I'm working on a personal project and I would like some input into the design. The map I'm posting is just a test map and not the final vision that I have for this project.

For the phase 1 map I'm looking for the following input.

1) Does the background behind the mountains give the overall impression of sky?

(I know it needs more work to really look like a sky but does it give the impression of the sky)

2) Does the scaling in the foreground of the trees give the proper scaling to show the distance from the front to the middle of the image? Also how could I better scale the hills?

3) Does the image give the general overall impression of what you would see looking at a photo or in real life looking at a river valley?

Thank You in advance for your comments and suggestions.

night version @35% lighting

Night version @15% lighting

@Wyvern I adjusted the paths added some frozen mud should be able to see dirt on side of paths now. Replaced tree in the i to a snowflake (cheated found a snowflake dingbat), Adjusted shadows on glow on bare trees. I added a light in lower right side to add some light in that corner and added a lighted tree from the house across the creek. (Original light from lower left was just to highlight the snow text.)

I know the eagle is out of place in the night scene but I do like it (maybe it's an owl that looks like an eagle). Think of the deer as targets for archery practice. Just to mix thing up the wildlife do move now.

Thank you for your comments.

Adjusted the tinting of the snow words to make it stand out more. Replace the stock frame with and day and night version frame.

This project is actually for the Annual Holiday Photo Card contest at work. I asked if I could submit a none photo, they wanted to see what I meant so I showed them the first draft. I was told I could enter even though it's not a photo. So some of the additions and changes I made were from comments made by people at work. They also wanted the night lighting increase to lighten the entire image up. It also reflects early evening so the deer and eagle don't seem so out of place.

as always comments and suggestions are welcome and high-res version in gallery

Ok here is the Night version #2 with 15% light a small adjustment just to darken up the image a bit. Each color light and type of light are on their own sheet.

Higher Resolution image in gallery.

comments and suggestions welcome.