FdA Commercial Photography (with BA Top Up option)

COURSE OVERVIEW

Whether it’s capturing the news in pictures or framing a dramatic fashion shot, commercial photography has the power to move people. This course has been designed to produce the next generation of visually expressive, fashion, documentary, editorial, portrait and advertising photographers.

 

We’re looking for people who want to push creative boundaries, challenge industry perceptions and set the agenda for the future of commercial photography. You’ll learn about photographic practice and theory as we guide you towards a career in photography and the creative industries. You’ll enter the industry with the confidence to discuss issues, theories and techniques with your fellow creative professionals.

 

RESOURCES

· Some of the world’s top photographers started their careers here and we’re able to attract a wide range of excellent speakers including photographers, art directors, picture editors, agents, stylists, and photographic assistants.

· Our experienced team have active practices in: editorial portrait photography, documentary photography, advertising and fashion photography, digital expertise, and specialist critical theory.

· We offer the specialist environment and equipment to experience working at a professional level:

  • Extensive studios
  • Black and white and colour darkrooms and film processing
  • A dedicated digital suite and a location and studio equipment store
  • A dedicated team of technicians who provide technical assistance and advice to support your studies

 

YEAR 1

Year 1 gives you creative and practical skills you’ll build on during the course.

· You’ll be introduced to photographic techniques and processes through units that emphasise digital imaging and studio practice.

· You’ll learn about photography as the key visual medium in modern culture.

· You’ll be given guest lectures by visiting photographers and industry professionals.

· You’ll be given a work placement to get some real experience of industry and start to think about your career options.

 

YEAR 2

In Year 2 you’ll develop your skills and knowledge in specific areas of photographic practice.

· You’ll take more responsibility for your learning - developing your creative, research and conceptual skills and combining them with professional awareness and understanding.

· You’ll work on ‘live’ projects and collaborate professionally.

· You’ll be able to choose units that help your move into employment or further study.

· You’ll give an end-of-course exhibition with the opportunity to promote yourself to the industry through your own website and folio.

· Students who successfully complete this Foundation Degree can top up their qualification with a BA (Hons) in Commercial Photography.

 

This course currently offers a BA (Hons) Top Up option - see bottom of this page. However, from 2012 we propose to offer the course as a BA (Hons) Degree, subject to validation.

For further information, please go to the BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course page.

 

INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS
Interviews are an opportunity for you to demonstrate your commitment and self-motivation and to discuss aspects of your chosen course. You will be expected to display an advanced level of photographic skills and an appreciation of contemporary commercial photographic practice and its professional context. Portfolios should exhibit work that evidences good photographic skills, creativity, self-motivation and contextual awareness.

 

WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We look for students who have clear focus and ambition, who have already demonstrated an interest in photography and wish to channel that commitment into a course that will give them the opportunity to realise their potential as commercial photographers.

 

As well as a well-developed portfolio, you will need to be able to demonstrate evidence of research (for example through sketchbooks, essays or progress diaries).

 

SKILLS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
All students undertake a formal placement in Year 1 and many return to continue their work assignment the following year with a view to future employment. Our students have recently enjoyed placements across a variety of creative companies and studios, including: Dazed and Confused Magazine, Nick Knight, Rankin, Nadav Kandar, Marco Santtucci Agency, Wolfgang Tillmans, Balcony Jump Agency, Tim Walker, Platon- NYC, Ewen Spencer and Shona Heath (set building and styling). The course offers opportunities for educational and industry visits both nationally and internationally (to such cities as New York) and to a variety of gallery and studio based visits in the UK.

 

Many of our graduating students have chosen to go directly into the industry as freelance photographers or assistants within the areas of fashion, advertising and editorial photography. Others have chosen related careers including working on picture desks, working for photographic agents, styling or as advertising creatives.

 

A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS COURSE
More student work, together with a look at our studios, recent projects, exhibitions, industry links and details of our course staff, can all be viewed in the ‘Showcase’ for this course.

 

BA (HONS) DEGREE (TOP UP OPTION)

We do not currently anticipate being able to accept direct entrants to this course in 2012/13.


This additional year offers an opportunity to those students who wish to refine their photographic practice, developing and reflecting on their experience gained during previous study. The course nurtures students to develop into creatively mature, commercially focused and autonomous photographers; it offers a supportive learning environment in which to carry out extensive research to advance your practice and to develop your practical, theoretical and intellectual abilities. It will encourage and enable you to evidence a sophisticated understanding of commercial photographic practice and will provide further opportunities to promote yourself as a photographer. You will graduate with the qualities and transferable skills necessary not only for employment but also for postgraduate study.

 

This BA (Hons) award is not offered as a three year course and is only available to those articulating from a Foundation Degree. Students may also apply to the third year of other Honours Degree courses, where their suitability will be considered by the relevant course team. Students who are not currently studying at the University College may also apply to the third year of this BA (Hons) course if they hold the relevant subject qualification. Applicants to the final year of a BA (Hons) qualification may be required to undertake Bridging Studies to prepare them for studies on the Honours degree course.

 

For further details go to the BA (Hons) Commercial Photography Top Up page.

 

COURSE LEADER

Conrad Tracy

CONTACT

Admissions

Tel: 01202 363228/363225

Email: admissions@aucb.ac.uk