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History Refracted explores the complex relationship between my experiences with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the fragmented memories of my deployment in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. Everyday scenes, seemingly benign, can trigger vivid recollections, refracting moments of the past into sharp focus. These memories, often elusive and abstract, compel me to confront them through photography, turning them into something tangible and accessible.

Through this process, each photograph serves as a means to engage with my fractured memory, offering a way to reassemble the narrative of my time in service. As I revisit these images, they invite both reflection and confrontation, allowing me to re-examine the emotional weight they hold. This visual journey creates a space where trauma and memory blur, providing moments of both clarity and challenge.

History Refracted is my ongoing effort to unravel the impact of trauma on personal identity and memory. By capturing these images, I strive to reconcile the disjointed fragments of my military experience, transforming them into a path toward understanding and healing

© Copyright Matthew Troyer Photography 2024
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