BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Top Up)
THE COURSE
The BA (Hons) Commercial
Photography (Top Up) inspires and encourages you to refine your
photographic practice, developing and reflecting on your experience
gained during previous study (FdA, HND and Year 1 and 2 of an
Honours programme). The course aims to nurture and develop you into
a creatively mature and autonomous photographer, encouraging you to
determine, rather than pursue, commercial photographic
employment.
The course offers a supportive learning environment for you, the commercially-focused student, in which to carry out extensive research to advance your practice. We encourage a liberating rather than a prescriptive approach to learning within which you will develop innovative solutions to issues in the contemporary photographic marketplace. The course supports advanced development of practical, theoretical and intellectual abilities through a broad cultural and professional framework. This enables you to evidence a sophisticated understanding of commercial photographic practice and contribute new visual and conceptual stimulus into the creative industries.
The BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Top Up) allows you to confirm your particular creative concerns and to extend the scope and depth of your enquiry.
Applicants to the final year of a BA (Hons) qualification will be required to undertake Bridging Studies to prepare them for year 3 studies on the Honours degree course. The taught part of Bridging Studies takes place during the latter part of the summer term for those who studied their Foundation Degree at the Arts University College at Bournemouth, and during the summer for applicants from other institutions.
STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Students
enrolling onto a top up course will need to have achieved 120
credits at Level 5 in a relevant area of study. Applicants whose
first language is not English should have an IELTS score in the
range of 6.0 to 7.0, or a TOEFL score of 650 (paper based score)
250 (computer based score) or other equivalent.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We look for students who
have clear focus and ambition; those who already have an
investiture in photography and wish to channel that commitment into
a course that will give them the opportunity to realise their
potential as commercial photographers. You will need to be able to
demonstrate evidence of research, for example through sketchbooks
or progress diaries, and should possess a well-developed portfolio,
evidencing good photographic skills and creative ability.
INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS
Interviews are
an opportunity for you to demonstrate their commitment and
self-motivation and to discuss aspects of your chosen course. We
expect to see a mature portfolio of photographic images that
evidences creativity, technical proficiency and a clear intention.
All work should be supported by a clear understanding of commercial
context and communicate the individual's visual voice.
Applicants must also provide an essay or other relevant written material that confirms investiture into photographic practice at an appropriate academic level.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The structure of the
course is made up of 4 units that will further develop your
potential to become intellectually motivated, creative photographic
practitioner.
Specialist Practice provides first hand experience of dealing with the constraints and expectations of photographic practice. It includes the design of a self initiated project, the opportunity to produce a commercially focused body of work and a formal report that evaluates the project’s success after completion.
Investigative Study presents the opportunity to pursue a programme of advanced independent research that has the potential to support the content of the Final Major Project. The unit gives you the opportunity to demonstrate a level of skills in research, analysis, criticism and communication are commensurate with the award of BA with Honours.
Final Major Project provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your creative maturity, technical proficiancy, level of intellectual enquiry and career ambition through the completion of an extended body of self directed photographic work. The work produced for the unit allows you the opportunity to create a body of images that demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and creativity, making clear your intent as commercial photographer.
Promotion & Evaluation helps to prepare you for employment through self-promotion, including portfolio building and simulated work related situations. The unit will also expect you to consider your audience/client base in preparation for practice after graduation.
RESOURCES
Practical work is based around
our large well-equipped photographic studios. Formal lectures,
discussion groups and year presentations take place in our
dedicated seminar room. The library and main lecture theatres are
used for our theory lectures and also for guest speakers. The
department has a digital suite, black and white and colour
darkrooms and an equipment store for both studio and location
needs.
Our core team of staff have a variety of professional experiences and are still active within their practice, including editorial portrait photography, documentary photography, advertising and fashion photography, digital expertise and specialist critical theory knowledge. The academic staff are supported by four technician demonstrators.
The course regularly attracts a wide range of guest speakers from industry, who are often involved in areas of course delivery, placement and the courses Industry Liaison Group. These speakers include photographers, art directors, picture editors, agents and photographic assistants.
DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS
As examples our
students have recently enjoyed placements in Nick Knight’s
Showstudio, at Dazed & Confused, Another Magazine, Observer
Magazine, The Guardian, Elle, Marco Santucci and with the
photographer Platon in New York.
FUTURE CAREERS AND GRADUATE SUCCESS
Many
of the graduating students have chosen to go straight into the
industry as freelance photographers or assistants within the areas
of fashion, advertising and editorial photography. Alternative
employment opportunities include working on picture desks, in
advertising agencies or in photographic production.
COURSE DETAILS
Mode of Study: Full-time
Course Duration: 1 year (full-time)
Institution Code: A66
UCAS CODE
W642
COURSE LEADER
Conrad Tracy
CONTACT
Admissions
Tel: 01202 363228/363225
Email: admissions@aucb.ac.uk
