The Need for Reference

I've added just a teeny tiny portion of a few of my references to give you a taste of what I go out and photograph to use in my paintings. The egret, the bird, and the little girl in the green hat are all from a shoot I did last week with an artist friend. I take 1,000's of photos. As an example I filled 2 of my camera cards (don't know what they are called) and a portion of 2 more last Thurs. in just a local visit to a park/zoo here! Ofcourse they are not all wonderful, but they are useful in learning anatomy, having a place to "put that elk" in the future, or a "bird on that old machinery". I take advantage of every opportunity I can for getting reference. I do not plein aire paint generally. I am a studio painter who does highly detailed work and I need the help of the photos to get that detail. It doesn't mean I don't change things- I add things into the reference, I change the lighting, colors, etc. I love dramatic lighting, but don't always have the opportunity to be somewhere exactly at sunset/sunrise, so as a painter I can make that happen. I love all sorts of subjects and am at present trying to expand my reference of children. I have barely scratched the surface for them!