Lines: Diagonals

Diagonals are easy to create in a photograph.  They depend mainly on viewpoint.  There are few real diagonals - a staircase being one exception.  Diagonals depend on camera angle and perspective.

Straight edges will become diagonal in the picture if you photograph along them towards the distance.  They give a sense of depth and linear perspective is largely based on diagonals. 

Here are some examples of diagonals:




Wooden House
The diagonals are clear at the side of this wooden house shot at this angle.  The lines created by the wooden panels emphasises the diagonals and sense of movement.

Diagonal Building
This building has diagonal features.  This abstract shot highlights the diagonal by the angle it is taken from.

Trees
This row of trees shot at this angle provides a diagonal with depth of field. 

Bridge
The angle this bridge is taken from gives a diagonal giving a sense of movement into the shot.  The bridge design is also diagonal.  There is dynamic tension in the shot as the diagonal of the overhead wires is going in a different direction to the bridge.