What does "diagonal dominance" mean in photographic composition?
Asked 6/3/2011
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I saw "diagonal dominance" mentioned in relation to composition, but I’m not familiar with it as a photography rule. Is it an established compositional guideline, or is it referring more generally to the use of diagonal lines in an image? How are diagonals typically used in composition, and are there situations where emphasizing diagonals works better or worse?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
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To my knowledge, Diagonal Dominance is actually a mathematic pattern, not a compositional guideline. In relation to photography, this may refer to the compositional guidelines of Convergent Lines, Convergent Diagonals, Dynamic Diagonals, Complimentary (or Parallel) Diagonals, Perspective, etc. I have not heard of any de-facto or official compositional rule or guideline called Diagonal Dominance, but diagonals are indeed a strong aspect of many compositions.
The best explanation of diagonals in composition, as well as composition in general, is probably found in the book "The Photographer's Eye", by Michael Freeman. This book is a superb work that clearly explains all aspects of photographic composition, and covers many topics of composition including diagonals, spirals, rules of division (thirds, golden ratio), etc.
In a general sense, diagonals can be used to great effect to guide the eye. Convergent diagonals can help you guide the viewers eye to the point of convergence, highlighting whatever may lie there. Zig-zags are similar in this respect, in that they are structured diagonals that guide a users eye "through" a photograph, rather than to a specific point of interest. Dynamic diagonals is based on the theory that diverging and/or parallel diagonals can add energy to a photograph. Perspective is another powerful yet subtle form of diagonals that can give photographs depth, as well as division and separation.
Originally by user124. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user124
15y ago
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"Diagonal dominance" does not appear to be a standard, widely recognized photography rule. The term is better known from mathematics, and in photography it likely refers more loosely to the compositional use of diagonals.
In practice, diagonals are a strong visual element. They’re often discussed under ideas such as converging lines, dynamic diagonals, parallel/complementary diagonals, and perspective. Diagonal lines can add energy, direction, depth, and a stronger sense of movement than horizontal or vertical lines.
So rather than treating it as a strict rule, it’s more useful to think of diagonals as one compositional tool among many. They can be effective when you want a dynamic image or when lines in the scene naturally lead the viewer’s eye through the frame.
There isn’t a hard "must use" or "must avoid" case here—whether diagonals help depends on the subject and the visual effect you want. If the scene benefits from stability or symmetry, other compositional approaches may be more appropriate.
For a deeper explanation of diagonals and composition generally, Michael Freeman’s The Photographer’s Eye is a commonly recommended reference.
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