Photorealism Improvements?

Shmeadow

I would like to achieve photorealism, yet I am quite unsure what I am missing and what I can adjust/change/add etc..

Made in UE5

More info can be provided if asked but generally speaking all that I am trying to achieve here is photorealism in areas such as light, tones and general composition.

pixelalp

Not an expert but I think you can consider all factors around 3 main topics to emulate a photograph: Light, Contrast(both darkness and color) and Composition.

You have interesting angles and good compositions but light and post process setups are clamping too much information. What I mean is there are too much whites and blacks but very few midtones are readable. You might be using too much contrast that causes this. Adding extra invisible lights (very saddle and warmer or colder than the main light) may help you to make those areas readable. Also making leaves and grass material translucent can help you. 
Don't want to bother too much but great base to work on, enjoy!

Also this blog have very detailed articles for photorealistic cgi workflows: https://thecommonpoint.com/blog#light

Shmeadow

pixelalp said:

Not an expert but I think you can consider all factors around 3 main topics to emulate a photograph: Light, Contrast(both darkness and color) and Composition.

You have interesting angles and good compositions but light and post process setups are clamping too much information. What I mean is there are too much whites and blacks but very few midtones are readable. You might be using too much contrast that causes this. Adding extra invisible lights (very saddle and warmer or colder than the main light) may help you to make those areas readable. Also making leaves and grass material translucent can help you. 
Don't want to bother too much but great base to work on, enjoy!

Also this blog have very detailed articles for photorealistic cgi workflows: https://thecommonpoint.com/blog#light

Wow, that link alone, and it's so great to have and to look over, thank you for the ideas and tips regarding softer lights and translucency!
I appreciate the link and your feedback!