Connections

What is a diptych?
A diptych is two images that normally don't have any relation placed next to each other. In Design we had to choose two lines from our personal poem we wrote in English and take photos that represent those lines.

“I can connect with the other pieces of the puzzle”
“And stack these connections vertebrae by vertebrae creating a strong backbone”

For my first line I chose to use stitches in a quilt to represent my metaphor. My poem is about making connections, and this particular line mentions my ability to create these connections. The stitches represent the connection, and the pieces of the quilt the diversity of people. The stitches hold everything together, therefore they represent the connection. Puzzle pieces are all unique, and so are the patches of a quilt. On the right for my second line I shot Kapla blocks. They are similar to Jenga blocks, but are used for building instead of a game. I chose to use them to represent my line because while Jenga blocks are often seen for building, I see the inevitable falling apart. However Kapla blocks are used to create and build. This represent my line because it talks about how you must build up a relationship before it can work. Therefore the blocks show the building, and the delicacy of stacking thin blocks. Also how at any moment it could fall apart, like Jenga blocks, but they are slightly more structured and not aimed at the inescapable collapse.

To create my photo on the left I used the the quilt on my bed because it has obvious stitches, which I wanted to be the focus of my image. I had difficulty with the lighting because I did not want the shot to be too light, however I was shooting inside so getting the ISO and aperture correct was difficult. I tried to get as close as possible to focus in on the quilt’s stitches. For my photo on the right I wanted the light to be brighter, however it was also indoors and so I shot near a window in order to get more natural light. I wanted a plain background because my block structure has enough detail on its own. I also did not want a distracting background, so I shot it in front of a blank wall in my living room. I tried taking shots from many angles to find the best angle. I also tried to get close to my subject in order to get some of the details in the wood.