B.A. Photography

Each of our four-year BA (Hons) programmes in art shares common elements of study during the early part of Year 1. All first year Art (Intermedia Art, Painting, Photography, Sculpture and General Art entry routes) students work together in the first semester.

During first year you will experience a wide range of options including painting, photography, sculpture and intermedia art and we introduce you to studio practice, workshops and the types of teaching you will experience. For example: what a project brief is for, what a crit is, how a seminar works, what to expect from a tutorial, what feedback is for and how you use it.

We introduce you to key visual culture texts, methods and methodologies of art theory and practice. As the year progresses you have project options to enable you to specialise in the subject most appropriate to your work. In semester two students make decisions about which programme they wish to study supported by feedback and advice from staff.

Subsequently you will develop your specialist study of photography in relation to the wider field of contemporary art practice, acquiring skills in handling small, medium and large-format cameras. You will gain knowledge of film processing, studio practice, and printing black & white and colour photographs, both chemically and digitally.

Within historical and contemporary contexts, projects will explore such areas as environmental portraiture, studio still life, landscape and moving image, with strong emphasis on accompanying research. Students undertake personal, 'self directed' projects throughout the year. Regular technical instruction is provided across a wide range of digital and analogue photographic practice.

As your technical proficiency develops, you will place your output within a definable context, and discuss and present it accordingly. Topics covered include social documentary, typology, gallery practice, with students having the opportunity to exhibit their work in a gallery location within the city of Edinburgh. Research and self-directed projects continue to play an important role in the student learning experience. A range of 'study abroad' exchange opportunities are on offer in Semester Two.

Towards the end of your study you will undertake major self-directed projects, in which you will be given the opportunity to explore and research your subject matter in depth, make personal observations, explore your interests and interpret themes. Fourth year culminates in the submission of student work for the Degree Show where previous photography students have exhibited an impressive range of work ranging from mainstream fine printing to installation pieces, film, video and multimedia productions.