Photoshop - Original Size: 4000 x 2000 pixels

This is some rough concept work for a post apocalyptic river view. I was thinking of something a little more intimate using different layers of smog and smoke to create a sort of tunnel. I wanted to use "air" to create a claustrophobic, oppressive environment. At the same time I’d like show the contrast of the high tech buildings/culture in the distance. Visible, but out of reach. I think it is more demoralizing that way....

During my process I considered some variations and worked up two of these ideas. The second is very close to the original thumb:



In the third version I replaced the garbage with ash and reworked the smoke plume to open up the far horizon a bit: