Cross/Anchor Critique

[Smob]

I would like some advice on the attached composition. Our Easter them is "Chris is Our Anchor" and I'm trying put something together for it. The colors seem way off and earth/grass/sky transition is tacky, but you should get the idea. Any comments woudl be helpful.
Cross Anchor v1.jpg
Also, if anyone knows where there is a blender model of an anchor, please hit me back.

[revjbat]

I like the way the cross becomes an anchor, though I would remove the crossbar on the anchor & let the arms of the cross serve dual purpose. I think part of why the image doesn't feel right to you is because the anchor is underground which isn't where one would expect to find an anchor.

If you want to keep it underground then try changing the type of anchor. I'm thinking you might try planting the cross in concrete. Being from Iowa, I'd probably use the bottom of a metal fence post to represent an anchor in this image, because it's something everyone in my congregation would recognize.

Also, if you make the transition from the dirt to the grass uneven it will have a more realistic feel. Ground is never perfectly level.

[jksbc]

I like the concept of the cross being the anchor. I came up with this.

Joe

[Gene]

I did this a while back:

It may give you some ideas about integrating the cross and anchor.

[Smob]

You guys have really help me. revjbat, you hit the nail on the head about the anchor in the ground. It doesn't belong there. jksbc, I really like your image. Gene, your integration of the cross, anchor, and text does a lot. I'll keep working on it.

[kbob]

why not a stormy sea, with the cross above the water and a faux below water scene showing the anchor below with the Cross attached above, standing high above the waves?

[Chris3jam]

Originally Posted by kbob

why not a stormy sea, with the cross above the water and a faux below water scene showing the anchor below with the Cross attached above, standing high above the waves?

That was my thought. You could have the cross high above the water, with the anchor directly below it, in the water, with maybe a very faded chain attaching the two.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Here's a discussion from a while back on "An Anchor for the Soul" that has a couple of different takes on it.

[Smob]

Originally Posted by kbob

why not a stormy sea, with the cross above the water and a faux below water scene showing the anchor below with the Cross attached above, standing high above the waves?

That is getting close to the effect that I want. I think the anchor needs to be sitting on the floor of the ocean - anchored so to speak. I like the chain linkage that I saw in your discussion, Joel.

I've been toying around with an idea for an animation. Picture this - the anchor is on the floor of the ocean and is pulled up to the surface where it flips over and morphs into a cross as the title appears. I've got the anchor modeled in blender and have started working on the linked rope and its dynamics of pulling. Still have to do the ocean and its surface (not trivial is I want the water refraction effects of blender, but this might be easier to do in AE).