Photography With Foundation Year

This module helps you to become more familiar and confident with technology. As well as learning the creative software and photography skills, it will allow you to explore a creative subject of your choice and give you essential time management and research skills.

This module will enable you to examine the creative and professional practice of others as a way of reflecting on your own practice. You’ll create a range of outcomes to help you build a dedicated portfolio as well as learning about major influences in art and design.

This module is all about challenging your creative thought and highlighting the importance of creative risk taking. The briefs allow you to produce a range of outcomes that underpin all of the main art and design disciplines as well as giving you the flexibility to interpret the brief to your area of interest.

This module is designed to allow you to bring together all your prior learning from the previous modules. It gives you the opportunity to propose and create your own brief based on a theme, topic, or issue that you are passionate about. Within this module you’ll be supported by tutors who will guide you in creating in a meaningful body of work that demonstrates confidence in your chosen area. Your work will be exhibited in school of Arts and Media end of year show.

This module enables you explore the creative industries and its career opportunities, You’ll learn about a range of subjects including responsible design and future trends within your chosen area of art and design. It will allow you to build on the technical skills that you have gained in the first semester to produce a creative publication.

In this module you are introduced to analogue capture and processing of images in the darkroom. Over six weeks you will learn skills such as camera handling, editing, and printing on traditional media. In addition to this, you'll be introduced to historical and contemporary debate in relation to documentary image making. The skills and knowledge gained during this module form the foundation from which to build your own unique approach towards image making.

• Camera Control (shutter, aperture, ISO)
• Processing 35mm B&W film
• Darkroom techniques (contact printing, enlarging, graded printing, presentation)

In this module you are introduced to studio and location based lighting, and develop your digital post production skills, including image manipulation printing and finishing of printed images. Over six weeks you will learn skills such as advanced camera handling, lighting, and archival pigment printing and mounting. In addition to this, you will be introduced to historical and contemporary debate in relation to portraiture, identity and working with people. The skills and knowledge gained during this module build upon your previous module to make you a more informed and aware image maker.

• Digital Camera Control & Tethered Capture
• Introduction to digital post production (Adobe Photoshop), studio and location based lighting
• Archival pigment printing & Archival mounting and finishing

In this module you are introduced to traditional and more experimental approaches to image capture and basic digital post-production including Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Over six weeks students learn about space, place and environments, mapping, and more diverse presentation methods. In addition to this, students are introduced to historical and contemporary debate in relation to the representation of landscape, space/ place, authorship, and the city.

• Appropriated capture and mapping
• Digital post and interpretation of statistical and geographical data 
• Hybrid and large format output 

In this module you are introduced to photography and it’s relation to self-publishing and Artist’s books. Over six weeks students learn about layout, desktop publishing and basic binding techniques. In addition to this, students are introduced to historical and contemporary debate in relation to publishing and artists’ books.

• Digital post production (Adobe PhotoShop) & desktop publishing (Adobe InDesign)
• Stitching and binding techniques
• Book design & production techniques (concept, editing, printing)

This module introduces you to the importance of elements of working as a professional, and presenting your work to a defined market. Over 24 weeks you will learn about researching skills, photographic careers, and benefit from visiting lecturer opportunities, where you will get to interact with other year groups. Copyright and legal debates are covered, and you will develop your presentation skills.

• Presentation and research skills
• Introduction to copyright and legal issues 
• Constructing a portfolio for defined markets 

This module is designed to encourage you to explore, consider and reflect on a range of perspectives in the field of creative practice. Sessions focus on issues affecting photography and visual culture. Over twenty-four weeks you will be introduced to a range of approaches towards critical analysis of visual and text based sources.

• Critical and contextual awareness
• Knowledge and understanding of contemporary image making
• Research and communication skills 

In this module you are asked to respond to the construction of meaning and narrative in relation to both still and moving images. Over six weeks students learn about set construction, large format and moving image capture and post production. In addition to this, students are asked to engage and reflect upon historical and contemporary debate in relation to narrative, truth and photography.

• Set building
• HD video capture and large format camera control
• Proposal writing

In this module you are asked to respond to experimental modes of image making and presentation. Over six weeks students learn camera-less photography, emerging forms of media (including 3D capture and output), and varying forms of presentation and dissemination. In addition to this, students are asked to engage and reflect upon historical and contemporary debate in relation to experimental research, image making and dissemination.

• Introduction to convergent, 3D, hybrid capture
• Experimental modes of presentation
• Engage with the interdisciplinary nature of photography

In this module you are asked to respond to an outside venue with a group photography exhibition. Over six weeks students learn art handling, promotion and working with others. In addition to this, students are asked to engage and reflect upon historical and contemporary debate in relation to experimental research, image making and dissemination.

• Art handling and curration
• Marketing and exhibition promotion
• Making site specific work

In this module you are asked focus on and engage with the broad industry of photographic practices. Over six weeks students learn about a broad range of opportunities for employment and funding. Students are asked to engage and reflect upon their own skills and interests, communication strategies and developing funding proposals towards either a work placement or developed funding bid. Students can engage in placements in the trimester 2 module Opportunities and Industry. Prior to arranging their placements students are given support in researching potential future careers paths and job opportunities. The type and duration of work placements depend on the experience the student is looking to gain and typically spreads over two to six weeks. Students are supported in finding opportunities and are assessed on the supporting course work material they develop as part of the module. The placements themselves are not assessed. Examples of the kind of placements students have previously undertaken are: assisting commercial photographer, studio assistant, museum and gallery archive assistant and teaching assistant.

In this module, you are asked to identify and engage with your personal and career aspirations. Over twenty-four weeks you will learn about photographic careers, marketing yourself in print and electronic forms, and photographic awards and competitions. Additionally, you will benefit from visiting lecturer opportunities, where you will get to interact with other year groups.

• Career development and planning
• Entering competitions and awards
• Constructing a portfolio and marketing materials

This module is designed to encourage you to investigate, collaborate and make connections across a range of contexts related to the theory and practice of photography. Over twenty-four weeks you will asked to engage with a range of approaches towards critical analysis of visual and text based sources.

• Presentation skills
• Structuring written assignments
• Research and referencing skills

In this module you will research, plan and test ideas leading towards a major body of photographic work. Over twelve weeks students will be guided towards investigating subject(s) of interest using photography (and/or expanded media). Students engage and reflect upon their research and practice in terms of personal, cultural, social and/or historical debates.

• Guided supervision
• Planning and research
• Investigation, experimentation and evaluation

In this module you will undertake a major photographic exploration of identified subject(s). Drawing upon work that you have undertaken previously, you will manage your skills and knowledge and negotiate with supervisors to create an engaging major photographic (or related media) investigation of identified themes. Over twelve weeks students will be guided towards finalizing a major body of photographic work (and/or expanded media). Students engage and reflect upon their research and practice in terms of personal, cultural, social and/or historical debates. 

• Guided supervision
• Extended project conception, execution and output
• Applying appropriate skills and processes

In this module, you are asked to identify and engage with your personal and career aspirations. Over twenty-four weeks you will learn about photographic careers, marketing yourself in print and electronic forms, and photographic awards and competitions. Additionally, you will benefit from visiting lecturer opportunities, where you will get to interact with other year groups.

• Personal career planning for graduates working in photography (and related fields)
• Exhibiting and promoting your work
• Constructing a final portfolio and marketing materials

This module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a detailed examination of an aspect of visual culture of your choice. Over twenty-four weeks 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.

• Advanced presentation skills
• Structuring extended written assignments
• Advanced research and referencing skills