Barbary Coast Movie

We have completed this preview version of a Sim movie for our client. It may change after the client has previewed in, although, this should be considered the 'Directors' cut.

After a lot of experimenting with the client atmospheric settings, I think I got this almost down to RL believable.. if thats possible.

http://www.wba-advertising.com/shipwreckbay/barbarycoast.html

Comments appreicated as always.

The environmental settings were great! I'm not a big fan of digital zooms though-- but that's just me. Other people prefer them to actual joystick moves. I personally always attribute digital zooms to photographs, so I'll think I'm looking at a still picture and focus on it to find moving water or people to make sure it's not.
I thought the look is fantastic! I bet it took a while to find the best settings.
I always like looking at SL photographer's work because I think they use certain photoshop filters, and it looks so amazing that it REALLY doesn't look like second life! I have the magic bullet sets and play a lot with my editing program color corrections but I never get near what these photographers get. Although this is probably the closest I've seen!

Yes, I do spend a lot of time with the environment settings.... I produce around 2-6 templates for scenes, before I start grabbing footage. I believe, Directors/Editors are more than just that now in the VR Platforms, especially the OpenSim platforms, with Windlight. Now we have a responsibility towards creating not just Lighting, but the Atmosphere, Haze, Water etc.

I set my system up for neutral balance, and check it every week using DisplayMate, that gives me a good baseline to work from.

Where possible, I use realtime panning shots, but I'm not fixated on it... I am more interested in quality content... Using flycam is so intermitent, I'd sooner focus on getting the right shot, worry about cropping, panning later.. Its a useful technique... but as you say, can look 'mechanical' if not used correctly.