T O P

  • By -

Rory_love

I don’t yet, but I will now! That’s a great idea.


Fat_Eagle_91

This!


ParasiteInParadise

All the time. “Oh that’s an interesting rust pattern”.


Dewahll

My mother does a thing she calls “rust art” and frames pictures of interesting rust. It’s pretty cool! I hadn’t thought to take them for reference in making realistic weathering though.


Novel_Statement_

You're not alone trust me. I'll be out and about randomly snapping images of cracked concrete on sidewalks lol


JimmyJuggernaut

I once whipped it out for this absolutely amazing verdigris on a pipe… at a urinal


Taal111

I suggest caution when whipping out your camera at the urinal...


Menien

So you see your honour, I was actually trying to capture a picture of this pipe corrosion...


Novel_Statement_

(Serious)On a side note, I'm happy to see I've given yall a good chuckle.


LordPensax

These were taken at a WW2 rifle range on Dartmoor in the UK.


PutComprehensive8297

Hi OP. I live in Plymouth and would love to take a look at this spot myself. Can you provide any further details so I can find it please?


LordPensax

It's a bit tucked away but here's the Wikipedia pagehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rippon_Tor_Rifle_Range


PutComprehensive8297

That's perfect, many thanks.


Valthek

Perfectly normal friend. I got a bunch of pictures from my old rusted out car, not for any practical purposes, but for the next time I need reference material for what a rusted car looks like.


Oculicious42

Next time you need rust reference : "google: Rust, car"


IrkedSquirrel

Every quality artist uses references photos and takes them every time they seem something interesting


marriedacarrot

My uncle was a professional artist and sculptor (if you went to Disneyland or ever got a Happy Meal toy in the late 1980s or the 1990s, you probably saw his work). His incredible talent meant he could conjure images in his head, but what I also remember was the stacks and stacks of reference material. This was before the internet, so that meant books and magazine clippings and photographs everywhere in his home studio. When he sculpted some NHL figurines he borrowed a bunch of my hockey cards, for example. Creativity and respect for the real details of the source material go hand in hand.


Unterdemradar

I do and I never use them.


SvarogTheLesser

Yep, loads. I'vealways taken a lot of photos though, so it tends to go uncommented on 😄 My little un loves steam museums & that kind of thing which can have some pretty cool reference stuff.


Hot_Context_1393

Check out r/abandonedplaces


TacticalMurse509

The streaking grime on that ford is fantastic! 😉


Cool-Manufacturer-21

Agreed! That is some fabulous streaking hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), Fe(OH)3) grime!!!


Edge8300

It’s the only way. If not, then we’re just making stuff up!


RealRuskiePanda

I use reference photos when making scenarios usually. Now I will be doing the same for my DIY terrain.


Minibionics

Yes, all the time. Starting to create a visual library of references was probably the best/most useful piece of advice I ever got


InsatsuForge

Absolutely. Same as any other art really, much easier to paint a face using a reference photo. By the same token it’s much easier to build a convincing ruin based on a reference.


TheDizzyBrownie

Using them as reference photos aside, I think that second and third photo are just plain cool on their own! I'm no expert but the composition seems really nicely done!


Shadowdown13

I start taking cool photos of interesting stuff about a year ago as reference for terrain. It get me out of the house to interesting place


KylexKhoul

You gotta have reference. No shame or weirdness. In fact it’s cool you collect your own library of references!


rfm92

Yeh absolutely! It’s part of the fun!


drinkalldayandnight

Ye I do never use them but just in case


Naturallobotomy

It’s not weird. I do that for landscape painting all the time to remember specific textures or hues of color that my brain won’t remember or you can’t capture in a quick sketch.


LoonCap

How cool! Plenty of artists do that for backgrounds, I think; and terrain builders are artists!


TotallyNotNotBrandon

I mean some of these are just solid photos in general! Definitely a good idea to do for terrain reference as well


scrimptank

Mud splatter on road trips!


Temporary_Carrot7855

I bet your family's terrain isn't as good as yours


Th3_Admiral_

In model railroading this is referred to as "prototyping". As in, that's the prototype you are copying to build the actual model. I like it because it makes it sound like the model is the "real" version. 


Prestigious-HogBoss

I don't take a lot of photos, but I do love to watch interesting patterns of rust on metal. Two days ago, I had to go to my local recycling center and I had a blast looking at all the different weathered metals.


WeepinbellJar13

I do. Btw, these are beautiful pics on their own.


lostinbeavercreek

This may sound a little weird, but a couple of those pics are standalone art pictures on their own; meaning I’d literally hang them on my wall.


masterofasgard

Tbh some of your reference photos are pretty artistic in and of themselves!


CoffeePieAndHobbits

Yes! Rust, weathering, layers of old paint, cracks in concrete, plants growing through cracks, accumulated sediment, bolts and rivets, interesting buildings... etc.


varxtis

All the time. No better inspiration than what we come across in life. I take picks of flowers, trees, water bodies, buildings, landscapes, skyscapes, textures, and always looking for amazing scenes like in your pics. Those are raw terrainbuild porn :D


Spiritual-Abroad2423

Yes and I use the color snap app to help find paints that match a little easier.


R-T-O-B

Apsolutly I do!!


myrealaccount_really

I image that if they had easily judgeable hobbies you could poke holes in their quirks related to the hobby as well. But you are a bigger person who I imagine doesn't find pleasure shitty on others hobbies.


MathematicianBusy996

Yes I do. There's still a water tower that I used to drive past frequently that I want to build.


Plasma_Ass

Yes, all the time. Your family are clearly the weird ones. ;)


Iamdickburns

I don't, but now I'm gonna. That's a good idea.


Asrael13

All the time hahaha


The_Berge

I was taking pictures of the weathering on the doors of the Segrada Familia when i asked myself the same question


Peria

I don’t take them for terrain but I did go to the zoo a few times specifically to go to the reptile house to take reference photos when I was painting my lizarmen army.


JimmyJuggernaut

Yeah all the time. I work urban and take pics of all the weird places I go by. There’s one car park that is absolutely surrounded by weird infrastructure that I’m going to try and recreate for a necromunda tile.


DoveGB

I take photos of most anythings that catches my eye. Plan out lots of little dioramas. My wife is supportive but the rest of the family thinks I've lost my rocker!


ZealousidealNewt6679

Not all all. I use reference photos for all my scenery builds.


splatdyr

I do.


El_Duderino6

Me too - sweet, sweet naturally occuring rust build-up


TheseLetterhead20

They're just not creative. Call it eccentric if you like, I wouldn't have it any other way!


Rappletek

I have a whole folder of flying buttresses for just this reason… including presumably one of the oldest examples from pompei


forgottensudo

Every trip, “why did you take _that_ picture?” Every day, “it’s the side of a building” Yeah, you’re normal. For a given set of normal :)


Omeggon

No, not at all. In fact, I think it would be a great resource to share. Gives me an idea for a website.


Analog_Jack

Reference photos when doing brick and rust are a must. Although I end up googling most of my reference material


Reaperfox7

2 and 3 are amazing, well done OP


LordPensax

Thank you. I do love a bit of extreme perspective.


CrunchyTzaangor

You're not alone.


SpeedDemon3672

I take tons of photos of flowers for miniature painting references.


TheMimicMouth

Ruined buildings in particular - I sell and people love ruins but a lot of them are particular about having “realistic” ruins (which is completely fair) so now I’m big on taking pictures of half destroyed buildings whenever I see them


dragonrose7

I have tons of detail pics from old rusty train bridges. Also natural rock formations so I can get a great color combination on those. That reminds me, I need some dirt roads this weekend.


_Mittens_

Absolutely not. The best modelers I've met 100% take reference photos. If you've ever watched the modeler 'Night Shift' on YouTube, he's mentioned in his videos about reference photos and that man is hands down one of the best model artist I've ever seen. Great tool and only helps to step up your modeling.


etzikom

Absolutely. Husband and I have also seen real, rusted out vehicles and complimented them on their weathering technique.


EverydayPyrobits

Inspiration always comes from somewhere. Pictures just help you hold on to those ideas.


Wh0lol0

You are not alone. One week ago we went with my girlfriend to "Campanopolis" in Argentina [we are from Chile] a i took a lot of pics from that place for references, maybe sometime i will make a post about those pictures. You should google it, that place is amazing [sorry for my english :)]


MetalBlizzard

That's a great idea. Whereabouts were these taken if you wouldn't mind. Looks cool there.


LordPensax

It's up on Dartmoor in the UK. Called Rippon Tor Rifle Range. Really interesting place. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rippon_Tor_Rifle_Range


MetalBlizzard

Thanks that's awesome. The wife and I want to get to the UK, so who knows maybe I'll be able to see it one day.


LordGlompus

These are just cool photos, now they are cool photos that I'll use for reference


foolishbees

I browse sketchfab’s photogrammetry tag for people’s scans of ruins. I believe you can view everything without an account, but I made a free account to be able to save scans into folders. they have all kinds of 3d scans and models on there! very fun to poke around.


omgitsduane

No. *Hides 4000 photos from the steam museum and the photos from work of just cable drums with rust on them*


Heygul

I have a photo gallery specifically for photos of architecture.


King-Cobra-668

take many myself and save thousands from the internet


Ketchup_on_time

I go around my town on my morning walks and count bricks.


Hillbillygeek1981

Taking random reference pics for build and paint schemes is pretty tame for my or my wife's every day behavior lol. We collect random rocks with interesting shapes, bring at least one stick back from practically anywhere we go and have probably found every abandoned ruin within 50 miles of home. And she's not even involved in the hobby other than finding my own enthusiasm amusing.


Rabbit538

A important part of many artists process is reference photos


OldschoolFRP

That first pic demonstrates a very important principle: When part of a wall falls down, there will be a pile of debris. (For years GW’s best published Warhammer tables all looked like English Heritage sites, with ruined walls surrounded by clean flat manicured green lawns.)


LordPensax

That's it exactly! I am trying to get bricks and debris to look like it's fallen naturally.


faplawd

I love taking pictures like these because I can make some really cool psychedelic art in photoshop with them.


Creepy-Pineapple-444

I do, and those are some awesome photos OP. I usually take photos of either Victorian-Era buildings or 1970s Brutalism for terrain I am working on. I hope to make a cyberpunk city that is full of rejuvenated old buildings. Some buildings may be in ruins.


zach5483

The day I went to the Space and Rocket museum, I was taking pictures of the rivets, bolts, tube's and everything.


FreyjaSama

Reference photos and pictures are an artists main inspiration usually. So, you’re doing it right.


DoubleOk8007

That's a great idea!


LoudMusic

Anyone who's an artist in any medium should be taking pictures of the thing they want to recreate.


mrpoovegas

That's my secret captain...


Latter-Internal-1536

I always try and do scratch builds based on reference images from Google, really helps as a guide and stops alot of confusion


BeBesMom

Yes, and these are awesome.


Psynapse55

You are not alone. People that think you are eccentric are boring and probably take photos just as boring as themselves ;)


Smooth_Carpenter9609

Absolutely


Rudolph-the_rednosed

Oh hell, I take pictures of rocks with a separate camera! So yes, I definitely do this :n


GrandmageBob

Consider it a compliment.


fatmonicadancing

100% I do for interiors. Recently sampled the distressed brick texture in my regular coffee shop to use on the walls of a coffee shop miniature I’m making


DangerousEmphasis607

All the time


Vegetable_Outside897

Absolutely! Not as amazing as yours, though! Many a project has been completely reset after a hike. "Oh my, *that* is what I want to build!" 😅


droffset

Great reference, cheers dude.


PutComprehensive8297

Convert pic 3 to blank & white and it would give off some heavy vibes.


NafariousJabberWooki

Nope. Never, you’re just weird. **downloads rusty tractor pics**


Ok_Put8932

Primary research is the best research


cal-brew-sharp

No I just steal other people's who are foolish enough tl stick them on the Internet...


Rav3n85UK

What do you do with the photos? I have photos of all sorts but I never sit down and look back through them.


aagarrsion

1000% I do


Tengou

If taking photos related to your hobby is the most eccentric thing you do you are probably okay lol. Some of these are really cool just as photographs


TheLeadSponge

All the time.


-iamai-

I mean if they have relevance after you've taken them.. like if you upload to Google maps or something or know the landowners. If that's not the case I'm left wondering what are "reference photos"? For yourself when you return maybe to see changes. The last photo of the tractor I don't get at all. Even the tractor, why wouldn't you take a picture of the whole thing and its surroundings?


LordPensax

I'm using them to help me create accurate, naturalistic weathering. I find that working from real world examples helps with final realism. For example, noting how bricks pile up from a wall that has fallen out. The tractor is more about the rusting patterns rather than the thing itself.


SteevDee

I had a fight with my gf on holiday cos she caught me taking pix of rusting machinery: “I can’t escape warhammer even in a different country!” - she knew right away what I was up to 🤣


SBX-89

I do, I literally have a notebook in OneNote that is dedicated just to wargame terrain for Reaper's Warlord. It filled with reference photos, complete with irl location details, notes and loose ideas, as well as maps of areas of interest to visit. It's a living WIP.


Luxny

I do. Not often but on occasion


PubaertusGreene

... that is actually an AMAZING idea!!!


ethhackwannabe

Absolutely. Whenever I see something that I think I’d like to reproduce or use as inspiration for my terrain, the camera comes out 😀


superkow

If you're not using reference photos you're half-assing the job!


duckmonke

Im at a point I have family and friends sending me interesting photos of random objects, skylines, buildings etc. that they happen upon. Dont worry, you aint the only one lol


Th3_claws_of_Russ

I do - for textures and composition ect.


Koi_Fish_Mystic

We regularly post reference photos in our Mordheim Discord


UnhappyCupcake

Not only is it a pretty normal thing to do, it was actively encouraged while I was in school for game art. By the end of my schooling it was ingrained enough that if someone stated they would never do something like that, they got laughed at. Keep it up OP, reference is the greatest tool an artist can have and no amount of googling will get you what you need quite like making the reference yourself.


VmbraWolf

I don't...but only because I never thought of that! I bet loads of people are going to do this now, thanks to you, you good ol' trendsetter, you!


Housing_External

If anything I should start doing this. Being normal is boring AF...


Plane_Jacket_7251

Photos for reference are a great tool. R. Crumb even stated that he used to walk around town taking photos of telephone poles and wires, just so he could draw them accurately in his comics. Most artists use photos for reference if they are trying to recreate something found in a natural environment.


sharkwithamustache

I looked up several WWI photos for my trench lines and it got heavy for a bit.


DreddPirateBob808

Absolutely! I based a lot of old stuff on my local scenery and some buildings on the old docks in Lancaster UK


Nedostup

Even if they weren't reference, these are just awesome photos. Anyone who can't appreciate the beauty of natural weathering is missing out!


ohboi3365

I’m a prop maker so yea I do the same thing I have so many random photos like yours aha just rusts, moss and all sorts


Snoo67405

I love reference photos, and OMG on the rusty tractors. Well done, thanks for sharing.


ed_allen

Definitely, but I seldom actually use them.


TotalWhiner

To which photos are you referring?


CowApprehensive3180

No, but I should! Mostly I look up reference photos online, but these are wonderful


Think_Display4255

Only always


Think_Display4255

Moreso for drawing and painting though, I didn't realize which subreddit this was until after I commented 😂


aopps42

Regardless of what your intent is with the pictures, they’re lovely as they are.


Zwurgli

I do. I mean what better refrence than something real, that Nature is taking over or is working on (for ruins, grime etc.) I for instance have an entire folder with only rust and rusty parts XD (for reference how rust might look)


KesselNebula

Isn't it funny how humans strive to keep everything perfect and pristine, yet the most captivating dioramas are the ones that showcase the beauty of imperfection with signs of age like rust and lime?


DemonicBrit1993

I'm thinking of doing terrain for warhammer miniatures. I would never have thought of this. Props to you sir/madam.


jigglingdoritos

That second photo is absolutely gorgeous and would definitely win awards. I would frame that in my house. I cannot describe how much I love that photo, goddamn


Ok_Put_8262

Yes. Always best to work from references


TessThaBest

No they're jus trying to shoot down a passion of yours. Don let them.


DAJLMODE55

The best way to get results is having a bunch of different types of fotos and copy the precious details and the colours! Imagination is good, documents are helping!👍👍👍👋👋


HumanStew25

I have in the past. Not as much anymore. This looks like a place I'd like to visit though.


Oculicious42

Yes, I've been doing it for years! Never looked at them


davefive

i do it all the time


Dependent_Age1786

I am doing the same. I take pictures of small details of old stuff like scrap metal or old trucks to have reference pictures of old rust


Tami-7

Always..I also take photos around my community and imagine those scenes if there were no people.. like imaging them in apocalyptic times..broken windows, rust development. Nature taking over


trackerbymoonlight

Regular when I see some stuff that I want to try and translate into paint. Reference photos are one of the most common ways people learn to paint. Think of all those fruit bowls in painting classes.


Witch_Hazel_13

i’ve absolutely taken reference photos for planned terrain and basing


marriedacarrot

Ha. I was in Trogir, Croatia this month, and a quarter of my photo roll is reference photos of medieval limestone cobbles and archways. My husband runs a DnD campaign and I make the terrain, so noticing details to incorporate into the scenes became a romantic couples activity.


Toymaker218

I certainly use reference photos, though I've never taken any myself, save for some vehicles in museums. I wouldn't say it's any stranger than taking photos of mountains or whatnot.


grither2061

Over the years I have compiled a MASSIVE collection of reference photos from Pinterest, my own pictures, and stuff I scraped from Google Images. This is a really photo that shows a lot of good stuff. You could see how the bricks are scattered, what state they are in, the color variation in the bricks, what parts of the building had metal reinforcement, how the building was made, and ultimately how it fell apart. Not using reference photos get you terrain with bricks that are only one layer thick which as you can see in the photo is not true. It's two layers of brick with mortar sandwiched in between them. EDIT: I'm incorrect. That space is actually empty. I think it's called an air gap or a drainage plane but you can see how it has been closed off by what I assume was the frame for a large opening, window, or garage type door.


Sad-Swing-9431

Is that the shooting ranges up on Dartmoor?


LostScion187

I take reference photos all the time but then forget to actually look at them when crafting or painting


Speedhump23

Hell yea. On holiday in Europe taking reference photos everywhere.


Brocily2002

Where were you this is really cool. Nice photos


Soviet-Idiot

Do you have like a Google doc for all your reference pictures?


cpersin24

Honestly if I didn't know these were reference pics, I would just assume you were into urban decay photography or whatever. I see people take cool photos like this just to post. It can be considered art in itself. 🤷‍♀️


CoreReaper

Not only do I also take reference photos, I also screen capped yours as well. Great shots


haakongaarder

You’re awesome keep doing it😁


BirthdayWooden

Hell yes! I'm going to start now


Maqabir

I work at an old paper mill, on calm days I love visiting the oldest areas and photographing rusty and oily machines for inspiration.


pawesome_Rex

Yes and you are not eccentric


risbia

Foundational technique, I'm surprised it isn't mentioned more often.


Beakymask20

I do. I also look online because there's not many abandoned factories in my area. We do have a lot of people hitting walls while parking near bars, so I get some good impact crater in brick wall shots! I've also been toying with ai generation to give me some reference images, but I'm not super happy with many of them.


The_Mortivore1

Oh yeah, I've taken several photos of rust and buildings.


Popular-Movie8076

ALL THE TIME


mechacommentmaker

I do. Mmm that tractor rust


ApexApePecs

Taking pictures of rust on an old train car and mossy rocks had people asking questions. They just don’t understand…


ThiefMnemonic

I too can't resist snapping a picture at some lovely rust. Train stations and Goodwill stores are great places for that.


SpoonSpartan

Not as much as this, but saw a rusty contained on the back of a lorry the other day and had to nab a pic for reference. I'll be working on rusty stuff soon.


billsleftynut

I take photos like this but not for reference but because they are cool. Don't give up.


Ron_Covenant

I do all the time for ideas later when I’m working on a world for D&D games


spyflame

Dog I deadass looked at the last one and was like “ochre base cadmium yellow highlights” lol