The Diptych Layout

Sally Mann

Sally Mann is an American Photographer who is best known for her photographic work of her children. There are some candid shots, but there are some clear constructed photographs of her children, especially the one found in diptych format. The imagery itself is largely irrelevant to my project, but the syntax behind creating comparison imagery is all so very interesting. In this instance, "Jessie at 12" as it is named, presents itself as a transition of Sally's daughter Jessie as she progresses from having her hair extremely long to it being cut extremely short, and the contrast of hair length. These two similar images force you to find differences and similarities, naturally, as the subject material's placement achieves this with minimal space between both sides.

                          

Olga Zavershinskaya

In this next diptych, Olga shows a Fine Art style fashion diptych. The material covers each half the woman, showcasing the nude body for all it is, but only within half of each photograph. This half reveal for each side is fascinating, along with the curvature of the material stretching off out of the framing. This is a prime example of how a diptych can show two sides to a narrative, creating a more compelling story that would be less successful if they were separated. The success of the imagery is dependent on these two being together.

Cherry Key

In this next example, the diptych provides context to the landscape. The trees within the eerie woods, showing a lot of subject in the distance, along with an overarching and bare tree. Then on the right, you're presented with a close-up at the scene, something providing you with information of the ground this photographer stood upon. You are treated to the view of the leaves that have fallen, their origin presented within the first frame.