Im looking for a photo from Israel that would make a nice painting. I have in mind something "old city style" streets/alleys, but it doesnt matter which city specifically. I've pulled a bunch off various photo stock sites, but eh, nothing perfect yet.

If you have a nice photo and want to show it off, or know of someone elses nice photo, please help.

Both horizontal or vertical shots are fine
People in the photo are a minus
Lots of steps are a minus
A vanishing point is a big plus
An arch or archway over the street a big plus plus.

(If you recall the Israel painting I had as my avatar a few months back.... Im looking for an idea thats similar)

Why?


What's a 'vanishing point'?


What's the difference between the two?

mosheshmeal
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A vanishing point is an imaginary point in the photo/image where all the lines converge. Think of railroad tracks converging toward the horizon.

Because I dont like painting them.

accolade explained it well. It also gives the picture dimensionality or depth.

Nothing, but I wanted to make sure all possibilities were included in the viewers imagination.

Thank you.


Can you explain why that is?


Ah.

mosheshmeal
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To further clarify, I should have specified "all parallel lines."

And that photo I posted really has two vanishing points.

And if the photo included the corner and other side of the building, you'd get a third and fourth vanishing point...

I have tons of photos. Are you looking for daytime shots or nighttime shots? Are you looking for aerial-type shots of the whole city or close ups. Do you want people/kids in the photo? I have an awesome night shot (10 sec exposure) of har habayis I took at night from migdal dovid. I use it as my wallpaper.

My recently deceased computer had tons and tons..I'm still trying to salvage the HD..
If I'm there I'll take some more there's, a perfect spot in an alley on way to the Kotel..

You mean near the "treasures of the temple" museum?

Ye, one alley over. (wait, not the one on Misgav Ladach or whatver street Moriah bookstore is). The one in question is off the square near the Churva. Two or 3 alleys that branch away.

I think I know where you mean.

The precise angles and plains of steps don't translate with my painterly brush stokes


Daytime because of the colors, closeups a street, preferably no people (unless I can just paint it w/o the person... so no paintings where the focus is on the person)

Link with the idea Im looking for: stock photo 1
Stock photo 2 (but it has too many steps)

Heres two pics I think would be good paintings.
This one I took of the outside wall of old city.


This is a shot on a street inside.


If you still need others, I'll have to spend some time looking through my pics for some better ones.

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Yes please!

The second one the type of picture Im looking for, but the tilt is crazy...
I tried cropping it to show what Im looking for:
Click to view attachment

Nechama- its taking forever to upload just one pic. Do you know of any faster way?



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Ok heres one. It took for ever to upload. I'l try to get some more on.



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Heres another. (I dont think it'd make such a hot painting, but what do I know?)


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Heres another.


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Last one for now. Its taking way to much time. Were any of these ok?



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I need more "visual drama" !

I liked the dark alley one, but the lighting is blown out in the back so I cant see whats going on.

I'll look for some more.

You're referring to the one with the steps? If you click on it it gets clearer.
Anyway you can just paint the light like that, its a cool affect.

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Can you show us some you like, to give us an idea?

mosheshmeal
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I linked to two in post 14.

I found a gorgeous pic thats a variation of stock photo 2... but I know the stairs will be an issue.

I've always loved this one:

Ahh, Ingerisher Heizer.

mosheshmeal
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I keep seeing the same scene over and over (literally 4 different photographers!) of this alleyway with a million steps. Is Hashem is sending me a message about painting steps?
Where is this famous alley with steps going up and an archway that has a window over it with blue shutters?

If I wasn't goin to Chevron today I would run down to the old city and snap you a hundred different pictures. But I'll have to wait till next week...

That is a beautiful photo.

Where was the second one taken (with all the arches)?

Thanks! I actually stayed in an apartment at the top of those steps when I was in Israel.

The second picture was taken in the old city, but I'm having a hard time remembering the name of the place. It wasn't too far from the square that leads to the Kotel.

We just call it 'the second square' where all the kids ride their bikes, a few schools there I think..Batei Machse?

My wife tells me that she thinks it is the Rothchild house.

Here are some pictures I took:
Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

So this is what I ended up doing:

Skech:
Click to view attachment

Here is the first layer of painting where I block colors out.
Click to view attachment

I dont think I ever posted photos of a painting when its only a "skeleton," so I thought people might find it interesting.

very very cool. thank you! could you post the photo you are using?

Indeed.

Define ‘skeleton’. Is what you just posted a ‘practice copy’? How far, and how much time do you spend, on that?

mosheshmeal
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Its this spot
http://www.arrowphotos.com/images/Places/I...099-1s%20AP.jpg
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_Ea...photo469622.htm
but changed things to simplify the scene.


The bare bones. The top photo is the paper where I drew out what I wanted to paint. Thats where I work out the composition and can erase and make as many changes as I want. Then when I'm happy with the drawing I transfer it onto the canvas. This keeps my canvas nice and clean- no extra lines and eraser markers. I dont keep track of time, but I'd estimate 1-2 hours for the drawing time on paper, and maybe an hour for all the steps to copy it onto the canvas.

Thanks.

How does one decide the direction of the sunlight?

mosheshmeal
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By looking for the sun.
Or the brightest lit areas and which directions the shadows fall. These photos are not good examples of light sources.

I know this. I'm referring to times when the direction is either not obvious (for whatever reason) or you are composing your own painting.

mosheshmeal
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So you just pick which ever direction you think will look the best.

What if it's a painting of an existing place?

Or a non-existing building in an existing place?

mosheshmeal
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It shouldn't make a difference.

I have some awesome photos of old brick alleyways, but it's not from E"Y.

Those were the exact photos my HD-in-the-sky has on it..it was taken in early morning too for light..sigh..(I shot mine in sepia though, not sure if that would've helped you).

Thats so interesting! as I was looking for photos online I found that there were one or two spots where a few different photographers had taken pics.

Do you remember the where this street is?

By name, no, otherwise yes. It's the 'perfect' one with all the arches in a row

Click to view attachment