Photons do not experience time, regardless of the number of light years we perceive that they may have traveled from our frame of reference. However, their physical properties, such as frequency and polarization, can change over time. Therefore, time and change are distinct properties. Change just happens to occur over time. Time does not occur over change.

The relationship of time and change can follow that of a dimension of space and distance: Space does not need the perception of distance along the dimension in order for it to be. However, the perception of distance (or difference between two distances) requires the facility of a dimension of space. Likewise, change requires the facility of time.