Narrative - Sunset without Physical Sky

After Alan suggested not to use The Physical Sun and Sky - A Simpler version of a lighting systems, That I feel looks so much better. The trees where kind of just quickly placed to see if shadows worked. Below is the older test for comparison. 

Narratrive - Dead Trees

Narrative - Tree Workings

After some Maya tests to figure out how to try and model trees, we have decided that the leafy option did not fit with the concept art and feel of the animation, so a couple quick tests on a poly version of trees to see if they suited better. A little rough at the moment, but we felt much better for what we wanted and further development will be worked on this way.

Narrative - Tree Tests

Quite liking this effect for the trees

Narrative - Sunset Test

With and without atmosphere, though too dark and too muddy

Narrative - Test for Wood Chippings - Failed

Not sure this is the correct way, as it did not work ;) and the tree would be falling the wrong way