How pairing images can change the way you tell a story
In a world overflowing with single-image scrolls, there’s something quietly radical about the diptych.
Two frames. One conversation.
Diptych photography is the art of pairing two images side by side. Sounds simple enough? But how do you really say more with less?
Here’s how it works, why it matters, and how to start making your own.
✧ What Is Diptych Photography?
A diptych (pronounced dip-tick) is a visual composition made from two photographs presented together — usually side by side. The images might be similar or starkly different. They might show two perspectives of the same moment. Or two completely unrelated scenes that reveal something new when placed in tension.
In essence, it’s a form of storytelling.
✧ Why Diptychs Work
Diptychs tap into our brain’s natural instinct to compare and connect. When we see two images together, we start asking questions:
- What’s the relationship?
- What’s the shift in time, mood, or place?
- What do they reveal that one image alone can’t?
Diptychs can:
- Highlight contrasts (urban/rural, light/shadow, before/after).
- Reinforce emotion through repetition or pattern.
- Create a visual rhythm or poetic pause.
- Offer dual perspectives (two people, two sides of a story).
In short, diptychs are an invitation to look again.
✧ How to Create a Powerful Diptych
There are no hard rules, but strong diptychs often rely on intention, not just aesthetics. Here’s where to start:
1. Pick a Theme or Tension
What story are you trying to tell?
- Movement vs stillness
- Chaos vs calm
- Warmth vs isolation
- Human presence vs absence
Clarity in theme creates emotional weight.
2. Play with Connection
Look for shared elements: shapes, lines, colors, or textures that carry through both images.
Or… intentionally break that connection to surprise the viewer.
3. Sequence Matters
Try reversing the order. Does it feel different? Sometimes flipping the diptych tells a completely different story.
4. Match or Contrast the Format
You can use two verticals, two horizontals, or even mix them. Consistency creates flow; contrast creates friction.
5. Less Is More
Let the pairing breathe. Avoid overly busy or cluttered images. The conversation between them should feel intentional, not chaotic.
✧ Exercises to Get Started
- Same Subject, Different Lens: Shoot the same subject from two different angles or focal lengths. Pair them.
- Morning/Night: Photograph the same place at two different times of day.
- Found Pairings: Go through your archives. What two images — shot months or years apart — unexpectedly speak to each other?
- Abstract Emotions: Choose a feeling (grief, nostalgia, joy) and try to represent it with two metaphorical images.
✧ Photographers Who Do It Well
Looking for inspiration? These artists use diptychs masterfully:
- Duane Michals – Known for narrative sequences, Michals’ diptychs explore time, memory, and surrealism.
- Rinko Kawauchi – Her soft, emotional pairings create lyrical connections between ordinary moments.
- Alex Webb – While primarily a single-frame street photographer, his book Dislocations features powerful double-image spreads.
- Elinor Carucci – Her diptychs often show intimate contrasts: birth and decay, touch and distance.
- Viviane Sassen – Uses diptychs in fashion/editorial to play with form, color, and surreal visual dialogue.
Study their work. Notice the decisions. The why behind the pairings.
✧ Final Thoughts
Diptychs are a reminder that photography sometimes is about connecting.
In a diptych, you’re composing a relationship between two moments, two ideas, two worlds. And sometimes, that pairing says more than a thousand single frames ever could.
So go ahead — double up. And if you do, send one in. This space is always open for stories told in twos.
MELISSA MARTINSEN 