I used the same technique as I used in a working film studio, when creating a desert scene (images below). For the desert scene I hand painted a Cyclorama (scenic backdrop) of a sky, then used scenic flats laid on their sides, with sculpted polystyrene 'dunes' applied to the top edge...positioned strategically away from the camera these dunes the illusion of depth. We used a fan heater under the camera to create heat waves!
I applied the same principle to Elena's Ragnarok Maya scene (excluding the heater!)
The mountains are 2D png files created by Elena and I applied them in the Hypershade to image planes - and then rotated into position accordingly...
I've used a selection of point, ambient, direction and spot lights and have linked the character lights in the relationship editor...
Highlights top left and then sunlight spilling onto the character....and a few accent lights on the foreground...
Final image of Elena's Ragnarok - frame 399
This animation sequence has a static camera; so the scenery is dressed to shot. The model space clearly shows how bizzare this looks when not viewed through the camera...
Camera view
Perspective view
Full size set for desert - Camera view- 'Shaman' National Film and Television School 1993
