Worse are false memories. Simply observing another person performing an act can create false memories that we performed that act. I suggest simply looking at a false photograph can create false memories of it being true. In essence, a memory of the imagination may over time become indistinguishable from a memory of a real event. I like to use my photography to remind people images are unreliable, memory is flawed.

So when I find some of my old photos are severely damaged by time, I may decide to show them as damaged. Sometimes it’s the damage itself is beautiful. Sometimes it’s because I’m saying something about the subject. Sometimes it’s because I don’t want to lie about the real. Sometimes it’s because I’m reminding memory is flawed. Sometimes it’s because my cleaning skills are inadequate. Sometimes it’s because I want the coughs in the audience.