Exactly whatgoes into all of our stuff? This question intrigued photographer Todd McLellan, who has been tinkering with objects since he was young. In his new book "Things Come Apart" (Thames & Hudson, $29.95), Mr. McLellan took apart 50 items, including an iPad, an accordion and even a piano, and photographed the pieces two different ways—neatly arranged and exploding midair. The result, he writes, was "an exercise in discovery."

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