Diagonal method: Difference between revisions

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[[File:DM Diagonal method.svg|thumb|180px|right|Diagonal method]]

The '''diagonal method''' (DM) is a [[rule of thumb]] in [[photography]], [[painting]] and [[drawing]]. Dutch photographer and lecturer Edwin Westhoff discovered the method when, after having long taught the [[rule of thirds]] in photography courses, he conducted visual experiments to investigate why this [[rule of thirds]] only loosely prescribes that points of interest should be placed more or less near the intersection of lines, rather than being rigid and demanding placement to be precisely on these intersections. Having studied many photographs, paintings and etchings, he discovered that details of interest were often placed precisely on the [[diagonals]] of a [[square (geometry)|square]], instead of any "strong points" that the rule of thirds or the photographic adaptation of the [[golden ratio]] suggests. A photograph is usually a rectangular shape with a ratio of 4:3 or 3:2, in which case one should look at the [[bisection]] of each corner. Manually placing certain elements of interest on these lines results in a more pleasing photograph.<ref>Hartel, M. (2008). Urban expression. Digital Photographer, 74 (September), 30–42.</ref>

== Theory ==

Diagonals, the middle [[perpendiculars]], the [[Centre (geometry)|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.<ref>Arnheim, R. (1954). Art and visual perception: A psychology of the creative eye. Los Angeles: University of California Press.</ref>

According to the DM, details that are of interest (to the artist and the viewer) are placed on one or more diagonals of 45 [[Degree (angle)|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 is not ascribing value to the [[Line-line intersection|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.<ref>Westhoff, E. (2009). De diagonaal-methode. (The Diagonal Method.) Zoom.nl Digitale Fotografie & Video, 2009(10), 82-87.</ref> 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.{{cn|date=September 2014}} Another difference with other rules of thumb is that the DM is not being used for improving a composition.{{clarify|date=September 2014}}

== Application ==