where should be the HL and VP for this photo?

[imFragrance]

I want to draw this photo for practice but i could not determine where to put the horizontal line and vanishing points and also which perspective i should use ) 1 - 2 or 3 )...

Here is the photo :

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/249/4...7453afe148.jpg

[arnoud3272]

Hi,
The camera is shooting sharply down, yes? So the horizon line is way above the picture .
Why bother with the theory in this case? Draw what you see, the vanishing lines are very obvious on the building.

[StephenC]

Hello,
I agree with Arnoud as far as how to paint this view, just paint it as you see it. But just so you'll know, the horizon line is always like this: imagine your eye or your camera as being 65 inches above the level ground as you're looking toward a tall post on the same level ground at any distance from you. If a horizontal line is chalked 65 inches up from the base of that post, the horizon line would pass exactly in line with the chalk mark. This would be from your viewpoint based on your eye's height above the ground. A shorter person whose eye is 60 inches above ground level would accordingly chalk a line on the post 60 inches above the base, stand beside you and the horizon line from that person's viewpoint would pass through the 60 inch mark on the post.
This is the basic concept for finding the horizon line when you're outdoors and buildings and hills and such prevent your seeing the distance.

[imFragrance]

so the HL is at somewhere like eye level of the bird ?

[Keith2]

The viewer is looking down from a high position, and sees the top of a pigeon on a gargoyle, and further below, the corner of a large square building. The viewer's horizon line is well above the top edge of the picture.

Rather than explain in detail the theory of perspective, why not do a quick test.

Find a large piece of paper, much larger than the size of the photo. Trace the main lines and shapes of the photo on to paper. Make sure you trace the ground level line of the left and right side of the building.

Then trace the line of the stonework above the row of windows above the windows of the pharmacie etc. Do this for both the left and right side of the building.

Get a ruler and draw a line extending the four lines I've mentioned above.

Where the two left lines meet is the left vanishing point. Where the two right lines meet is the right VP. Draw a straight line between the two VPs. This is the horizon line.

[Keith Russell]

The horizon line is not in the photo atall. It is far above the upper edge of the picture.

As others have said, not sure you really need to know where it is...

[MikeN]

Originally Posted by imFragrance

so the HL is at somewhere like eye level of the bird ?

Horizon Line and Eye Level are synonymous. Eye Level is how high your eyes are from the ground. It's not where the eye is looking, only its elevation off the ground plane. If a 5' person were standing and looking at their feet, the Eye Level would be 5' high, not where their feet are.


So, in the picture you posted the eye level is the camera's height from the ground, which is higher than the bird as we are looking down on it. If the photographer were on the 30th floor when she/he took this picture, the Eye Level would be at the 30th floor on the building across the way in the photo, which is much higher than the photo.

I also agree that you don't necessarily need to know this to make a convincing painting/drawing. But, a extra knowledge never hurts.... much.

[Aires]

I'd draw it as I see it. If you get the 3 major building lines right, the rest will fall into place without undue fuss and frustration.