This course aims to create flexible, resourceful, creative, visual lens-based communicators with well-developed transferable skills, whether these be personal, interpersonal, practice based, knowledge-based or theoretical.
Photography is one of the most compelling and authoritative forms of visual communication, challenging the viewer and demanding an emotional response. It plays a significant role in everyday life - shaping our opinions about ourselves, and about the world around us. Knowing how to interpret, control and generate the messages communicated through photographs is essential for any photographer.
We understand that photography today is much more than just capturing an image - it's about context, placement, marketing, and distribution. That's why this course offers a fresh perspective on the role of photography and the photographer within society.
This is a broad-based course which provides you with the opportunity, skills and knowledge to become a flexible, creative, contemporary lens-based communicator. The course is designed to support the development of creative photographic practitioners, with a particular focus on digital media contexts, production and dissemination.
Drawing upon Salford School of Art & Design's reputation for engagement with new media, the BA Photography embraces the expanded field of digital photography and its applications to future individual, cultural and employment needs.
You will learn to apply a range of practical contemporary photographic and digital skills in order explore the creative and intellectual potential of existing, experimental and digital photographic techniques and their application within the creative arts and media industries.
You will study a critical history of visual language, and become able to articulate and contextualise your ideas using appropriate visual, written and oral languages.
The course supports both studio and non-studio based practice and offers a range of applied skills exploring the dynamic relationship between contemporary critical theory and current photographic trends.
As you progress through the levels you will have the opportunity to develop your own visual language, while additionally developing your knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of marketing and management within the creative industries.
You will be introduced to a series of skills sets which reflect the nature of contemporary photographic practice while the course develops your understanding of the broad visual, cultural and theoretical contexts in which contemporary photographers operate.
Year 1
The first year of the course is about gaining skills, knowledge and confidence to enable creative play while exploring contemporary photographic practices.
You will study a combination of practice, skills and academic/contextual studies based modules which develop knowledge, understanding and a critical reflective approach towards photographic practice and your own work. Contextual studies lectures and seminars develop knowledge, intellectual rigour, visual literacy and research skills. From this base of practice and theory you will develop and establish an informed understanding of photographic languages and initiate a personal and professional direction.
Photographic Skills A
This module will introduce the principles and delivery of photographic practice in three foundation skills areas lighting and camera handling, studio management and health and safety.
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Exploring Photographic Practice
This module will provide you with an introduction to visual communication and help you develop a critical appreciation of composition and design theory and its application to photographic practice. You will critically assess how historical photographic practices can inform contemporary approaches.
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Photographic Skills B
This module helps you to understand the principles and delivery of photographic practice through imaging software and techniques and learn how to effectively use a selection of image software applications. You will explore various methods of digital imaging and digital image creation.
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Directions Within Photographic Communication
During this module you will develop an understanding of the various type of photographic practices that constitute and define photographic communication and explore photographic collections (eg. in museums, galleries, archives, artist studios) as a base from which to discuss the medium within contemporary, aesthetic and professional contexts.
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Professional Frameworks
This module will introduce you to study skills and the availability of resources for personal development planning within an applied photographic and research practice and develop your awareness of professional photographic frameworks.
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Exploring Issues in Design
An appreciation of design theories, the history of design and the cultural contexts that influence creative thinking is essential for students engaged with the visual. The module provides an examination of key movements and photographers as well as an exploration of wider cultural influences on design.
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Year 2
The second year of the course develops understanding of professional contexts enhancing and deepening skills and understanding of contemporary photographic theory and practice.
You will continue to develop your own individual photographic practice through a series of projects and begin to hone your developing practice and critical skills through personal folio development, written assignments and research presentations. Emphasis here is on risk taking and the exploration of and experimentation with ideas, research methods, communication skills and imaginative approaches to practice. Professional skills and understanding are developed in relation to areas such as still and moving image, web publishing, archiving and exhibiting as appropriate to students ideas and contexts.
Areas of Photographic Practice B
This module will help you to consider methods of providing practice-based work, with audience development as a key criteria.
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International Markets and Contexts
This module will extend the principles and delivery of photographic practice through international contexts addressing, among others, how production is impacted by international markets and trends, how photography operates in different political climates, how geographical differences impact on photographic practice and how photographic practice can be adapted to meet the needs of emerging economies.
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Professional Practice for Photographic Communication
This module aims to develop the principles of professional photographic communication through an investigation of the working environment, taking the form of either a work placement or leading an independent project.
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Professional Frameworks 2
Building upon the introduction of PDP and professional practice skills in year 1, this module further aims to develop skills and critical understanding of the concepts applied within a professional photographic delivery context. You will engage you in the evaluation of methodologies and introduce notions of business, enterprise and employability.
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Dialogues in Design
This module asks you to find your position in debates around key ideas in design and visual culture. Building on your knowledge of the ideologies and aesthetics of the 20th and 21st centuries, you will engage in dialogue in order to critique design and the visual within an historical and cultural framework.
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Year 3
The third year of the course further develops a self defined independent approach to photography through individually appropriate presentational strategies.
You will focus on realising your creative potential by undertaking a major self-directed project. This practical body of work is supported by the writing of a contextual essay and research projects which critically informs the practical work(s).
Photographic Practice
The aim of this module is to extend knowledge of the theoretical and applied principles of photographic practice including independent project development, addressing self management and independence, and responding to researching and project development. You will examine concepts of photography as a post-modern practice.
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Advanced Research Strategies
This module will develop an advanced appreciation of investigative strategies, and the principles, production methods and planning required to deliver a photographic brief, by undertaking advanced research and conceptual strategies to inform the project and its development approach. You will learn advanced skills, including time and budget management.
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Negotiated Major Photographic Project
During this module you will undertake a self-directed photographic production from conception to outputs (website, screen art, or installation) through to a professional quality standard outcome. You will apply methods and processes necessary for the completion, presentation, and delivery of a major photographic project.
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Professional Frameworks 3
This module focuses attention on defining personal objectives. You are required to produce a self-directed portfolio, demonstrating skills, knowledge and understanding via the use of appropriate professional techniques. You are encouraged throughout your final year of study to develop an engagement with relevant external partners, thus providing further understanding of issues affecting professional photographic practice.
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Then choose from:
Negotiated Business Practice
The module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of business practice and management of interest to you, related to your course. The module enhances your ability to contextualise design as a commercial activity thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and understanding.
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Negotiated Theory
This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of visual culture of your choice. You are encouraged to explore connections between your proposed study and your studio practice in a connected but distinct programme, thereby underpinning and strengthening your own practice and providing an intensification of understanding.
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