Photorealistic foliage is one of those details that can make or break a scene. Too perfect and it reads as plastic. Too complex and it kills your render times. Getting it right demands both the right models and the patience to let them breathe. We'd been working with plant models from 3D Collective. Some of the finest we've ever used. The geometry, the translucency, the subtle variation between leaves. They don't just look real, they behave real under light.

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What started as a straightforward exploration of what those models were capable of gradually became something else. The more the scene developed, the more it seemed to want a narrative. Objects were added, then rearranged. Light was considered. And somewhere along the way, a small antique and houseplant shop emerged. Mid-shut-down, in the quiet moment between what it was and whatever comes next. Sometimes you set out to test a model. Sometimes the scene tells you what it wants to be.