Photography

Photography

Virtually no aspect of modern life functions without using photographs. From the moment we wake up in the morning to the last thing at night we are bombarded by photographic images that have been taken and chosen to have an effect on those that see them. The effect of these determines what we buy, how we see ourselves, how we plan, how we learn and how we communicate with each other. Photography is the universal language understood by every human being at virtually any age.

Photography remains a breathtakingly powerful medium despite it having existed for nearly 170 years. New technology has increased both its quality and access to it. Photographs still have the power to bring down governments, shock, excite, anger, please and soothe.

You will be introduced to the building blocks of photography – the inner workings of the camera, the magic of light, and the secrets to making original, creative and exciting photographs.  You will learn how to properly expose film, how to develop that film, and to make traditional black and white prints under the glow of red light.  Digital photography, editing, and post-production will form a large part of your course.

The most important thing you can bring away from your course is a new sense of seeing and an understanding and appreciation of the image, to have a finer appreciation of light, to discover meaning in photographs. You will learn how to make images, important and powerful in their own right. Your work will be recorded in sketchbooks which need to be brought to every lesson and updated daily. As well, you will log all your practical outcomes on your personal blog.

The photography course will look at studio, location, experimental and traditional methods. It will also look at genres such as advertising, fine art, documentary, reportage, special occasion, natural history etc. as these are all part of the photographers potential future employment.
Through a series of classroom and location demonstrations, you will be introduced to classic techniques and manipulations that can be used throughout your time on your photography course, and which can help to express your ideas and concepts. You will use a variety of techniques, both digital and traditional, to create images relating to set briefs. You are not strictly limited to using photographic techniques and are encouraged to include your knowledge from other subject areas to develop your work and projects. You will research into a variety of artists and methods of working that will provide inspiration for your own photographs and image making. Independent working is highly encouraged for your own personal development and to achieve the highest possible marks. Throughout your time on the course, you will be able to make informed choices about the production of your images as you continue to discover the tools and techniques most relevant to your work.

Your work may be documentary, abstract, social commentary, or self-explorative in nature, to name a few. You will produce images on nearly a daily basis to build your portfolio and online blog. You will also develop the ability to contextualize, analyse and critique your work and the work of others.