeff!

Haa this reminds me of my old phone!nice rendering Benny!

Thanks  Hossein, def love the design of this phone

[Benny L]

So here's an update.

Originally I had the idea of rendering it within a car interior setting but couldn't find a suitable setting, but thanks to Nils I am able to achieve this

Cool! Since you asked, here's my honest Crit:
1. I think the first of the two has better composition.
2. I think it's too dark overall.
3. It looks like you could tessellate a bit higher (highlights seem faceted)
4. I think you need a low, small, bright light source to pop out details like the edges of buttons, etc.

Will's feedback is helpful so I tackled those areas and here's two more to vote! Closeup or wide shots?

[mattjgerard]

Wow, huge improvement! I really like the wider shot, its not so in your face screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!!!!"

I really like the subtle off kilter angle of the keyfob, and I think the image would look a little more real to me if the phones were organically turned as well.  Not perfectly lined up? Maybe one on the seat in the background ? DUnno, looks fantastic as it is!

[Benny L]

Wow, huge improvement! I really like the wider shot, its not so in your face screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!!!!"

I really like the subtle off kilter angle of the keyfob, and I think the image would look a little more real to me if the phones were organically turned as well.  Not perfectly lined up? Maybe one on the seat in the background ? DUnno, looks fantastic as it is!

Thanks Matt, yea I struggled between the two angles since I'd like to see more details on the phone but I don't want it to be all "in your face". Placing it within a car sort of positions it as more of a lifestyle shot. It's about finding that balance I guess. I think it's getting close to what I had in mind when I started, I may do one more pass to mob up any details I can refine.

[Benny L]

Alright, so this is the last pass I got got. Refined some leather and other textures, subtle positioning of the phone so they don't look too "staged" , and some subtle lighting update overall to bring out some features of the key fob and phones.

I'm also doing an animated version of it but since I can't really post video here so I'll just post it on my Instagram (might post a link here later)

Thanks for all the helpful feedback again

[Will Gibbons]

As I said on Instagram, really great improvements!