Knowing how to use diagonal lines in photo composition is a trick every beginner photographer should master. It is slightly more challenging than using vertical, horizontal or converging lines; hopefully this article will get you started.
Consider the picture of the woman walking down the hallway. The photographer could have taken a conventional shot, which would have been good due to the sense of depth created by the converging lines. But even better the way the shot has been tilted to place the figure diagonally across the frame. The diagonal challenges our mind and induces a sense of movement in the picture. It is quite common to see this trick being employed to create some life in a static shot.
Diagonal lines also provide strength to the photo composition, especially when those are used from different sides as in the picture of the mountain lake which is a nice picture for more than one reason. The progressively misty hills and the reflections create depth. The waterline is a third of way up. The diagonals from either side meet at the focal point that is the tower. I wish the tower was positioned a little more to the left; an effective composition none the less.
You do need to watch for a diagonal splitting a frame into two parts because that could be a big distraction. This is the reason why it is important to find something interesting to break the continuity of the diagonal. This would be the problem in picture if the city skyline was absent in the picture of the bride, which cuts the frame in half.
Hopefully, by now you have better idea of how to effectively use diagonal lines in photo composition and will look for such opportunities.
