Composing with Found Objects
Exhibition: Between-ness
Artist: Hannah Petkau
Overview
The act of collecting not only includes exploring, searching and acquiring, but also organizing, and displaying. When a group of objects are displayed together, they often have an intriguing visual impact and depending on how we choose to display them, the objects can transform themselves. When displaying her collection of assembled and manipulated objects, Hannah is also making decisions about how those objects are being viewed as a group.
In this project, participants will be looking at how arranging objects can transform them to read as something different and unexpected. When viewing Hannah’s objects from a distance on a flat wall, do we start to read them as patterns, shapes and a form of line making instead of just being seen as objects?
Objectives
Compose work between both 3 and 2 Dimensional elements
Explore how perspective and orientation can alter how an object is perceived or viewed.
Use photography to capture a composition
Materials
Camera
Colour printer
8.5” x 11” (or larger) Card stock
Large white or black poster paper (for background when photographing objects)
Found natural and manufactured objects
Instructions:
Step One
Collect various natural and manufactured objects. You will be composing within a large poster paper so choose enough objects to create a proportionate composition but nothing too big that will exceed beyond the papers size. Objects used during this project will remain unaltered and will be able to be returned after use.
Step Two
Choose your background paper based on what will contrast nicely with your found objects. If you have a majority of lighter coloured items go with the black background. Alternatively if you have darker coloured objects, use the white paper.
Step Three
On top of your white or black background paper, start composing various arrangements with your found objects. Be sure to leave a 3 inch border open all the way around your background paper in case your photograph needs to be cropped later on.
Your final composition will be documented from a birds-eye or top view so it will be important while arranging to keep checking your work from this perspective. You should be able to do this by safely standing on a chair, or if you prefer, you can work on the ground so the birds-eye-view can be seen simply from a standing position.
Play around with each object, if it is rotated on its side or gets stacked on top of another object does it become less recognizable? Do you have several objects that are similar in shape and can be used to create a pattern? If you squint your eyes while looking at an object can you identify it as a general shape, or what about if you step across the room to view it, can you see something you didn’t before? Are any of your objects creating interesting shadows on the paper?
Continue arranging until you are pleased with your composition.
Step Four
Photographing your composition:
Safely use a chair to get a birds-eye view of your chair, or as mentioned previously, on ground level and view from a standing position. Take note of any overhead lighting and try and position yourself over your paper so that your body or the camera isn’t casting a visible shadow over your piece. Position your camera squarely above your composition and make sure it is level with the paper before capturing the photograph. View your photograph after capturing to make sure you had everything lined up correctly. Try and have the majority of the frame filled with your paper composition and background paper.
Step Five
View your photograph digitally on a computer and crop it if needed. You should only see your background paper and composition. Adjust brightness and contrast as needed.
Print your final photograph with a colour printer on 8.5 x 11 (or larger) card stock paper.
Variations
For younger participants - they can play more freely play with arrangement of objects and the work can be photographed for them.
Older participants will be able to use more critical thinking when making decisions about object placement.