Food N Fuel

Concept

This concept is my own; however, many aspects are based on a real small-town, family-owned gas station & convenience store. I combined the real gas station with my childhood connection to Calaveras Big Trees, featuring an exaggerated, shadowy treeline looming overhead. I took style inspiration from many movies; however, the one I referred to the most was the animated movie Open Season from 2006. I stylized certain shapes and layouts while incorporating realism in others to bring this environment to life.

Reference

Lighting

Lighting this scene was especially exciting because of the wide range of elements that can be illuminated at a gas station at night, including signage, pumps, storefronts, and the surrounding structures. I enjoy the flexibility of using the Light Selects method for all my projects. When I bring the scene into NukeX, it allows me to adjust colors and brightness without the need for time-consuming re-renderings, allowing for quick iterations when making minor lighting refinements.