“Relics is a series of portraits of common objects past their prime. Once relied upon, they have been forgotten or discarded. I photographed each item singly in order to reveal its individual essence. Cracks and scuff of hard use. Mended hinges. Patches worn smooth by frequent polishing. Looking at each piece through my camera lens, I am reminded how often function dictates form and how frequently the form is right. The objects in these photographs may have been used for years by one person, while others passed through many hands. They’ve been used in homes, offices, a school gym and taken on house calls by a country doctor. All of them have stories. Selecting and photographing them, I began to think about the events in my life to which objects have borne witness. In a sense they are our partners in life. Over the years I have taken pictures of neighbors, classic cars, icebergs, and now…a table fan. Each time, I strive to capture something of my subject’s essential spirit. In this project, I’ve tried to select items that display a unique aura, and in many cases, reveal wear and tear obtained from many years of use.”—Robert Moran