Finding the Perspective in a Photograph
Taking a Photograph of a Room in 1 Point Perspective
Take your camera and stand far enough back to include the ceiling, floorspace and furniture that you wish to draw. Be sure that the back wall is flat, with the corners perpendicular to you and the ceiling and floor are horizontal and not diagonal. Take at least 4 different photos of the same room, in one point perspective, from four different eye levels and station points.
Note: To change eye level consider standing on a chair, kneeling, laying down, etc. To change station point, move from left to right.
Finding the Perspective in a 1 Point Photograph
Take your 4 favorite photos and print them. Watch the tutorial at http://youtu.be/0NUJMJZ8AS0). If you do not watch the tutorial, you will not know how to do this important next step. With a red pen find the eye level and vanishing point of each photo, as the video discusses. Also outline, with red, the key shapes (i.e. tabletops, windows, doors, etc).
Divide a 9"x12" piece of paper into four equal parts. Make the dividing lines darker and slightly thicker than the lines you will be making. In each rectangle, begin by drawing the eye level and vanishing point that corresponds with each photo. Make sure the eye level is parallel to the top and bottom edges of your paper.
The following principles apply:
- On the back wall, the corners will be 90 degree angles.
- The vertical and horizontal lines (walls, ceiling and floor) must be parallel to the edge of your paper.
- The diagonal lines from the corners all extend to the vanishing point.
- All sides of the windows and doors must also be parallel to the edge of your paper.
- For doors and windows on the back wall, all horizontals (tops and bottoms of windows and doors) must be parallel to the eye level.
- For doors and windows on the side walls, the tops and bottoms will be diagonal lines pointing to the vanishing points.
Note: Be aware that the camera lense will distort your horizontal and vertical lines and make them slightly diagonal. Nevertheless, you will still draw them perfectly horizontal and perfectly vertical.
Taking a Photograph of a Room in 2 Point Perspective
Take your camera and stand far enough back to include the ceiling, floorspace and furniture that you wish to draw. Stand facing a corner so that all horizontal lines become diagonal while the vertical lines will still remain straight. Take at least 4 different photos of the same room, in two point perspective, from four different eye levels and station points.
Note: To change eye level consider standing on a chair, kneeling, laying down, etc. To change station point, move from left to right.
Finding the Perspective in a 2 Point Photograph
Take your 4 favorite photos and print them. Then with a red pen find the eye level and vanishing points of each photo (The video tutorial above includes finding eye-level in both 1 and 2 pt. perspective. Review that if necessary). Also outline, with red, the key shapes (i.e. tabletops, windows, doors, etc).
Note: Both of your vanishing points will not be within the confines of your photo. Tape a piece of paper onto your photo, extend the eye level as far as necessary to find the second vanishing point.
Divide a 9"x12" piece of paper into four equal parts. Make the dividing lines darker and slightly thicker than the lines you will be making. In each rectangle, begin by drawing the eye level and vanishing point that falls within the photograph of each photo. You will not draw your second vanishing point on these thumbnails. Make sure the eye level is parallel to the top and bottom edges of your paper.
The following principles apply:
- All diagonal lines from the back corner (top and bottom) converge to VP1 and VP2
- The corners are not 90 degrees / right angles.
- The vertical lines (walls) must be parallel to the edge of your paper while the horizontal lines (ceiling and floors) will all be diagonal.
- All vertical sides of the windows and doors must be parallel to the edge of your paper.
- For doors and windows on the side walls, the tops and bottoms will be diagonal lines pointing to the vanishing points.
Note: As mentioned above, the camera will distort some of the perspective of your photo, slightly curving the vertical and horizontal lines as well as making the verticals diagonal. Nevertheless you will draw the verticals perfectly vertical and the horizontal lines going straight to the vanishing points.
