[IceThorn]

I saw a pic on these forums that inspired me to start this. I want to give the forest a dark but enchanting feel sorta like the lady in the lake type of thing. Please pour the C&C on I need to know how to make this pic better especially the lighting and colors.

Thanks

[jome]

It's a bit blurry, don't you think?
Also, when your goal is to depict a dark forest, you should pick colours that lie close together in the spectrum. It's a fact that the first thing that disappears when it gets dark, is the difference between colours. This mainly happens because the human eye has more cells specialized in detecting light and dark, than cells that detect colour.
A way to do this, is to use the screen and multiply function (for Photoshop). Screen to highlight, multiply to create shadows or darker spots, and all in the same variation of colour you used as a basis.
The composition needs some work too. Don't fear putting the characters in front of the trees. If they are in another layer, you can move them around, and do so until the picture pleases you.
And between the trees, you coloured it all in the same colour of green. This makes it all rather flat looking, as if there is a green wall behind the trees.
If you finished the general idea (colours, composition...) of the image, you can think about lighting accents. Don't get lost using them when everything else is still unfinished. The message here is: enough contrast.
I hope I was a help.

[proViolence]

I really like how you did the leafs and such, just make the left character the same as the other two and you're done

[Jucas]

The image is very stagnent, nothing quite worth taking a second glance at. Try bringing the viewer closer or far away, only then, by using extremes, will you draw our intrests. Also, don't use dodge and burn. It is a common mistake made by people beginning to do Computer Art. Use the paintbrush, keep your strokes loose and big at the beginning, lay down color and eventually work your way to darker shades and smaller brushes.

[IceThorn]

Thanks for the advice guys, I am reworking the picture and have some new ideas for it. here is a recent update.

I have desided to just work on the background for right now once I get that looking good then I will work on the characters. If anyone wants to do a paint over feel free.
Thanks

[dkimblad]

Half the trees are lighted but the shadows fall more into the picture. Doesn't make sense.
Personally I like to make a sketch first so that I can plan the details.