Finding the Perspective in a Photograph
Taking a Photograph of a Street in 1 Point Perspective
With your camera stand far enough back to include the houses, trees, driveways, cars etc, that you wish to draw. Point your camera down the street, or sidewalk, to make sure that it is in one point perspective. Also be sure that the sides of the houses are flat, with the edges perpendicular to you. Take at least 4 different photos of the same scene, in one point perspective, from four different eye levels and station points.
Note: To change eye level consider sitting on a chair, kneeling, laying down, etc. To change station point, move from left to right on either side of the street.
Finding the Perspective in a 1 Point Photograph
Take your 4 favorite photos and print them. Then with a red pen find the eye level and vanishing point of each photo (remember the tutorial from the interior perspective lesson). Also outline, with red, the key shapes (i.e. cars, bikes, driveways, porches, fences, 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 sides of the houses, where the eaves meet the walls, the corners will be 90 degree angles.
- The vertical and horizontal lines on the sides of the houses facing the viewer (eaves, roof ridgeline, etc) must be parallel to the edges of your paper.
- The diagonal lines from the corners (tops of doors, windows, fences, cars, etc.) all extend to the vanishing point.
- All vertical sides of the windows and doors whether facing the viewer or on the foreshortened side must also be parallel to the edge of your paper.
- For doors and windows on the sides of houses that face the viewer, all horizontals (tops and bottoms of windows and doors) must be parallel to the eye level.
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 Street in 2 Point Perspective
With your camera stand far enough back to include the houses, trees, driveways, cars etc, that you wish to draw. Instead of pointing your camera down the street or sidewalk, aim it at the corner of a house to make sure it is in 2 point persepective. Take at least 4 different photos of the same scene, 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 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 (remember the tutorial from last week’s lesson). Also outline, with red, the key shapes (i.e. doors, windows, porches, fences, cars, 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:
- There will be no horizontal lines. All lines will converge diagonally to either VP1 or VP2.
- The corners are not 90 degrees / right angles.
- The vertical lines (walls, fences, doors, windows etc.) 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.
