Diagonal method

Theory

thumb|right|200px|Example using [[Vermeer]]'s [[Girl with a Pearl Earring]]. The yellow diagonal line intersects two main points of interest: the girl's left eye and the pearl earring. Diagonals, the middle perpendiculars, the center and the corners of a square are said to comprise the force lines in a square, and are regarded by some as more powerful than other parts in a square.

According to the DM, details that are of interest (to the artist and the viewer) are placed on one or more diagonals of 45 degrees from the four corners of the image. Contrary to other rules of thumb involving composition, such as the rule of thirds and the golden ratio, the DM does not ascribe value to the intersections of its lines. Rather, a detail of interest can be located on any point of the four bisections, to which the viewer’s attention will be drawn. However, the DM is very strict about placing details exactly on the bisection, allowing for a maximum deviation of one millimeter on an A4-sized picture. Another difference from other rules of thumb is that the DM is not used for improve composition.

Application

The diagonal method was derived from an analysis of how artists intuitively locate details within a composition, and can be used for such analyses. Westhoff discovered that by drawing lines with an angle of 45 degrees from the corners of an image, one can find out which details the artist (deliberately or unconsciously) intended to emphasize. Artists and photographers intuitively place areas of interest within a composition. The DM can assist in determining which details the artist wishes to emphasize. Research by Westhoff has resulted in the finding that important details in paintings and on etchings of Rembrandt, such as eyes, hands or utilities, were placed exactly on the diagonals.

It is very difficult to consciously place points of attention precisely on the diagonals during the making of photos or artworks, yet it is possible to do this in post-production using guidelines. For instance, the DM can be applied to move the subject of a picture further into a corner.

The DM can only be applied to images where certain details are supposed to be emphasized or exaggerated, such as a portrait in which a specific body part deserves extra attention by the viewer, or a photograph for advertising a product. Photographs of landscapes and architecture usually rely on the composition as a whole, or have lines other than the bisections to determine the composition, such as the horizon. Only if the picture includes details such as persons, (standalone) trees, or buildings is the DM applicable.

References

References

1. Hartel, M. (2008). Urban expression. Digital Photographer, 74 (September), 30–42.
2. Arnheim, R. (1954). Art and visual perception: A psychology of the creative eye. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
3. Westhoff, E. (2009). De diagonaal-methode. (The Diagonal Method.) Zoom.nl Digitale Fotografie & Video, 2009(10), 82-87.
4. Westhoff, E. (2007). De Diagonaal Methode. (The Diagonal Method.) FocusXtra 2007(Februari), 18-19.
5. Elzenga, J. W. (2009). Digitale fotografie natuur: Tips en technieken voor het fotograferen van landschap en dieren. (Digital photography in nature: Tips and techniques for photographing landscapes and animals.) Amsterdam: Pearson Education. Pp. 47-49.
6. Elzenga, J. W. (2009). Digitale fotografie natuur: Tips en technieken voor het fotograferen van landschap en dieren. (Digital photography in nature: Tips and techniques for photographing landscapes and animals.) Amsterdam: Pearson Education. P. 49.