Photography BA Honours

4.5
1 review
  • I’ve seen students get published ... and exhibited at places like the National Portrait Gallery – it sets the bar high, inspires, and gives you something to aim for.
    |

Bachelor's degree

In London

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    London

  • Duration

    3 Years

  • Start date

    October

If you are curious about the world and about people, BA Photography will enable you to explore photography as a communicator of visual ideas and information, developing the skills and knowledge essential for a career in the creative industry.
Many Middlesex photography graduates have received industry recognition for their work. In recent years this has included several D&AD New Blood Gold Medal Winners, six finalists for the National Portrait Gallery Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (including the 2015 John Kobal New Work Award), winners in all three '5 Under 30' competitions run by the Daniel Blau Gallery and a national advertising commission from one of the world's leading advertising agencies, John Walter Thompson.
At Middlesex we have some of the best facilities and staff in the country to help you realise your creative vision,

Facilities

Location

Start date

London
See map
The Burroughs, NW4 4BT

Start date

OctoberEnrolment now open

About this course

Qualifications
112 UCAS points
Middlesex University has a flexible and personalised approach to admissions and we accept applications from students with a wide range of qualifications and a combination of qualifications.
Please check our general entry requirements page to see how these points can be achieved from our acceptable level 3 qualifications and the combinations which are welcomed by Middlesex University, including GCSE requirements successful completion of which will guarantee a place on a nominated degree.

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Reviews

4.5
  • I’ve seen students get published ... and exhibited at places like the National Portrait Gallery – it sets the bar high, inspires, and gives you something to aim for.
    |
100%
4.7
excellent

Course rating

Recommended

Centre rating

Asef Ali Mohammad .

4.5
17/03/2017
What I would highlight: I’ve seen students get published ... and exhibited at places like the National Portrait Gallery – it sets the bar high, inspires, and gives you something to aim for.
What could be improved: Nothing.
Would you recommend this course?: Yes
*All reviews collected by Emagister & iAgora have been verified

This centre's achievements

2018
2017

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 13 years

Subjects

  • Presentation
  • IT
  • Approach
  • Lighting
  • Visual Communication
  • Editorial
  • Art
  • Advertising
  • Project
  • Industry
  • Communication Training
  • Skills and Training
  • Photographer
  • Events
  • Photography
  • Sports
  • Critical
  • Communication Arts
  • Contextual Research
  • Portraiture
  • Location shoots
  • Landscape Photography

Course programme

Course content

What will you study on the BA Photography ?

This degree encourages you to use your imagination and experiment at the same time as developing your skills. Throughout the course you will undertake a range of projects covering studio photography, portraiture, lighting and art direction, location shoots, landscape photography, sports and events, still life photography, fashion photography, architectural photography, urban landscape, reportage and photojournalism. With every project you are required to give a critical perspective of your own work.

Your first year explores photography through eight different projects that will give you the opportunity to investigate different approaches including black and white photography, digital imaging and hand colour printing. In your second year you will work on themed projects where you will be able to develop your own style and hone your skills. For example, photographing an area of London that is new to you or photographing different types of people. By your final year of study, you will be prepared to build your own professional portfolio informed by a research project related to your studio practice.

There are regular visits from high-profile guest speakers from diverse professional backgrounds, such as Professor Phil Cleaver, Simon Roberts, Dewi Lewis, John Blakemore, Tom Hunter, Professor Jem Southam and Julian Calder.

Modules

Year 1

Photography: Fashion and Documentary (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will introduce the contemporary methods applied to photographic practice within the fields of fashion, documentary and the urban environment. The module will also focus on several specialist fields in photography including documentary, fashion and the urban environment. You will develop an ability to research effectively, evaluate your own work and be able to place it in relation to an assessment rubric. You will also develop an awareness of ethics in photographic practice.

Photography: Traditional Processes (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will introduce the skills inherent within traditional photographic processes and will provide you with a range of skills and knowledge in traditional photographic processes. You will be encouraged to establish an appreciation and application of the use of light within the photographic medium, and engage with staged imagery and art direction.

Photography: Studio and Digital Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will introduce you to the photographic studio and digital darkroom as well as the skills and knowledge required in studio and digital photographic processes. You will engage with ideas of photographic construction and manipulation, and the relationship between photography, reality and truth. You will explore the use of constructed imagery in contemporary photographic practice and be able to emphasise the importance of collaboration within the editorial and commercial environments.

Culture and Contexts (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module provides an introduction to the expanding and inter-disciplinary field of photography, focusing on London as its main site of exploration. You will be equipped with the skills to apply cultural theory as a critical tool in the analysis of photographic works and images, and will be exploring a range of histories, practices and theories relevant to the consideration of photography as a rich, expanded and interdisciplinary field of study. You will learn different ways of understanding the importance and meaning of photographs, across various modes of photographic production and consumption, with emphasis on its technological evolution, its history as an art form and the political, social and institutional uses to which it has been put. You will be able to make use of the particular resources offered in London as a way of considering the urban, social, art-historical and cultural contexts of photography.

Year 2

Photography: Editorial Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module uses contemporary professional editorial photographic practice as a framework to explore specialist pathways in portraiture, fashion and fine art. You will develop an understanding and application of contemporary professional editorial photographic practice. You will critically examine photography as part of a visual language and the context in which commissioned work is consumed with an emphasis on the relationship between commercial demands and artistic integrity. Your existing photographic skills and knowledge in relation to professional standards will be expanded. You will further develop an understanding of specialist pathways within photography with knowledge of historical context and current practice.

Photography: Concept and Development (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module explores the idea of identity as a conceptual framework in photographic and artistic practice. Your understanding and ability to self-initiate photographic practice and research will be developed. You will identify a personal approach to the medium, exploring different specialist pathways, and expand your understanding of the photographer as author and investigate the work of both contemporary and historical practice in relation to your own work. You will experiment with and question both the production and consumption of photography and to articulate and discuss conceptual approaches to photographic work and its modes of presentation. You will further develop advanced techniques and technical skills to support this approach.

Photography: Social Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will explore ‘the other’ and our relationship with objects, environments and society. You will develop an understanding of the role of photography in interpreting and communicating the world around us through a personal socio-political and ideological viewpoint. You will investigate and observe objects, environments and society to understand how photographic representation can be used to explore, comment on and critique contemporary culture. The importance of the final photographic output and the context of its presentation and consumption will be emphasised. You will be encouraged to promote a deeper and more critical understanding of contemporary and historical practices in some of the specialist subject pathways. An appreciation and application of the advanced technical demands and stylistic choices inherent in producing work to a professional standard will be established.

The Critical Image (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module takes an interdisciplinary approach to the critical study of historical and contemporary photographic practice. You will consider a range of theoretical approaches that are helpful in understanding the ways in which photographic meaning is produced and understood. You will be equipped with the necessary critical tools for the analysis of photographic images as well as the social practices, histories and cultures in which they are enmeshed. Your skills and confidence in writing practice and your critically informed and responsible photographic practice will be developed and enhanced.

Year 3

Photography: Professional Toolkit (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will develop the knowledge and skills that are required to operate as an independent professional photographer. Your knowledge and skills will be extended to become a self-reflective and critically engaged photographer. You will develop appropriate research methods and analytical skills to both respond to commissions and to generate self-initiated projects. You will gain an awareness of how to negotiate commercial contexts and established professional standards of photographic practice. You will promote professional development through a self-negotiated work placement or similar, within an area of the photographic industry.

Photography: Negotiated Practice (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will develop your ability to formulate and write a critically informed photographic project proposal. The module will also facilitate the development of a personal direction of work, researched thoroughly and executed to a professional standard. You will be enabled to investigate strategies for developing ideas into negotiated photographic project proposals. You will be supported in further extending your technical knowledge and building confidence as skilled and independent practitioners.

Photography: Professional Portfolio (30 credits) - Compulsory

In this module, you will develop a self-initiated project proposal that consolidates your personal or commercial photographic direction and interests. The module will facilitate the formulation of a coherent self-initiated project related to an area of professional practice as well as the creation of a professional portfolio appropriate to an area of the creative industry. You will consolidate understanding of the broader contextual and theoretical frameworks that underpin photographic work. You will be supported in the development of strategies to critically reflect upon and evaluate your own work

Critical and Contextual Research Project (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module will facilitate you in identifying, developing and delivering an in-depth research project related to your study of photography, and culminating in an extended written essay. It will also facilitate you in developing an analytical engagement with a range of research resources in order to have a greater understanding of an area of photographic practice through its historical, theoretical and social contexts. You will consolidate the development of skills covering project identification, research organisation and development, time management, visual analysis and critical argument. You will extend your ability to think creatively about the presentation of conceptual, critical and contextual material in both written and visual form. You will be supported in consolidating the development of skills required for autonomous learning.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Photography BA Honours

Price on request