Bass viol

Hello,
here’s a scene I’m working on, a bass viol (or bass viola da gamba), an instrument which was popular at the renaissance and baroque periods. I’m still to add some details and textures on the background. I welcome comments on everything, but the help I’m looking for the most is with the lighting, something I never quite get the hang of.


Looks good. I like the way you did the floor material. I think there should be a small leather sleeve at the base of the bow hair, where the player grasps it to create the tension.

I love the concept of this scene—I’m a bass player myself. Based on my own experience, the wood of the instrument’s body feels too flat (shading-wise). Even if it doesn’t have a glossy coat, many basses with a “matte” finish still have a certain degree of shine to the material.

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcQCWRAIPB0QOCkFNAsZzRLOkd-wr_Xs8kfUjJA1r2tult3Bfv1pP1KVuyrQfD7G-dbanH1lBTXG&usqp=CAY

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/2561875732282376544?q=upright+bass&espv=2&biw=1276&bih=918&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.75097201,d.aWw,pv.xjs.s.en_US.vwsQ5GX-QL0.O&ion=1&tch=1&ech=1&psi=IlsWVJXQC86uyASmtIKQCw.1410751266721.5&sa=X&ei=JlsWVOn9Ms2syATBsoCQCA&ved=0CJwBEPICMAE

The lighting is off to a good start, but feels harsh—consider adding additional fill lights, an HDR map (even a blurry, low res one), or a physical sky to help soften the atmosphere of the scene.