Overall

Vision Vision

Originality Originality

Technique Technique

Impact Impact

The vision of the central figure is done well, it contrasts well with the background yet looks grounded in the image, which is impressive when considering that it is made of the same material as the background. The lighting is done well and immerses the figure in the image, but I can't help but feel there was a missed opportunity with the background tunnel to have lighting appear there as opposed to an unseen implied hole.Another issue is capturing the feeling of the flood; despite the piece excelling in meeting the flood aesthetic to the point of looking official, with the technique echoing the look of halo concept art flawlessly, the focus on one figure in an otherwise empty environment feels empty, while the flood are notorious for attacking in hordes. Having one flood could make sense in another environment, such as the end of a unsc ship corridor, but in a flood nest itself it is a bit bizarre, and having other flood stacked behind it could have added a sense of foreboding which would have went a long way.As touched on earlier, despite not being the cup of tea of many people, especially on this site where highly detailed, photo accurate digital art is almost always highlighted, this does not go for that look. Rather, it has a painterly quality whilst being digital. You can see the scribble of a pen acting as a highlight on a flood orb, yet when looking at the image as a whole all the scribbles and strokes completely sell the look and don't look thrown together whatsoever, like how paintings look blobby and irreverent up close, using your mind to fill in the gaps. This is a highly successful in that aesthetic, which goes even further because the many of the recognizable artists of the series utilize a similar look. The only issue is that there is a flood orb that is close to the perspective, that is the darkest thing in the image, and it looks out of place and strange. It seems like a rim of light around it or some more shine on top could have remedied this, as well as perhaps trying to go for a transluscent look, but as it stands it is a little distracting, yet the choice to have it there improves the framing as opposed to just having a flat floor where we see the flood stand.The image is inherently original when considering that flood art is one of the fewer done subjects in halo, but even then, the upward framing with an ominously lit organic corridor is a combination that makes this piece unique. Despite the rare setting and interesting angle, the pose of the flood form is a strangely picturesque one. This same image with arbiter holding the sword would look more natural as the arbiter is a swift, elegant sword user, whom could be imagined in such a pose due to his military position and sangheli training. However, this same upturned, ready stance looks strange on a flood, as flood are moreso lumbering uncoordinated beasts, whom fling themselves carelessly at foes. The choice to focus on a lone, well posed flood form is a bit strange and unfitting. If the flood style was removed and just a rough sketch of the room and figure was shown, the geometry of the background; bulbous, asymmetric, messy tunnels, that sells the flood look. Meanwhile, the stick version of the flood, crounched, looking up, arm outstretched, ready to strike, I would have guessed, as said earlier, an elite, or even the classic halo 2 masterchief cover art, or even the halo 4 boxart. This pose may have looked appropriate if surrounded by other lumbering, pouncing, running flood as stated earlier, but because there is one it comes off as peculiar.The impact is lessened due to the lone, posed flood, but the great framing and lighting, along with the strong angle and presence of the flood relative to the background, standing out while looking naturally fitting, makes this one of the better halo pieces I've seen. I see many pieces get critiqued highly on deviant art, so despite my writing making this out to be a 4/5, relative to most other pieces this is not an underwhelming amount, as this earns it's score and is, as said, one of the better halo pieces I've seen, significantly above average and incredibly well done.