Why choose Photography in the Arts and why at SMU

The course is concerned with exploration, self-discovery and innovation through the medium of contemporary photography. You are encouraged to pursue your personal interests and individual pathways throughout the course, in order to develop a unique visual photographic signature. Due to the friendly atmosphere and small class sizes, the photography department enjoys exceptional student/staff interaction and communication. This dialogue takes place in the form of regular lectures, critiques, seminars and tutorials (and inevitably continues in the coffee bar).

With regular workshops and outstanding facilities, you will be encouraged to explore ideas and develop skills applicable to contexts such as contemporary art, publishing, advertising, fashion, interiors, architecture and travel. The department has excellent connections with the photographic industry, from the gallery network through to documentary and advertising agencies.

• Individual creativity at the core of the course's philosophy
• Regular tutorials and an open-door policy
• Flexible approach to subject-matter and technique
• Develop skills applicable to a range of careers within visual culture
• Excellent connections with the photographic industry

More about the course

Students on both the photography programmes will regularly interact with professional contacts through the exciting series of visiting lecturers, where artists, photographers, curators, editors, writers and agents present their work and talk about their professional experiences. Recent examples include: Richard Billingham (artist/photographer), Clare Grafik (curator The Photographers Gallery), Simon Roberts (photographer), Emma Critchley (photographer), Mark Power (Magnum photographer), and Victoria Lukens (picture editor).

In a more formal way you will also be encouraged to contend with industry standards within the External Project, where you have to find a client to work with. This project allows you to start your professional career whilst receiving supported tuition from academic staff on subjects such as contracts and costings, as well as technical and creative issues.

Previous project examples include: NHS, Atkins Rail, National Trust, Sunday Times, Penguin Books, Corus, Channel 4, The Royal Ballet and Dazed and Confused.

Also the Marketing and Self-Promotion Module continues this dialogue with the professional industry when a photographic agent and curator are brought in to advise the students on their personal practice before returning to assist with interview style assessments. Recent collaborators include: Jason Shenai (Millennium Images), Pippa Oldfield (Impressions Gallery), Susan Bright (free-lance curator and writer) and Helen James (National Portrait Gallery).

The three-year BA (Hons) programme has an embedded HND qualification at the end of the second year.

Course structure & content

The Faculty has excellent industrial links and there is a regular programme of visiting speakers and professionals. Live projects are an integral part of the course and these help you to engage with professional bodies before you graduate.

All work is project based. Students are expected to demonstrate their understanding in the form of practical project work. All assessment is based on 100% coursework.

As well as formal lectures there is also a programme of individual tutorials throughout the three years.
Theory is a major part of your coursework and final degree, constituting about 20% of your studies and marks. There are also workshops to help you enhance your technical studies and creative enquiry.

Year One provides a thorough and intensive grounding in key techniques, theories and concepts through a series of projects supported by regular contextual seminars, group tutorials and critiques. You are initially required to work with traditional photographic materials (both black & white and colour) whilst also attending workshops on digital capture and output.

Year Two you will continue to explore the myriad photographic possibilities whilst beginning to forge an individual path through an extended personal project. Popular and important aspects of this are a site-specific group exhibition and a photographic book assignment.

Year Three is predominantly self-directed and enables you to adopt a more independent approach to your work. There is an external project requiring you to produce work in real-world contexts, either for professional clients or for public exhibition. The year is dominated by the major practical project, theoretically underpinned by a written dissertation.

The marketing and self-promotion module involves presenting work to external agencies or curators and acts as a launch pad for your career, as does the exhibition module that culminates in degree shows in both Swansea and London.

Facilities & Resources

As a photography student at Swansea Metropolitan University, you will have access to industry standard facilities.

In addition to our extensive black & white and colour darkrooms, our digital provision includes MAC computers running the Adobe Creative Suite linked to professional proofing and inkjet printers, a colour-managed digital darkroom with Hasselblad Flextight scanners and large format printing.

A store facility gives you access to medium and large-format film cameras, professional digital SLR, medium format Hasselblad digital cameras and location lighting equipment.

Beyond this specialist photographic equipment, you will also have access to an extensive range of facilities including an excellent library, open-access computer suits and optional workshops in other areas within the art school.

We believe that it is essential for your work to have a professional finish and to this end practical projects are supported by workshops. Having access to additional practical knowledge ensures that you can use the University's excellent facilities with confidence, make informed choices about method and equipment, and ultimately produce work to a professional standard. Workshops cover processing and printing including historical print methods, C-type colour, fibre-based black & white; the use of various camera formats from medium format roll-film and 5 X 4 film, to digital (including medium format); digital workflow and printing; video (shooting and editing); studio and location lighting.

• Colour-managed digital darkroom with large-format printing
• Traditional B&W and colour darkrooms
• Store facility with medium and large-format film and digital cameras
• Technical workshops throughout the course

Student experiences & Employment opportunities

Tom Pope - Photographic Artist
Since graduating in 2008, Tom has had his work exhibited internationally and is establishing himself as an emerging talent within the photography world. In his final year at Swansea, Tom was selected for the New Sensations Exhibition in London (run by the Saatchi Gallery and Channel Four), won first prize in both the Swansea Open and Mission Gallery Open and has subsequently shown at the Derby Photography Festival, the West of England Open Exhibition and Fresh Faced & Wide Eyed at the Photographer's Gallery. He is represented by Troika Editions and is currently studying for his Masters at the Royal College of Art.

Lucille Lagier - Photography Curator/Artist
Lucille graduated in 2000, before studying for a masters degree in Paris. Since 2004 she has worked as a co-director/curator at Atelier de Visu, France's state-funded photography gallery, based in Marseille. Lucille also co-ordinates workshops and residencies at the gallery, including an annual four-week workshop in which selected SMU students are invited to Marseille to work alongside photographers from other international photography schools under the tutorage of Magnum photographer Antoine D'Agata. The residency results in an exhibition at Atelier de Visu and a book publication.

Lucy Llewellyn - Editor
Lucy works as Art and Fiction Editor at the publishing company, Parthian Books. For the External Project during her final year, Lucy worked with Parthian producing photographs for (and helping to design) several book covers. Due to the success of this exchange, the company offered her a position as photographer/designer on graduating in 2003. Lucy has continued to excel and was recently promoted to editor. She is now in a position to offer advise and work experience to current students and is a visiting tutor for the 3rd year External Project.

James Doyle - Fashion Photographer
James graduated in 2008 and relocated to Italy. Having worked as an assistant within architectural and landscape practice, he is now largely focussed on fashion and is currently working on assignments in Milan. Recent clients have included Nokia, Sony Ericsson and British Vogue.

Student gallery

UCAS Codes, Entry requirements, How to apply, Open days & Fees

UCAS Code: W643

Course Code Title: BA/PHA

Study Options: 3years Full Time/6 years Part-Time

Information on Entry Requirements, How to Apply and Open Days can be found on our main Faculty Page

Information on Fees can be found here

Contact

Programme Director: Hamish Gane
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01792 481285 ext: 3103