Depicting something without reference...

Oleg Linkov

Hi everyone,

My latest job description requires me to create something that needs to look pretty real, but afaik there is nothing on our earth to give me any hint about how it might look like.

I need to create a drowned city.. And when I say city, I don't mean some Atlantis stuff. I need real city from around like.. present days? Now, technically it's just a bunch of boxes with textures, and I've got no problems with that. But I need it to look convincing enough, and that means these buildings might need some sort of evidence of being underwater for like a few years.

Obviously, these buildings will be covered with various underwater stuff - shells, plants, corals maybe. Also, some of the buildings maybe partially destroyed.. But tbh I've got no idea what kind of destruction a flood can cause. As for the plants and shells part, it's not the same as a sunken ship.

So, what am I looking for is a word of advise at least. How do I approach that problem? What to look upon while researching? At best some references would be great, although I don't remember any cities being completely submerged in our recent past.

If it helps, this city area won't be explored up close. In fact it will be shown from somewhat above. Imagine flying above the city, but instead of flying you actually swimming underwater.

Thanks in advance.

Jeremy Wright

ummm...Bioshock?

Also, I did a google search for underwater ruin(s) and underwater city and got some image results. It's a start.

Neo_God

In the case of having to realistically conceive something that currently doesn't realistically exist, it's really sorta simple, granted it might take a bit of research, but all you need to do is take real world concepts and apply it to what you're creating. I would start looking at photos of sunken ships (Titanic?), and perhaps research what submerged concrete looks like, and what might grow on it.

Or you can just watch movies that already have contemporary underwater ruins in them, like Water World and A.I.

Sage

Try and find images of towns that where made into lakes or dams. I did a search for waterworld since that movie had some nice shots of cities under the ocean. Think of movies that had scenes that showed these, if you get the dvd you might be able to get some good ref off that. I can't remember any names of horror/suspence movies that had underwater towns. From what I remember most of the underwater shots were made murky so you can suggest things. So as long as the color of the fog you use looks like you are under water and not some cg effect it should look convincing. So get shots of things that are underwater and see if you can create the atmosphere, then try adding buildings.

Neo_God beat me to it.


Alex

Rick Stirling

Waterworld?

Rubbish film, but it had underwater ruins of a major city.

Justin Meisse

Oleg Linkov wrote: »

Obviously, these buildings will be covered with various underwater stuff - shells, plants, corals maybe. Also, some of the buildings maybe partially destroyed.. But tbh I've got no idea what kind of destruction a flood can cause. As for the plants and shells part, it's not the same as a sunken ship.

Trust me, coral will grow on anything, most corals have no trouble at all growing on plastic and glass even.

Kawe

Anything on the bottom of the ocean for a few years would be covered in corals and seaweed. Only exception would be like.. maybe facilities with toxic waste or like.. nuclear power plants maybe. heh. but even they wouldn't stay untouched. life is crazy. manages to live everywhere really. I mean if you can live in a volcano...

EDIT: but that'd be a pretty neat picture. with a city covered in ocean stuff and then there's this nuclear power plant looking all good. a statement perhaps. not that I mind nuclear power but ya.

jrs100000

Im not even sure about the dead zone around a radioactive spot. Google some maps of Chernobyl and it looks like there are green spots growing right up to the reactors, despite the radiation and pavement.

http://cricket.biol.sc.edu/chernobyl/papers/chernobyl-red-forest-tit-box-locations.jpg

CrazyButcher

"AI" - movie also has flooded and sunken stuff at the end...

fritz

i would search for things like 'water damage in venice' or 'water damage in new orleans' or things like that under google images

EarthQuake

Search for flood damage, i think that would be a good start.

Mark Dygert

I would search for ref on ship wrecks. If you look for flood damage you'll get pics of places where the water receded. Normally mold takes over and there are water marks/stains all over. Not going to get a lot of that if the place stays submerged.

And search for post apocalyptic cityscape then apply ship wreck ref.

Neil Blevins object painter script could really come in handy for scattering things around.

dejawolf

the area around chernobyl has actually become a sanctuary for many species like wild boar, which thrive there.

Oleg Linkov

Thanks a lot people Found many interesting things, although still searching for AI and Waterworld to borrow somewhere.

Sage

Go to the local library and maybe you can take them out for free or one or two dollars.

Oleg Linkov

I think local libraries in Russia can only offer some old books.. that is assumming they're still working Anyway, got AI, indeed, some nice underwater shots in the end.