Photography BA(Hons)

During the first year of your photography degree you’ll explore the expressive, critical and technical potential of photography. This will help you to develop and consolidate photographic craft skills in the context of contemporary photographic practice. You’ll build your professional practice through an introduction to key industry issues, copyright and business practices, allowing you to develop a professional identity while researching and interrogating the importance of professional ethics. 

Modules

Elements of Photographic Practice & Context  

We’ll introduce you to a range of photographic approaches, techniques and skills, through a series of weekly thematic projects. You’ll begin to explore the expressive, critical and technical potential of photography to develop craft in the context of contemporary practice. 

Professional Practice 

You’ll dive into key industry issues, copyright and business practices, allowing you to construct your professional identity while researching and interrogating the importance of professional ethics. You’ll design and construct your own website and business profile and build your social media presence while developing your CV through workshops, lectures and tutorials. 

Developing Approaches to Practice & Context  

You’ll develop and consolidate your photographic craft, research, contextual knowledge and project development skills. Through technical inductions and workshops, you’ll build your practical photographic skills, from working with professional studio equipment through to the use of moving image and colour darkroom printing. This module also introduces the relevance of historical and contemporary approaches in image making to enable you to contextualise and develop critical and reflective research skills.  

Image in Context

You’ll explore methods of describing and analysing photographs within the contexts in which they’re placed, exploring key concepts in visual culture and media studies. This will enable you to better understand how photographs are used, the relationship between image and text, and the professional contexts in which your work can exist. 

We’ll push you to work more independently as you develop your own style. Work placements and live collaborative projects will further develop your professional and technical abilities and knowledge of global themes and debates in photography. 

Modules

Expanded Practice

This practice-based module aims to explore imaging in its broadest sense, encouraging experimental practice and a multidisciplinary approach. You’ll explore expanded photographic practice in art-based and commercial contexts and will develop a new body of independent work. 

Collaboration

Working within a small team, you’ll research and build a proposal for a collaborative project, which can be anything from a short film to a socially engaged/community project. Working together, you’ll develop an awareness of a variety of roles within the photographic and creative industries, considering ethics, copyright law and other legal matters relating to professional practice. 

Global Positions 

This module introduces you to global themes and debates that are fundamental to the study of the image, ideas of looking and subjectivity, and the contexts and institutions within which we view the photographic image. You’ll examine the production, dissemination and reception of contemporary photography, focusing on global cultural debates and diverse practices in the expanded field.  

Audience and Context

This module builds your self-directed practice through the production of a portfolio showing emerging personal iconography. You’ll grow your independent practice while building your awareness of the professional context. 
Research Project Preparation

Work Experience

We’ll prepare you with the professional skills and experience to pursue a career through creative practice.  Tutors will help to identify your personal strengths and interests and help you organise a work placement (typically two weeks’ duration or equivalent).  

With improved confidence and a well-rounded skill set, you’ll be ready to complete your final portfolios and contextual research project to prepare you for a career in the creative industries. 

Modules

Development Portfolio

This module forms the inspirational and contextual backbone of the final year of study. Based on the interests you’ve developed in the previous two years, you’ll produce a portfolio that begins to define your individual practice with an emphasis on research and exploration toward the completion of your final major project. You’ll be supported in this process by intensive one-to-one tutorials, group workshops and seminars and peer assessments. 

Contextual Project

You’ll research, explore and develop your own interests, working independently (with supervision) to build a final piece of academic work. This will contextualise the area of specialism you’re developing in your practice. This project may take the form of a written essay, a curatorial proposal or multimedia/moving image piece of work, to be negotiated with your supervisor. 

Final Project

During this final module, you’ll produce a professional portfolio and final exhibition presentation that will help you pave your chosen career path after university. This final project should reflect your technical skill, creativity and individuality to industry standards.