Airport screeners, a pitcher of salami and a lot of questions

Airport screeners on the other side of the X-ray machine are a bit like moms. A small lift of the eyebrows with a lightly cutting remark, a disappointed tone, or a world-weary question all convey just how bad it is that I left that bottle of water in my carry-on.

But apparently I’m not the only prodigal traveler, as photographer Taryn Simon discovered during five days spent shooting at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City last year. Her new exhibit and book, Contraband, documents 1,075 items seized at customs.