You can draw from real things in front of you (from life) or from photographs. Both are useful, and good artists use both. But a photo is not the same as what your eyes see, and knowing the differences keeps you from copying a camera's mistakes.
- Life shows real depth: with two eyes and a moving head you understand the form. Light and shadow show their full range.
- Photos hold still forever and capture moving things (a running dog, a wave, a bird), but they flatten form.
- Phone cameras close to a subject bend it: a hand held toward the lens looks huge and a nose up close looks too big.
- Photos often turn shadows solid black and bright skies pure white, losing details your eyes would see.
Key idea
Life drawing shows real depth and light; photos flatten form and can bend near things. Use your own photos or free-to-use ones, and give credit.
Why it works
Your eyes adjust as you look from bright to dark parts, so you see detail in both. A camera picks one exposure for the whole scene. A camera close to its subject also exaggerates whatever is nearest, because the near parts are so much closer to the lens than the far parts.
Worked example: Whose photo?
You find a great photo of a horse online and want to draw from it. What should you check?
- Photos made by other people are usually protected by copyright.
- Use your own photos, photos you have permission to use, or ones marked free to use (public domain or an open license).
- Write the photographer's name with your drawing.
Answer: Check that you may use it, and give the photographer credit.
Common mistake
People copy photo distortions as if the eye saw them that way: a giant hand from a selfie, a face with a stretched nose, shadows filled in solid black. When something looks odd, ask whether it is the camera, and draw what the real thing looks like.
A good habit: draw from life most of the time, and use photos for moving subjects and for practice when life is not available. Check your work with the tools from Checking Your Drawing.