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This project is my submission for the KitBash3D “Mission to Minerva” challenge: a cinematic keyframe capturing a critical moment inside an underwater colony built on a distant ocean world. Suspended beneath crushing pressure and endless darkness, the settlement is both a marvel of engineering and a fragile lifeline.


Shady Hamza - Mission to Minerva

A structural breach has ruptured one of the colony’s transit tunnels, triggering emergency protocols as water begins to flood the passageways. Every second counts. In the distance, a rescue submersible cuts through the black ocean, its lights piercing the void as it races toward the failing structure.

This piece explores tension, urgency, and the fragile boundary between human ambition and the overwhelming force of an alien world.

Process Breakdown

  • Blockout & Kitbash (Blender): Assembled the base using KitBash3D assets, focusing on modular tunnels and core structures to establish scale and composition.
  • Layout & Lighting: Framed the shot and introduced cinematic lighting to guide the eye toward the incoming rescue vehicle.
  • Underwater Atmosphere: Used volumetric shaders in Blender to simulate depth and murkiness.
  • Post-Processing (Photoshop): Photobashed details, enhanced particles and leaks, refined color grading, and added final touches for mood and realism.