February 2006. Evening. Downtown Palo Alto.

Ralph and Meg came across a dumpster while putting out their garbage. It was packed full - but of stuff that looked as if it shouldn't be in there, stuff in good condition, personal stuff, photos, CDs, letters, clothes, old toys. Stuff that you use and keep, and don't throw away, all of it like this, unless you want to make a point, want to clean out your life.

Dumpster diving

They filled six cartons out of the dumpster and brought them over to the lab, knowing that I am fascinated by this kind of thing. The discarded accoutrement of a life.

The project - a random selection of 43 of the articles. Photographed in a studio. Relics of a changed life.