===== From sshaw@fas.harvard.edu: The idea of the image came across, but I think that the method came out a bit simple looking. Maybe some more variation in the types of crosses (weren't there, for example, different markers used for Jewish soldiers?) might have helped. ===== From jerry@hoboes.com: Very striking image. You are right about the astroturf. I'd recommend, first, seeing about adding some 'tufts' of grass around each cross. It looks like you're into programming, so you should be able to make a macro that adds a slightly different tuft to each cross (or at least to the ones in the foreground). As for making a gentle landscape but still knowing the height at any specific point, if you are *really* into programming you might look into triangles. You can base the height of your triangles on the x and z location, plugged into a formula (a sine wave might be easiest to visualize); and then use the same formula to know the height when placing the crosses. See my current entry (broken bridges) for a kind of poor example of triangles. (I think there might be a 'patched' version of POV that actually lets you test for intersections with objects, but I haven't used it.) I think some tufts around the crosses, and perhaps a lone dandelion or two would go a long way towards getting rid of the 'flatness' of the ground (which is especially apparent in the foremost, horizontal, cross). Very good job with the placement of crosses! ===== From jull43@ij.net: Nothin in particular to say about this one. While the concept is an artistic attempt, may I suggest it could have been greatly improved by a different perspective, one that showed the crosses going on to the horizon? The few shown do not give the sense of the vast numbers you wish to portray. ===== From bsieker@techfak.uni-bielefeld.de: Good composition, although I think the jitter in the arrangement is a bit too strong, it should be just barely visible, if it is to resemble a military cemetary. One can also see that you are using a point light source not very far away by the way the crosses farther away cast shadows on their neighbours, the ones in the foreground do not. I know this is nitpicking, but the 20th century started on January 1 1901 and will end at the end of December 31 2000. (That's because there is no year "0", so the first decade starts at year 1 and end after(!) year 10 to make it 10 years long.) So next new year's eve will not see the dawn of the new Millenium but rather the beginning of the last year of the old. ===== From gmccarter@hotmail.com: Quite good grass texture. ===== From ethelm@bigfoot.com: A strong symbolic image. ===== From 101741.541@compuserve.com: While, with such a concept, a simple image is required, you could : - make some credible grass (many techniques availiable), instead of that flat green plane - increase the feeling of VERY numerous tombs, make it looks as it was an infinite field... Also, on the concept side, it would have been good to use various tombs, not only Christian symbol (many Jews, Muslims, Atheists, etc, etc, died too...) ===== From bobfranke@halcyon.com: I would like to see a bit more detail in the crosses. I think you missed an opportunity for a more powerful image. Each cross should represent a different year from each century. You don't have to do them all, just the crosses that are readable. With a macro it may be really easy to do.