Where do you get you're reference photos from?

When I browse to all the topics I see a lot of interesting and inspiring art. Often the reference photos used for those drawings are from a good view.

You want a good sized image that is at least several hundred pixels (think 600+) on each side.

This is what canadianmaple09 advised me in an other topic about good reference photos. But I'm having trouble finding reference photos of such a good size! So have you guys got specific sites where you get your reference photos from? If so, could you please post them. It doesn't matter if it are photos of celebrity or just random people.
Or have you got specific ways to search for HQ reference photos?

Let me know. I'm looking forward to seeing your sites/methods!

http://newfilmdimension.com/2008/05/13/ ... eo-x48-hq/

This site has some of olivia munn, but may have others.

http://newfilmdimension.com/2008/05/13/olivia-munn-various-photos-video-x48-hq/

This site has some of olivia munn, but may have others.

Thanks, Atilla! The photos on the site look awesome Such kind of quality I'm looking for. I will look if there are also photos of others...

I just do a Google image search or find images on DeviantArt. The only thing about DA is that you usually have to get permission from the member before you can use their image as a reference picture. Most of the time they are more than willing to let you do that though.

If you're interested in drawing cars or planes there are lots of good forums with sections dedicated to pictures, and they are almost always high quality. There are also sites like Top Gear with lots of high quality pictures of the top sports cars.

I just do a Google image search or find images on DeviantArt. The only thing about DA is that you usually have to get permission from the member before you can use their image as a reference picture. Most of the time they are more than willing to let you do that though.

If you're interested in drawing cars or planes there are lots of good forums with sections dedicated to pictures, and they are almost always high quality. There are also sites like Top Gear with lots of high quality pictures of the top sports cars.

Thanks for the advice again! I also do a Google image search, but often it doesn't lead to much. Good tips about DA and images about cars! I will definitely try this.

Try flickr.com, its also an easy way to (usually) get permission to use the pics you are drawing. I just type in a bunch of key words including face, and portrait depending on what I"m looking for...

Try flickr.com, its also an easy way to (usually) get permission to use the pics you are drawing. I just type in a bunch of key words including face, and portrait depending on what I"m looking for...

Wow, nice one! I already found a couple of photos in just a few minutes . So now I just have to sign up and send the one who made the photo a personal message if I could have the permission to draw his/her photo? And do they than send me a link or something to me?

Technically you could just save the pic and draw it as long as you aren't going to display it or sell it. Thats where the grey area starts to enter... You just don't want to do a project that is going to be publicly displayed, just in case someone were to recognize it, you could get into legal issues. There is SO much grey area in the matter that it's in Supreme Court right now..
It is usually just polite to ask permission if you have access to the photographer. Chances are too, they may not even own the picture! It's just to be on the safe side and being respectful to those whose art is photography. You know? Does this make sense?

Technically you could just save the pic and draw it as long as you aren't going to display it or sell it. Thats where the grey area starts to enter... You just don't want to do a project that is going to be publicly displayed, just in case someone were to recognize it, you could get into legal issues. There is SO much grey area in the matter that it's in Supreme Court right now..
It is usually just polite to ask permission if you have access to the photographer. Chances are too, they may not even own the picture! It's just to be on the safe side and being respectful to those whose art is photography. You know? Does this make sense?

Yes, I know that. I was also intending to do that. I only wanted to know how
Maby that they have a better quality picture themselfs, so that they can send that to me? I don't know if that's often like that... I'll try to contact some of the photographers to ask for permission and (if necessary) for a better quality.

Personally, I've never worried about getting the photographer's permission for anything but photographs I got from DeviantArt (and that is because I then post my drawings on DA). I don't sell any of my drawings other than personal commissions I take so it's not like I'm profitting from them. All of the legal cases deal with art that is widely distributed and sold (ex. the Obama "Hope" poster). If you just take a photo off the internet and draw it and post it on this forum, you won't have the art police chasing you down.

Sorry if I had made that sound more serious than it is. I agree with CanadianMaple, you're not going to jail for drawing someone's picture.
I was referring to work that may be displayed to a mass, or something contracted to you for monies.

I never ask for permissions because usually I am doing work at someone's request, or just to do and have. I don't make any money from it nor do I claim to own the image.

It depends on what you're doing I guess!

@ canadianmaple09 & mononoke

Haha, it's ok Thanks for the advices!

well that depends on what u are looking for if you like drawing women like i do go to www.chickipedia.com or you can try a major search engin like yahoo,google,etc. thats where i get mine from

Famousbabes.com - does contain a bit of nudity though... but that's why I visit....

I googled Charlize Theron, then used tineye.com one one of the photo's and found this site, it has several large photo's of her, can't read anything on the site though.

http://www.pokazuha.ru/view/topic.cfm?k ... =1&type=61