How to Find Eye Level Practical Perspective

Locating eye level in a scene is an important help in understanding it's overall perspective. However, eye level location changes with every scene. Through a variety of examples Stephen shows how he locates eye level (or doesn't) in any situation, and the help it then gives him to draw accurately.

[@heathermac8725]

This is the MOST USEFUL video on PERSPECTIVE I have seen. It gives a very specific foothold to latch onto to begin climbing into the complex world of understanding 'perspective,' which often almost seems the same as trying to understand perceiving the world via the physics concept of DIMENSIONS (ie, more than just the 3 dimensions we are used to.) So many other video presenters just re-hash the theory and not much more, as if they don't really understand it fully themselves.)

[@stephentraversart]

What a wonderful comment for a teacher to read! I’m really glad this has been been helpful for you. I have a perspective playlist if you’re interested. All the best Heather. 😀

[@TulayErgun-cg5zw]

This is the most understandable video about eyelevel line. Thank you very much

[@stephentraversart]

You're very welcome!😀

[@kls_drawffer]

Been looking everywhere for a video like this explaining how to find the eye level/horizon line, the way you explained everything is simple yet clear enough to understand, thank you soo much for this! Currently I’m practicing on how to apply these concepts from imagination as well as for characters, since I feel like most people don’t realize that this also applies to character design as well!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Kristoffer. Great to hear this was helpful. One of those fundamentally important things. All the best with the character design drawing. 😀

[@aroset]

Still ringing bells and will forever. The way you have explained it just unlocked my struggle in understanding. I've been trying to get my head around the horizon line when everyone else seemed to just automatically know what it is. Thank you so much!

[@stephentraversart]

Wow! How encouraging. I’m so pleased to hear this. Now you can channel this joy into your drawing. 😀

[@davedave375]

Thank you for these videos. I know this is an older video of yours, but I do watch your other videos. I love how you show different examples, it reminds me a bit of math teachers showing different situations, only this time it's intuitive because it's art depicting real life! How wonderful~

[@lanerush]

Thanks for the explanation and all the examples. Now I understand how to find the eye level. You're a good teacher.

[@stephentraversart]

Appreciate your saying so. Thanks. 😀

[@joannsmith9]

He is a perspective genius!

[@thebirdartistscottage]

This was a wonderfully helpful video! I have found this kind of thing so frustrating and you explained everything so clearly that I really get it now! Many thanks! 💝

[@stephentraversart]

It’s so key to understanding perspective, it will make a huge difference to you, I’m sure. Keep at it. 😀

[@tuckapenguin681]

Amazing! Thank-you for breaking it down with simple tools!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@sayeedadada9570]

Thank you so much for this video..Very helpful and explained in a simplified way...This is d first video I have seen on an importance of eye level ...tnx Sir...

[@stephentraversart]

Appreciate you telling me Sayeeda. Thanks. :)

[@tatyanastepanova8341]

Thank you Stephen, your video is so informative and heflpful, making complicated matters quite clear.

[@stephentraversart]

Exactly what I was wanting to do. That is the sign of good teaching. All the best with your drawing Tatyana. 😀

[@leoperzi7387]

Excelente video, muy claro, de principio a fin y de los casos más simples a los más complicados. No puedo esperar para practicar cada uno de ellos

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent. Have fun with it. 😀

[@zgold5208]

love your videos ! It´s really well explained and practical, I will probably watch them all, tks

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. I appreciate you telling me that. There’s over 250 to watch, so have fun. 😀

[@sam_1234_sam]

Muito esclarecedor. Obrigada

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Sam. 😀

[@trotterhorsewatsonjr.6668]

I have always believed the horizon was a misnomer and confuses beginner artist! Which makes people give up on art learning! Thanks, for this..

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful!😀

[@leporium]

This is truly amazing video, thank you a tons for making such content!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for such enthusiasm! I’ve just posted a video to celebrate my first million views on UA-cam with my considered top three tips from all the advice/ teaching that I’ve given in over 470 videos. Have a look if you’re interested. 😀

[@adindal2638]

Thank you for the video! 😊

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure 😀

[@charleengiles3107]

Thank you for this lesson. I think this will be good exercise to find the eye level of the picture. I will absolutely give it a go 😀

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Chartleen. I hope it helps you with your perspective. :)

[@jenchau3364]

Excellent videos. Very helpful! Thanks.

[@stephentraversart]

Great to hear you think so. Thanks Jen. 😀

[@uno2go]

Brilliant!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks 😀

[@JenN-fp8id]

This was very helpful. Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Giant. Encouraging to hear that. 😀

[@Star_33395]

That was super helpful thank u 🙏💗💗💗

[@stephentraversart]

You are so welcome😀

[@AnimaedArte_HesAll_PatriziaC]

Very thank you 😊

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure. 😀

[@Alan-yb8kx]

Very helpful.

[@stephentraversart]

Excellent. Thanks Alan. 😀

[@bhoomikachawda733]

Thank u sir ❤

[@stephentraversart]

No problem 😀

[@ranjanachand9306]

Excellent input.. Thanks a ton

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Ranjana. Glad it was helpful. 😀

[@thekatibelle]

Thanks!

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful Kati. 😀

[@taraskashuk1069]

Thank you! Very helpfull!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Taras. It’s a really important thing to do every drawing, I find. 😀

[@runthrufields]

7:00 This segment especially helped me out. lately I've been looking and pausing shots of shows or movies i'm watching and consciously trying to roughly estimate where eye level had to be if I had to draw the paused segment. More often than not, a lot of the cinematic shots i'd choose would have the eye level beyond the frame shown but it would still keep me up for a lot longer than it should. In the case of photos or projects that'll have the eye level beyond the frame, what are some things that you'd do to try and replicate the scene even without an actual eye level in the frame?

[@stephentraversart]

Glad it was helpful. I don’t create scenes, but understanding what we can see as well as we can can should hone our intuitive sense of what should be, I think. 😀

[@rahnumaahmad9711]

Very informative video. Could I ask, how to use this eye level information to draw the perspective that i wanna draw? For example, when I want to draw a perspctive in a close scale like in street level versus another one, like I'm inside of a cafe or something?

[@stephentraversart]

You need to ask where is the viewer looking from. Their eye level is the eye level. The higher or lower eye level is the more dramatic the effect. In the centre, we are more looking straight into the scene.

[@tobyroe9373]

Thank you this video was really helpful! Thanks

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks aToby. I try and be practical. :)

[@Aninda_Creation]

i have a question does eye level depends on only camera position or on camera's vertical angle too

[@stephentraversart]

If we are looking at 1 or 2 point perspective, where the vanishing points are on the side, then eye level is just horizontal, and all the vertical lines are vertical. But if we’re dealing with 3 point perspective, or where there is a vanishing point above (such as a skyscraper) or below that eye level, then there is a ‘vertical eye level, directly in front of the eyes or camera. The vertical perspective lines fan out from it. It is always initially in the centre, but if a photo is cropped it can be to the side. 😀

[@stephentraversart]

Rotating the camera, or rotating the photo in edit will also change this.

[@Aninda_Creation]

@@stephentraversart thanx ive get it

[@Aninda_Creation]

@@stephentraversart by rotating do you mean tilting the camera at right and left

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, either when taking the photo or when cropping. 😀

[@TacticsOgre35]

So it's always where you get the straight horizontal line?

[@stephentraversart]

Yes, if there is one to see. Or where it looks like it would be between lines which angle in opposite directions. 😀

[@luckyadrianhutapea]

Sir I have a question from 4:45 so the building behind is using another vanishing point from the same horizon right?

[@stephentraversart]

Yes. But I think using the term eye level is better, because it’s not necessarily the same as the horizon, using the more general meaning of the word.

[@luckyadrianhutapea]

@@stephentraversart thankyou so much for your kind respond sir!!!! Its clear now, I really learn a lot from you sir, really appreciate your effort 😁

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks for letting me know. 😀

[@TacticsOgre35]

How can we see it on people?

[@stephentraversart]

This is more complex. It’s the eye level of the observer, not the subjects, but if the ground is flat and everyone about the same height it may be the same. If we’re looking down on people, eye level will be higher than the people, and vice versa.

[@TacticsOgre35]

@stephentraversart if it's higher or lower like looking down or up at foreshortened characters? So it would be outside the frame?

[@stephentraversart]

Not necessarily, but it could be. It depends how closely the scene is cropped and exactly what the angle of viewing is. 😀

[@TacticsOgre35]

@stephentraversart OK but I still don't understand how to see it.

[@autodidakt2648]

bravissimo

[@stephentraversart]

Gracias. :)

[@tanderson2676]

hmm.. I think it's time for me to cut out different coloured strips of paper!

[@stephentraversart]

I have found them helpful. My tip is make them as long as you can. Vanishing points are often soooo far away. 😁