[Chuck B. Edwards]

Do you mean like when a developer ask for a deal on a site master plan, with so called promised “CD work” for the site in the future? If not, please disregard my future ramblings….

In the good old days I would have to say RUN!  I found that anytime I was promise something if I gave them a good deal – they would just shop it around to the lowest bidder later.

In today’s economy, work is work, so I would say you would have to make the call.

Merry Christmas and good luck!

[Chuck B. Edwards]

Daniel,

Mine was pretty simple – (I don’t have some of the fancy graphics that some of the other members have) – but I still think it reads OK.

I sketched out my layout first, to get the general concept. I picked the projects and images I wanted to use. I then edited the photos (JPG). I tried to keep the images as small as I could, but still be clear.

I Then made my layout in Word, inserted the images and saved it as a PDF. The word document was over 9MB, but when I converted to PDF it ended up being 4 MB. I hope this helped.

This is my attempt –

[Chuck B. Edwards]

Ryan,
Thanks for the feedback. This is my portfolio I typically share with Architects and Builders that specialize in High-end residential projects – as that is what I typically specialize in.

I kind of went back and forth to show some more construction drawings, but after reviewing all the comments on this thread, I thought it would be useful to show the built pictures – as they pop a little more than a BW detail.

For the color graphics page, I wanted to highlight the different mediums that I have used before — freehand rendering, SketchUp (with and without Shaderlight) and Land Designer Photo Imaging. I can see how it could be useful to label the images and the medium used on this sheet.

I didn’t include overview perspectives on each project because of the space limitation and how the perspective would read on each page – instead I tried to pick the best pictures of the projects than I provided links that follow each project from concept drawings (including overall perspectives) built pictures. I hope that makes sense and that the portfolio reads well.

Thanks,
Chuck

[Chuck B. Edwards]

Hello all – here is my latest portfolio. Let me know what you think?

The portfolio includes write-ups on selected projects and provided links for more info on the project. I am not sure if I am just showing too mulch fluff and not enough detail and concept stuff.

Thanks,

Chuck

[Chuck B. Edwards]

Aaron,
Thanks for the kind words. I am an old fart who still does his plan view renderings by hand.
In our office, our larger projects our rendered in Photoshop by one of younger guys. I could / should learn to use Photoshop; I just have not had the time to play around with it. Considering I can produce a colored plan is just about the same time as Photoshop, it not too much of a big deal – unless I want to change any of the colors –

[Chuck B. Edwards]

David,

I think we are on the same page.

Except for plan view renderings, we do all our commerical perspectives and animations in SketchUp — you can see a few here  — it works for us.

Here are some SketchUp Animations

Thanks for the kind words.

 

Chuck

[Chuck B. Edwards]

I think it mostly depends upon the client’s needs. I mostly deal with residential clients and anything beyond SketchUp is overkill (that’s just my opinion, and I have been known to be wrong before). Larger developments might need a more finished look – but maybe not. We are selling ideas/designs, not pretty pictures (well the drawing has to look good at least).
I really think that each designer will have the program they feel most comfortable with and go with. I don’t think there is a right answer – each program will have there +/-

See some designs here, most are done with SketchUp.

my 2 cents for the day…. sorry for rambling.

[Chuck B. Edwards]

Jonathan,

 

Timber will be your most cost effect step.  Up in Moscow, I cannot remember the availability of Natural Stone, but down here in Boise, we have several rock yards, so if you shop around you can sometimes get a good deal on some natural flat slabs (not the cut stone – that stuff is spendy).  You will have to sort thru pallets upon pallets to get a flat stone with a 6” rise and at least 12” run – but it can be worth it.

 

The Ashlar steps were concrete, finished with cultured stone (rise) and Abbotsford’s Hydropressed slabs (tread) – these were kinda spendy – hence why I bought up keystone.

 

I know that is not much help, but steps and walls tend to be one of the more expensive things to do in the residential landscape.

 

Chuck

[Chuck B. Edwards]

 

Jonathan,

 

Are you talking about the timber steps or the gravel tread?

 

You have several options for the risers; concrete and keystone come to mind. You can keep the concrete exposed or finish it off with a stone accent.

 

For the tread, you could use pavers or stabilizer solutions…

If you go to my Behance Network page and look under the steps and walls or patio and walks, that should give you a couple of ideas.

For the tread, you could use pavers or stabalizer solutions

[Author]

Posts