During the summer of 2017 a flood occurred, causing water damage in one of my storage areas, making it necessary to divide the archive between an outdoor shed and a closet within a closet known as The Inner Sanctum.At the time of the flood I was in the 8th month of an unexplained illness, which caused vertigo, migraines, heart palpitations, and visual artifacts. With time and experimentation I came to realize that computer screens, especially screens showing colorful moving content, were causing or worsening the symptoms. The phenomenon is known as photophobia, and is associated with migraines and certain neurological or autoimmune conditions. Around the time of the flood I began experimenting with an app to filter light emanating from the computer, reducing its effects. Since then, whenever possible, I use an anti-color or anti-blue filter on all screens. This makes sorting and editing color photographs difficult, however, and has reshaped my photographic practice.This aversion can cause difficulties, as I post color images to social media without ever seeing their colors. Sometimes this process fails, resulting in unsuccessful posts. At some point in every project I need to sacrifice my health to spend time looking at them. When I pause the app I am often shocked by the moment of the color’s returning, and as a result of this, I’ve developed a low-level anxiety about color itself, so that when I’m looking at an analog book I sometimes have to remind myself that it isn't harmful to look at physical analog images, only digital ones. This creates an interesting hierarchy in which, after years immersed in digital capture and editing I now once again prefer to have direct experience with physical books, prints, and publications.Twice per year I access The Inner Sanctum to document and choose a number of items to take back with me on the airplane. Although this process makes me feel closer to my items, reducing bifurcation, it makes me sad to think that the process of touching them may be putting the items in jeopardy.
