Composition
The most important aspect I wanted to highlight in this portfolio was the turntable composition and overall scene direction. Rather than simply showcasing a character, I aimed to deliver a full emotional message through the harmony of background, lighting, and color.
The scene I envisioned was of a graceful woman beneath moonlight, her silhouette reflected on still water. To prevent the character from feeling detached from the environment, I carefully adjusted lighting and tone to unify the entire scene.
I used the ACES color profile to achieve rich tones and better dynamic range, and added Depth of Field to increase realism. Since emissive materials weren’t usable on the water surface, I placed multiple lights beneath the water plane to simulate upward glow. This resulted in a soft, radiant effect that enveloped the character, enhancing the dreamlike, serene atmosphere and subtly reinforcing the emotional narrative of the scene.
To strengthen this ambiance, I placed a soft key light from the upper left to gently highlight the character’s face and upper body, guiding the viewer’s eye. A subtle rim light from the back right helped accentuate the edges of the crown and dress, defining the silhouette. Several low-intensity fill lights were added around the scene to maintain balance in the shadows. Beneath the water surface, I arranged soft-colored lights to create diffused reflections and upward glow, which contributed significantly to the mystical, moonlit mood.
