09/03/22
Background
For this project, we were tasked with creating 50 different folded pieces of paper and then photographing our top 3 favourite pieces in 50 different ways. However, I set out to create a display of sorts out of my folded pieces of paper, thus striving to incorporate some sense of connection and theme between the different pieces as well as creatively display them all together.
Ideation
When starting most creative projects, I like to begin with some research — in other words, a quick google search that turns into a never-ending rabbit hole I have to consciously drag myself out of. This project was no exception: a search of "folded paper" led to me looking up the definition of corrugation and exploring the intricate art of origami tessellations. Shown below are some examples of what I found:
Through this research, I realized I liked folds that turned a flat, almost 2D piece of paper into a 3D-like object. The designs reminded me of 3D digital maps of mountains, bringing me back to my home province of British Columbia, Canada, where numerous mountains are a notable feature in the north (pictured above).
From there, I decided to start folding.
Folding
About halfway through, I realized the folding styles I preferred didn't resemble the ones I had liked while researching. I did incorporate aspects of my researched folds into the ones below, such as the 3-dimensional shapes and the sharp, clean creases, but I found myself disliking the folds I made that heavily featured patterns. As I folded, I tended towards more abstract designs, some of them even reminding me of elements in real life (such as the Miro logo or outdoor public pavilions). I've grouped the folds I created below based on similar attributes that I iterated on:
After finishing 50 different folds, I took one final photo of all of them together before beginning the process of elimination to choose my favourite ones. One by one, I removed the papers I disliked until I had narrowed it down to three. I noticed that the ones I immediately removed were ones with regular, rectangular patterns and ones that didn't have sharp, clean creases or were crinkled. Thus, through this process I realized my preference for asymmetrical, abstract and 3-dimensional designs featuring corrugated, angular folds.
Photography
I then took 50 different photos of my three top choices. The first group of photos didn't have as good lighting as the second group so they looked quite dark, but I liked the neutral tones of all the photos. I experimented with some close ups of each fold as well as zoomed-out images where I played around with the angles, the layout of the folds and the use of white space in each photo.
The second group of photos featured brighter lighting and a different setting in order to capture the folds while they were sitting on a flat surface:
Out of all these photos, the three I chose as my favourite ones are shown below. I chose these photos for their decent lighting, layout and the way they highlight the differences and similarities between the three folds. I didn't particularly like the closeup photos I took because they didn't communicate the contrasts between the folds. As a result, I gravitated towards the zoomed-out photos that had a heavier emphasis on showcasing all three folds at once.
The top left photo features the three folds stacked on top of each other and is zoomed in and focused on the middle design. The top and bottom folds are cut off by the photo, attracting focus to the centre design and also highlighting the corrugated folds in each one. The top right photo has the same layout as the top left photo, but is much more zoomed-out and allows all three folds to be seen in their entirety at once. I like the use of white space in this particular photo, since it makes the otherwise plain white paper stand out against the background. This effect is also emphasized by the shadows cast on the white background. The bottom photo shows the three folds side-by-side, taken at a side-top angle which emphasizes the deep shadows cast by the designs. The focus is on the centre fold and the shallow depth of field (as well as the smaller aperture I used), causes the other folds to be out of focus. I don't like this photo as much since I wish all three photos were more in focus, but I like the angle that the photo was shot at because it helps emphasize the 3-dimensional shape of each fold.
Based on this analysis, I chose my final favourite photo as follows:
The use of white space, the better lighting, the noticeable shadows and the layout of the folds makes this photo better than the other two in my eyes. The photo invites you to compare and contrast each design, drawing attention to the individual corrugated folds while also highlighting the overall 3-dimensional shape. Overall, its simplicity and ability to communicate the final result of the project sets this photo apart from the rest, making it my favourite photo of my three favourite designs from this project.
References:
25 awesome origami tessellations that would impress even M.C. Escher. Origami.me. (2018, July 14). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://origami.me/tessellations/
Industrial and modern wallpaper, PVC free, eco, washable ... (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.archiproducts.com/en/products/wallpepper-group/industrial-and-modern-wallpaper-pvc-free-eco-washable-polygon-map_343759
P&S Times 3D effect triangle pattern geometric non woven textured wallpaper 42097-40. I Want Wallpaper. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.iwantwallpaper.co.uk/p-s-international-p-s-times-3d-effect-triangle-pattern-geometric-non-woven-textured-wallpaper-42097-40-p2545
Speechfoodie.com. (n.d.). Origami tessellations diagrams. Food Ideas. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://speechfoodie.com/origami-tessellations-diagrams/
Unknown. (2013, April 24). My paper folding! Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://materialmanipulation.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-paper-folding.html
Verity, P. (2008, September 15). Faceted ballerina's shoe & ribbons. Flickr. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/polyscene/2860151548
Wander. (2014, July 15). T3 - origami tessellations/ utilizing triangles. T3 - Origami tessellations/ Utilizing triangles. Retrieved March 8, 2022, from http://nkporigami.blogspot.com/2014/07/t3-origami-tessellations-utilizing.html
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