Way back in the late 1990’s I started using a 3D software program called Bryce. It was primarily designed to create realistic terrains & scenery but had some rudimentary tools to build objects, all wrapped up in an unusual interface. What I loved most about it was the lighting and atmosphere that it created. It was unlike any other 3D program at that time, at least ones that cost only $150 or so. I started building pretty complicated models out of cubes, cylinders, spheres, pyramids and terrains.
In looking back at these models (all of which were rendered directly in Bryce, no post-production) I’m still impressed at the mood and lighting that Bryce was creating.