Small improvements

We are told that things should get better the more version we do, or the more time spent on it. I have wondered about this one, in all the years that I have been plugging away at this are things really going to get much better? Got to ask yourself sometimes.
Here is a shot I am updating. Below is my first pass, which I am proud of. Hey its pretty ugly but it was part of getting all the passes and all the shots comped together. Not much has changed, I am rendering fur with raytracing, sand is decimated from zbrush, octos have SSS, Not alot but it has made a difference, and I am happy that I am still working away on it.

Latest take, 2011

First pass, 2008