Photos provide invaluable reference for paintings and complement on-the-spot sketching. To get really useful material, you shouldn't simply point and shoot a subject, but take a bit of time over it.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: On-going
Here's How:
- Don't photograph anything and everything. Think about whether you're likely to actually paint that subject. Otherwise the photos will simply sit around "gathering dust".
- Walk around an interesting subject before you start photographing so you can consider all the angles and ensure you get the best view.
- Instead of trying to take one perfect shot, concentrate on capturing the essence of the scene to serve as visual reminders back in your studio.
- Don't take photos from normal eye level only, bend down for a lower point of view or stand on something for a higher one.
- With a building, move around and photograph it one section at a time squarely on. Staying in one spot and pivoting your camera distorts the building.
- To get a panoramic view, take several photos that overlap slightly, then stitch them together. Consider taking portrait (vertical) shots rather than landscape (horizontal).
- Make sure you're in close enough so your photograph will show the details. If you can't zoom in close enough, don't take the shot as it'll be a waste.
- Photos are ideal for capturing fleeting effects and to freeze action or a color, such as cloud formations, sunrises and sunsets, birds in flight, or seascapes.
- Photos are also ideal for painting the extra details in portraits, such as clothes and chairs, and reduce the time a model needs to sit.
Tips:
- Rather take too many photos than later regret not having enough. It's cheaper to take photos than to revisit a location.
- Don't copy reference photos slavishly, but pick the elements you wish to have in your painting. A camera records everything indiscriminately; you can be selective.
- Black-and-white photos show tones very clearly and free you from the desire to replicate the colors in a scene.
