I think you really need to get more highlights on the water. If using an environment map for reflections doesn't work, try a light that only affects the water that is set to specular only. That should add a nice bit of depth. Also, I think a more metallic shader on the blade would look more realistic unless you're going for a magical glowy effect in which case you should try adding a bit of glow. Maybe have it light the surrounding walls and water.

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[Link to www.3dprevis.com]

Agreed, the blade needs to be metal. shiny reflective glossy metal. If its going to glow, it sortof needs to act as the key light, the main light source in the scene to maximise the glow effect. which doesnt quite work in this case because your key light is up above.
maybe try a really bright shiny metal and bring it out a bit in post.

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It shouldnt be that "glowy", actually.....the sword is meant to be "lost and mysterious", thus not really a spotlight itself.....the blade is meant to not reflex any light as it should seem to "swallow" the light in a deep darkness broken by hell-fire red glowings. The problem is that the blade is made of 2 blades, one external with a soft rubin red refraction effect and the inner one is just a simple black/red-glows mapped poly. Thus the glows dont affect anything around the sword...dont know how to resolve this.... =p
The reason why it doesnt really glow is that....I have no experience in glowings >.<
This is a new version of the sword-in-the-well: raised light, shortened and brought up some noise in the volume light effect, changed glossiness of the wall.....tell me what you think of it.

[Link to i903.photobucket.com]

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No Gods but Yourself!! >.<

So this is it? "And that's all folks"? =p
No more critics!?!? >.<

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No Gods but Yourself!! >.<

Yeh, sorry, it's been a bit quiet here lately. Things should pick up soon with the release of version 4. Have you made any changes to your image?

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[Link to www.3dprevis.com]

Check 24th Jan reply, there's a link to the latest version of the sword.....
I'm having heavy DSL problems, so I dont know how often I'll come check for your posts =(

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No Gods but Yourself!! >.<

V4 has come.....what about some more critics, now? please...? >.<

I repost the link to the latest version of this work.....comparing with first ones could help you understand what changes I made, maybe....

[Link to i903.photobucket.com]

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No Gods but Yourself!! >.<

Without learning more about realistic lighting and shaders I think this is the best this image is going to get. I would suggest you move on to a new project. The only way we learn is through repetition, so keep modeling and try and get your hands on a copy of Vray.

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The same criticism still applies man, to my eye the blade needs to look more like its made of metal. glossy metal with subtle scratches maybe. It feels a bit out of place having the sword made from a really over bright plastic type material. Its also a bit off due to the fact that there is no red anywhere else in the image. one composition rule is to have a unified colour pallete in your picture. when you limit your colours and then use the colours in a balanced way throughout the whole composition you create a kind of balance and unity in the image. What Im trying to say is that by using a tiny bit of bright red in just one place feels a bit off balance. It could use a little bit of bounced light aswell, a subtle GI effect to bring out some more detail in the cave.

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