Photography ba(hons)

Year 1

In the first year, there are four themed practice modules, each lasting six or seven weeks, and two historical and critical studies modules.

• Practice 1: Photography and Identity

  In this module you will be encouraged to consider the photographic portrait in the widest possible sense through making a body of work. The subject matter and approach can consider social, personal, gender, ethnicity, generational or family relations. Work may highlight importance of location - workplace or neighbourhood - on identity. Your final work should demonstrate aesthetic consideration, conceptual coherence, research through work in progress, technical realisation in DSLR camera, studio and location lighting; Lightroom, Photoshop, digital printing and portfolio presentation.

• Practice 2: Photography and Place

  In this module you will be encouraged to consider the photograph as landscape in the widest possible sense through making a body of work. Subject matter and approach may consider relationships between nature and culture, habitation and environment, to creatively explore and imaginatively visualise contemporary landscape or a more broadly defined sense of place. Your final work should demonstrate aesthetic consideration, conceptual coherence, research through work in progress, technical realisation in camera, and darkroom processes, printing and display presentation.

• Practice 3: The Photograph as Document

  In this module you will consider the photograph as document through making a body of work. Potential approaches can involve a drawing from social documentary, photojournalism or reportage, to conceptually based art practices that address cultural, historical, political and social issues through a critical approach to the photographic document or archive. Your final work should demonstrate aesthetic consideration, conceptual coherence, research through work in progress, technical realisation in digital production of image/text, colour darkroom, scanning, printing and presentation as installation.

• Practice 4: The Photograph as Fiction

  In this module you will be encouraged to consider the photograph as fiction through making a body of work. Potential approaches can involve a range of possibilities, from collage or montage, to theatrical scenarios that form imaginary narratives, or address cultural, historical, political and social issues. Your final work should demonstrate aesthetic consideration, conceptual coherence, research through work in progress, technical realisation in studio flash (staged), digital printing, projections, light boxes and other forms of photographic image presentation.

• Historical and Critical Studies 1: Origins and Histories

  This module will provide you with an historical overview and analysis of the origins of photography. You will explore how and why history enables meaningful engagement in contemporary debates about photographic practices. You will develop your ability to conduct research - to acquire knowledge through the university’s learning resources, including libraries, studentcentral, the internet, public collections, museums and galleries. Your ability to interpret research, towards seminar discussion and presentation, correctly referencing authors and texts, is developed through this module.

• Historical and Critical Studies 2: Documents and Fictions

  This module will provide an analysis of the major cultural and critical developments related to photographs regarded as documents and as fictions from early modernism to the contemporary period. You will develop your ability to conduct research, to acquire knowledge through the university’s learning resources, including libraries, studentcentral, the internet, public collections, museums and galleries. Your ability to interpret research, towards seminar discussion and presentation, correctly referencing authors and texts, is developed through this module.

Students generally work in groups of ten to twelve with a tutor or tutors in each module. The group convenes weekly to review and discuss progress and share feedback. Over the module, students develop a body of work for review in a formal setting. In this final session, students learn to make a formal presentation of work to the group, help critique other students' work, and receive feedback from peers and tutors.

Practice modules are underpinned by a series of introductory technical demonstrations and workshops, by study support sessions, and by occasional lectures by staff and visiting lecturers. One day of the week is dedicated to Historical and Critical studies that take the form of a lecture as part of a series, followed by a group seminar and library study time. During the week students are expected to work independently on preparation for seminars and on the practice projects for the modules, making full use of the resources that include processing areas, dark rooms, computer suites and photography studios.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.