I have always wanted to bring the beauty of history forward in my images. My goal is for an object’s years of love and use to shine through. It’s that patina of a life well-lived that I want people to see in these images.

An old hand tool, for instance, has generations of stories to tell. A common wrench starts out as someone’s prized new acquisition. Over the years, it lives in dozens of garages or workrooms. The owner loans it to friends or gives it to a grandchild. Eventually, it will probably be set aside, only to be rediscovered by someone new.

A 120-year-old well-worn pickle fork that has been passed down for generations is a treasure to me. A scratched and chipped metal sign is priceless. A toy that helped a baby grow into an adult is meaningful beyond words. In a way, I feel like the object itself is telling me when to capture its image.

I have been a commercial food photographer for 49 years. In my career, I have seen, touched and connected with thousands of props. The oldest, most weathered of them have always been the most precious to me.

I always carry a personal camera with me. The intersection of my professional life and my love of objects from the past inspired this collection.