(1/20 sec, f/4.0, 10-20mm at 10mm, no flash, ISO 800)

Of the many creative aspects to the art of capturing a good photograph, composition is perhaps both the most important and most interesting. The crossroads of balance, framing, color, shapes and lines - every photographer is an artist while composing - crafting an image in part implied by his surroundings and equally suggested to him by his own sense of aesthetic. Some scenes immediately present obvious compositional opportunities while others are more challenging.

The power of diagonal lines to add drama to an image has long been used to great effect by photographers. Diagonals add energy and tension, can draw viewers' eyes across a frame, amplify motion, and can even convey emotions such as confusion or immediacy. While diagonal lines are often used impressively as a very intentional device in images, they can also be introduced by tilting the camera, resulting in a slanted frame. Whether as a way to introduce power to an otherwise unremarkable photograph or just for the fun of varying your shots, tilting the camera (known variously as the Dutch Tilt, Dutch Angle, Oblique Angle, German Angle, canted angle, or even the Batman angle!) can lead to some great results. In the photograph of a passing car on Michigan Ave. in Chicago at the top of this post, the decision to tilt the frame contributes to a heightened sense of speed and action.
In the photograph below, slanting the horizon made a fun snapshot all the more dynamic.

(1/2000 sec, f/6.3, 70-200mm at 80mm, no flash, ISO 200)

And here, a simple outdoor portrait of a trumpeter in the Boston Common gets an added dash of verve.


(1/320 sec, f/4.0, 70-200mm at 200mm, no flash, ISO 200)

Here are some things to think about the next time you slant your frame:

1. When shooting a subject who is already tilting naturally, tilt in the opposite direction – otherwise it will seem like your subject is falling over.

2. As a general rule, you shouldn’t allow the diagonal to split your image perfectly in half by reaching from corner to corner across the frame.

3. Many people argue that because our eyes scan naturally from left to right, the most effective diagonals always cut from bottom-left to top-right, although I don't necessarily agree (why cant the eye scan naturally downward to the right?). The photo of my girlfriend and her sister tubing for instance (above), works just fine for me.

4. It's important to keep in mind that an intentional tilt will often be ten to fifteen degrees or more. Just a few degrees off-level will usually just look like a sloppy mistake.

Diagonals – especially converging lines, can also amplify perspective. When these are present and combined with a tilt in the horizon, the scene can be even more impressive and even transmit a feeling of vertigo.

(1/20 sec, f/4.0, 10-20mm at 10mm, no flash, ISO 800)

Tilting the horizon is an often-overlooked technique for adding drama and impact to pictures. Next time you feel like you've hit a momentary creative wall, or when you're in doubt about a shot, just tilt the camera and fire away!