Brief
The final assignment is an open brief. Take a series of 10 photographs of any subject exploring the theme ‘Photography is Simple’. Each photograph should be a unique view; in other words, it should contain some new information, rather than repeat the information of the previous image.
Introduction
My first action on reading the brief for this assignment was to look up the meaning of word “simple” to see if any of the words could, in any way relate to my current experience of photography!
“easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty”
“a simple solution”
“straightforward, easy, uncomplicated, uninvolved plain, basic, or uncomplicated in form, nature, or design; without much decoration or ornamentation”
After some thought and having determined that none of the words describe photography to me, I wondered if they might to other people or perhaps to me before I became interested in photography. Without doubt it can be a simple process to take a photograph, but does that mean photography is easy?
Taking it further and looking at the meaning of the word “photography”, which was given as “the art or practice of taking and processing photographs” If I use these words in place of the words “simple” and “photography” the brief becomes something like:
“The art or practice of taking and processing photographs is easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty”
Not withstanding the fact that as technology has moved on, it has opened up photography to anyone and the ability to take a “good” photograph can indeed be simple.
In my own experience of taking photographs, I regularly see “things” that I want to photograph in order to create images. It could be an object or part of an object, something man made or natural. This for me is the “simple part of photography” although it’s not always that simple when there is an exercise or assignment and pressure to fulfil a brief. The hardest and least simple part of the process for me is taking the picture in the right way in order to create an image that matches what I see or feel. In looking at it this way my initial response to the brief is that Photography is not simple.
I started working on this assignment at the beginning of March when restrictions relating to Covid – 19 virus came into force.
These restrictions, rather than hold me back actually made me re think and use what had learned through the previous assignments, exercises and online meetings/tutorials.
Details of this “epiphany” can be found in:
Assignment five Photography is simple: Research and Planning
For my final 10, each image has been shot with a minimum of one layer of glass between the camera and the outside world, with a maximum of three layers for some shots. There is also an additional “layer” in the form of a reflection(s) or physical layer on, or in front of the glass.
Final 10
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- jlm1432.jpg
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- _JLM1381
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- _JLM1335L
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- _JLM1389
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- _JLM1409
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- _JLM1382
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- _JLM1370L
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- _JLM1411
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- _JLM1377
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- _JLM1429
Image 1 taken from inside through a window that has blinds on the outside (2 Layers)
Img.1 jlm1432.jpg
Image 2 taken from the inside through an internal round window and glass doors (2 Layers)
Img.2 _JLM1381
Image 3 Taken through a window which had a layer of dust left after rain and wind. (2 Layers)
Img.3 _JLM1335L
Image 4 Taken from inside through a window with the refection being from a round glass window (2 Layers)
Img.4 _JLM1389
Image 5 Taken from inside through an internal glass door reflecting back through the windows to the outside (2 Layers)
Img5 _JLM1409
Image 6 Taken from inside through a window with blinds on the outside (2 Layers)
Img.6 _JLM1382
Image 7 Taken from inside through a window with a photoshop layer (2 Layers). The layer image came from the images taken at the start of the panning process.
Img.7 _JLM1370L
Image 8 Taken from inside through a window with a distorted reflection (1 Layer)
Img.8 _JLM1411
Image 9 Taken from inside through internal glass window with 2 further reflections from further internal and external windows (3 Layers)
Img.9 _JLM1377
Image 10 Taken from inside through a window with shutters catching the reflection of an open glass door (2 Layers)
Img.10 _JLM1429
Conclusion
Completing this assignment has made me realise how far I have come in my journey and how far I still have to go. In response the the statement “Photography is simple” I would suggest that yes Photography is simple, unless you decide to take a course such as this or delve past taking snaps onyour phone, whereby you discover very quickly that it isn’t!
OCAPhotography 
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