WHAT IS A DIPTYCH? A SIMPLE GUIDE TO IMAGE PAIRING IN PHOTOGRAPHY

What is a Diptych?

A diptych (pronounced dip-tik) is a pair of images shown together—either side by side or one above the other—to create a visual relationship.

In photography, diptychs can:

• Highlight contrast or comparison—light vs dark, calm vs chaos, or two expressions of the same subject.

• Suggest movement or progression—before and after, or a subject turning their head.

• Build mood through pairing—where each image deepens the tone or emotion of the other.

Diptychs originated in religious and classical art—hinged panels that opened like a book. Today, photographers use them as a quiet, intentional way to invite deeper looking. The key is in the pairing: two images that speak to each other in mood, tone, or form.

Try pairing a portrait with a still life. They don’t need to match. Just feel connected. These small exercises are a way to get out of your head and back into seeing while allowing you to make fresh and distinct work. Keep it light, keep it simple—and follow where it leads.

Many thanks to models, Danay’e, Malika, Natalie and Allison.

All content © 2025 Leticia Valdez Fotografia

Diptychs invite you to slow down and look again. They’re not about perfection or cleverness—they're about finding quiet connections between moments, gestures, or moods. As you explore this practice, let it be loose. Let it surprise you.

You don’t need a big concept or fancy gear. Just curiosity, and the willingness to see what happens when two images meet.

As always, best of luck And Keep making work!

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All images distributed by Leticia Valdez Fotografia are professionally copyrighted works. These images cannot be used or altered for any purpose without permission. Copyright © 2024 Leticia Valdez Fotografia LLC.