By Geneva Ge
Simon Burns’ works have a depth beyond the photograph; from a basketball player frozen in time to a fiery sky above deep-blue water, they are all profound in nature. There is a real thoughtfulness present in each piece. Simon began taking photos after discovering his love for it in a course at school. “I don’t usually think that much about philosophy or a theme while out shooting. I just capture what feels interesting or intriguing to me.” The sole exception to this is taking portraits, as Simon tries his hardest to “have a conversation if [he’s] shooting portraits so [he] can capture true emotions rather than what someone wants to convey.”
Funnily enough, what prompted his interest in photography was the Apple TV screensaver. “I was entranced by the ability displayed as the pictures of flooded deserts, mountains, cliffs, icebergs, lakes and animals all captured perfectly as they scrolled across the TV screen.” Simon is receptive to everything around him; anything has the potential to capture his camera’s attention. Touchingly, he is inspired by his grandma. “While she may not have professional equipment or the ability to upload the photos onto her computer, I have never seen someone who loves capturing both moments and feelings with a lens than her,” he recalls fondly.
As an avid athlete, he had to take a break after suffering an injury in early 2020. By working in sports photography, he could continue to be involved in this part of his life. “It’s a lot easier when doing sports photography because the camera isn’t the main point of attention. I usually end up thinking of what a piece represents and what themes I want to convey in the editing process,” he says. This year, Simon’s works were mainly prompted by his experiences. Without the opportunity to play sports, the time off has allowed time for developing his photography and seeing new angles in life and his passions.
Simon is a lifer at Collingwood; he plays soccer, basketball, and rugby both at school and outside of it. One wonders how he has any free time at all, but when he does, Simon skis, takes photos, and spends time with his friends. “I don’t think I will pursue an arts-related career,” he says, “but if an opportunity shows itself, I won’t hesitate.” He hopes to find a future in business or engineering but will continue to develop his passion for photography and art.
Simon Burns’ works have a depth beyond the photograph; from a basketball player frozen in time to a fiery sky above deep-blue water, they are all profound in nature. There is a real thoughtfulness present in each piece. Simon began taking photos after discovering his love for it in a course at school. “I don’t usually think that much about philosophy or a theme while out shooting. I just capture what feels interesting or intriguing to me.” The sole exception to this is taking portraits, as Simon tries his hardest to “have a conversation if [he’s] shooting portraits so [he] can capture true emotions rather than what someone wants to convey.”
Funnily enough, what prompted his interest in photography was the Apple TV screensaver. “I was entranced by the ability displayed as the pictures of flooded deserts, mountains, cliffs, icebergs, lakes and animals all captured perfectly as they scrolled across the TV screen.” Simon is receptive to everything around him; anything has the potential to capture his camera’s attention. Touchingly, he is inspired by his grandma. “While she may not have professional equipment or the ability to upload the photos onto her computer, I have never seen someone who loves capturing both moments and feelings with a lens than her,” he recalls fondly.
As an avid athlete, he had to take a break after suffering an injury in early 2020. By working in sports photography, he could continue to be involved in this part of his life. “It’s a lot easier when doing sports photography because the camera isn’t the main point of attention. I usually end up thinking of what a piece represents and what themes I want to convey in the editing process,” he says. This year, Simon’s works were mainly prompted by his experiences. Without the opportunity to play sports, the time off has allowed time for developing his photography and seeing new angles in life and his passions.
Simon is a lifer at Collingwood; he plays soccer, basketball, and rugby both at school and outside of it. One wonders how he has any free time at all, but when he does, Simon skis, takes photos, and spends time with his friends. “I don’t think I will pursue an arts-related career,” he says, “but if an opportunity shows itself, I won’t hesitate.” He hopes to find a future in business or engineering but will continue to develop his passion for photography and art.
