Gloves, shoes, hats…

Lost and Found Photography

A life conundrum is, how does someone lose only one shoe? Or perhaps even one glove?

Perhaps the answer will never be truly known, only that people are somewhat forgetful. When an object is lost there is a simple story of who, what, how and when. These lost objects take on a new life, they are often moved from the place they were originally lost. Moved to a place that will perhaps help them be noticed by its owner on return. 

Lost and Found photography has been with me for a long time, wherever I seem to go there will always be lost and then found via photography.

Over this time I have discovered and seen many various objects that are sometimes easier to explain than others. Small childrens toys and dummies, here you can imagine they have fallen from a young hand. However, how does one lose false teeth?

Lost and Found Photos with a 50mm

This lost object collection evolved from a personal 50mm project which started in 2007. Whilst shooting for the 50mm F/1.8 project, I focused on many different subjects.  Mainly in the realms of observational photography. Soon after starting this project I found another theme starting to emerge rather rapidly, lost and found photography.

The composition of each photograph is one of the most important elements to this project. It is a way of presenting the object in a unique way. To find engaging and unique compositions, I will walk around the object 360 degrees. Taking photographs from all different angles to find a suitable composition.

I choose to shoot all objects with a 50mm lens and at an aperture of F/1.8 regardless of place, light and its surroundings. By using a wide aperture I am able to isolate each object and help focus the viewer on the importance of the subject matter.

Each lost object is alone, lost in its own world of shallow focus.