Photography BA (Hons)

You develop general digital production skills with an additional focus on post-production. You enhance effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a number of platforms, with more relevance to the subject-specific disciplines. You have the opportunity to gain Adobe Accredited user status.

You are introduced to effective practical, technical and aesthetical approaches required to create a variety of digital media artefacts across a variety of digital delivery platforms. You learn a variety of sector specific and industry standard digital delivery methods and production techniques surrounding the acquisition, manipulation and operation of media production hardware and software applications. In addition to the supervised contact time, you also have access to freelance resources. You are assessed on two pass/fail components. Your first assessment is a series of practical exams that determine your proficiency across a range of digital media production disciplines. Your second assessment is a digital portfolio of work developed during the module.

You are introduced to photographic technologies and concepts related to a print-based digital environment. You will acquire skills related to digital camera systems, image processing and printing while progressing your understanding of the concepts of lens-based image making. Emphasis is placed on learning core principles of digital photographic technology and fundamental visual skills for photographers.

The creative side of photography through a series of open-ended and thought-provoking briefs are introduced. Weekly briefs will challenge you to consider the ways in which the photograph can be used as a representational tool and help them expand their photographic vocabulary. You will also have the opportunity to engage with photography through tutor-led field trips where practical skills can be tested and refined.

You are introduced to the fundamentals of photographic and lens-based imaging. The emphasis is on applied skills and understanding basic principles of lens-based image making. Short, topic-orientated production assignments explore photography as an art and documentary form and lead to a basic understanding of image making with cameras. The course includes lecture, studio, and critique sessions.

We live in a visual culture. This modules explores how we see and take meaning from images across a range of media platforms including television, cinema, the press and the visual arts.

Develop your understanding of building a career in the creative industries through key skills in creative leadership, collaborative entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Following your earlier learning within the Bootcamp module, this module builds on the foundations of group working, technical skills and the creative development of documentary content. You are encouraged to experiment, push yourself creatively and not be afraid to pursue ambition, excellence and innovation.

You focus on the production process rather than just the final product – this ensures that you are appropriately rewarded even if an ambitious project ultimately 'crashes and burns'.

This module culminates in you working as part of a production team to create a five to ten-minute documentary to a set brief. You submit this documentary for assessment.

You consider a chronological overview of developments in analogue and digital photography from 1839 through to the onset of digital photography. The module treats photography broadly as a cultural activity with emphasis on its historical, documentary, and social value as well as its own aesthetic developments during this period. Attention is given to the relationship of photography to other media and to the development of photographic theory

You are introduced to the business side of photography through a series of industry-focused briefs designed to develop your working knowledge of the practice of photography in both artistic and commercial contexts. You will also be taught the principles of photographic business plans, consulting with clients, managing shoots, creating websites and image galleries, marketing, branding, ethics and the legal responsibilities and liabilities of working photographers today.

This module is a practical and creative investigation into a minor project of your choice, taking into consideration personal growth in relation to practical and conceptual photography skills, and proficiencies related to personal growth within professional practice. You research, execute and exhibit a photography project that explores your chosen specialism within the field: a commercial, documentary or fine art photography project, presented with an audience in mind. Taught sessions and lectures expand your technical and conceptual skillset. Studio seminar sessions focus on presentations and discussions of work in progress with your tutor and peers. You are assessed by 100% ICA, which is an individual portfolio of work produced throughout the module (70%) and a final project group presentation (30%).

You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.

You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.

Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:

· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.

If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.

You will focus on an extended self-directed photography project that will synthesise the theories, practices and industry skills learned in previous years. It demonstrates the ability to analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply what has already been studied on the course whilst demonstrating critical and evaluative skills and professional awareness. You work in regular consultation with an advisor through the research and development stage to the making of your final conceptual and visual production of images. The critique and public display of this project is an integral and mandatory part of the process. You are guided to develop an appropriate sense of work-discipline coupled with a professional outlook. You are expected to take responsibility for the planning and execution of this project, including the consideration of associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues.

Advanced hybrid forms employed in digital imaging are the focus of this module. It emphasises creative production combining still or moving images with audio, basic programming, and digital modes of presentation. Lectures and workshops allow students to acquire production skills necessary for creating innovative web content, site-specific installations and gallery exhibitions. A variety of presentation modes are introduced including projection, digital displays, real-time processing, and digital streaming.

You develop insight into the commercial photographic sector, helping you prepare for a career as a freelance or commercial photographer. You will develop and manage a series of photographic production projects to professional standards within the constraints of client-centered briefs, adhering to legislative and ethical requirements.

In this module, you complete a self-managed research project that investigates an area of the arts, and may link to an areas of study in practice, academia, teaching pedagogy and/or business and entrepreneurship.

The module develops your autonomy in decision-making including negotiating the project topic, form and assessment format. You can use and advance on your research, analysis, evaluation, critical reflection and communication skills through a field of study that is relevant to your own interests and potential future career prospects.

You engage in a range of experiences of staff and external professionals’ research projects. You are also encouraged to join and contribute to a community of scholars and place your work in conjunction with the current arts industry and research landscapes.