OK, I added two more "flocks" of birds. One flock is about the same distance from the camera as the city, second is halfway between the city and the camera, and the third is close to the camera. Then I randomized the heck out of them. Now there's 99 birds. I hope this gives a better idea of how big the birds are in relation to the city. I liked Xenic's park idea, even got as far as putting in some trees, but decided I liked the contrast between the sterile barren city and the verdant fertile land below. This is a little higher res (16 rpp) than the original post.

Here is an example of what kind of postwork I plan to do on the final. I adjusted the contrast and brightened the color a bit. Bryce tends to "gray out" a bit, but when I try to increase the saturation in Bryce, the colors get too bright. I can adjust them better in post, it seems. I'm heading out to breakfast, I'll check back for feedback when I get back, (back back back)then start on the final render. Thanks, John

Perhaps a bit more definition of where the dome meets the land?

It's probably too late for this idea but.... How about doing a hole in the ground where the city came from? Maybe add some big cracks in the landscape as if the planet is breaking up......

tjohn, one more idea, if i may... this is a very advanced civilization theoretically, yeah? well then they probably know how to smooth rock. add some reactors in the bottom and smooth out the top, make some holes with take-off, landing points, some lights coming out of the ground part, and most importantly, alternate the textures of the buildings with some other stuff. just some observations :) Drac

I really like this image. Missed your post yesterday. It is one of the best Floating Island scenes
I have seen to date. The added birds works well I think. The ground mist/fog is an excellent element in this image.

As for the greying out issue... do you have gamma correction turned off? It helps some to turn it off I have found. I actually always have it turned off.

I agree with Mahray about possibly some definition to where the dome meets the land.

Lol Bryster... Actually Bryster, that is a very cool idea. 8)

These are some good suggestions, and I'll probably put some of them to good use in a future image, I like doing these (I've done a bunch, including a few in my gallery, and a whole bunch that'll never see the light of day, LOL.) I like Bryster's idea, and I actually tried to boolean out a hole in the ground in a different image a while back, but I could never make it look right. I have a scenario in my head for this image, I love sci-fi so I have to write a backstory, even if it stays in my head. I see the dome as being made of a visible energy, so I like the dome to just fade into the ground because of that. I see the city as having come from a different planet all together, which explains why they live under a dome (the very air is toxic to their alien metabolism). I would like to add the technological equipment to the image that Drac suggests, but basically I suck at that, unless I'm imitating someone else. It's hard to compete with Mrdodobird or Rochr or Orbital and many others on stuff like that, and my efforts pale compared to theirs. Besides, that stuff is HARD to do, and I'm lazy. :^) REALLY lazy. So anyway, I'm gonna go ahead with the 1024 X 768 final render at 64 rpp. Thanks to everyone! John

I actually wrote a story about a planet breaking up.....not made it to the publisher's yet.....maybe soon.