What does it include?
Year One
Year one is concentrated on skill building, you will study the 35mm SLR, processing and printing black and white, medium format cameras, studio photography and lighting with tungsten and flash, large format cameras, colour printing, digital cameras, scanning, printing and ‘Photoshop’. You will also be required to study contextual references, critical analysis, key theoretical concepts and professional practice. The aim is that by the end of the first year you have gained lots of practical and theoretical experience and confidence to build upon in the second year.
Year Two
The second year of the course builds on and consolidates the technical skill you attained in the first year strengthening the depth and sophistication of your photographic practice. You will also write a critical essay and complete your studies in Professional practice.
You will have more opportunity to specialise in the second year, the briefs are more open to interpretation and the Final Major Project at the end of the year offers you the opportunity to write and realise your own project. You will study further digital techniques and applications, business practice, copyright, professional digital scanning and printing, colour management and portfolio building. The two years of hard work is celebrated by an external exhibition in the 'Free Range’ shows at Brick Lane in East London. This offers graduating students an opportunity to promote their work and launch their career in the photographic industry. The final exhibition is supported and partly funded by the college, but you will need to contribute to the costs, this usually amounts to approximately £130 per student.
Last year our students exhibited work as part of the Free Range exhibition in East London. To see a selection of their portfolios please visit this link.
What do I need to get onto it?
Entry onto the course is by interview. You will need to bring with you some examples of your work that you would like to talk about. An academic or employer reference would be useful. Ideally you will have the minimum of 1 subject related A level or the equivalent level 3 vocational qualification (National Diploma in Photography, Foundation Diploma etc.).
If you don’t think that you have the right qualifications, but think this is the right course for you, then apply or come along to the college to see how we can support you.
The Interview Process
You will be invited for an interview where you will need to bring a portfolio of no more than 20 photographs. You will need to indicate if your photographs form part of a series, or were part of a college or school project. You will also need to explain the theme or idea behind the portfolio of work presented.
You should also bring a sketchbook containing general images which you find interesting and show a development of your ideas. This could include photographs you have taken outside of set projects and or collected from magazines, newspapers etc.
You must also provide a written piece, minimum of 500 words, about a specific photograph that excites or inspires you, discussing the technical elements of the image and the meanings you read within it. This may be a photograph from an exhibition, book, magazine or newspaper.
This should consider: composition, implied meaning, technical issues and how successful is the image.
How is the course assessed?
Coursework and continual assessment
Where is it based?
This course is delivered at the Paddington Green Campus where there are spacious photographic Studios, digital studios and a colour and monochrome processing darkroom.
Where does it lead?
On successful completion of the course, students can expect to progress either into employment in the industry as a photographer, self-employed freelance photographer, photographic assistant or onto further specialist study at degree level, sometimes it is possible to directly enter the 2nd year of degree level study.
Validation
This course is validated by EdExcel
Course specification link:
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/highernationals10/photography/Pages/default.aspx
Accommodation
The College does not have in-house accommodation but the student advisory service can assist you with guidance on accommodation.
For further information and to apply
If you wish to apply for this course, please complete a College Application Form.
If you need help before choosing your course, please contact our Information & Advice Centre or come along to one of our Open Days.
For further information on HE fees please click here.