module specification

This module enables students to develop practical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of contemporary and historical photography through the development of their individual practice. The module builds on the skills and key concepts introduced at level 4, providing students with a sustained and in-depth engagement with photographic practice. Students further develop their technical competence together with confidence in decision making while exploring a range of approaches to photographic practice in the realisation of individual project work.

This module is taught in integral relationship with other core modules at this level. Students will be expected to investigate and develop their work across the modules to develop a coherent practice.

Pass & Complete Preceding Level

The main module aims are to:

• Equip students with the necessary skills and critical understanding to develop their own approach to photographic practice;
• Enable students to test and apply their knowledge in the context of a negotiated photographic project;
• Support students to the develop sustainable and ethical working practices;
• Prepare students for professional practice in photography.

Indicative Content:

• Testing and research into different approaches to photographic practice;
• Short self-directed projects to define area of main project;
• Project proposal development;
• Self generated and negotiated project;
• Evaluation and reflection through group critiques and presentations;
• Structured feedback and individual guidance.

Teaching and learning is organised around a series of demonstrations, lectures, seminars and workshops supported by online learning.  Tutorials and critiques provide constructive feedback and advice on work in progress and inform students about their progress and areas for development.

On completing the module, students should be able to:

1. Identify, test and apply technical processes to support their developing photographic practice;
2. Explore approaches to presentation and interaction with audience and evaluate their effectiveness;
3. Document their practice to communicate ideas and intentions both visually and in writing;
4. Devise, manage and produce artwork based on research explorations;
5. Apply informed critical judgment to support their developing practice.

Evaluation is embedded in the module and is key to the assessment strategy and approach. Students are routinely expected to engage in peer and self-evaluation.

Work will be assessed against the learning outcomes in relation to the following criteria:

• Appropriate use of research methods
• Quality of analysis and interpretation
• Subject knowledge and relevance
• Quality of communication and presentation
• Appropriate use of problem solving, testing and experimentation
• Management of own learning and personal professional development

Andrews, S. and Haeffner, N., Archive: Imagining the East End London: Black Dog, 2013.
Barrett, T., Criticising Photographs New York: McGraw Hill, 2011.
Barthes, R., Camera Lucida London: Fontana, 1983.
Bull, S., Photography London: Routledge, 2009.
Davis, H., The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-processing London: Focal Press, 2009.
Faris Belt, A., Elements of Photography London: Focal Press, 2011.
Fontcuberta, J., From Here On In: Photography in the age of the internet and the mobile phone, RM Verlag, 2013.
Fox, A., Behind the Image: Research in Photography London: AVA Photography, 2012.
Freeman, M., The Digital SLR Handbook Sussex: Ilex, 2011.
Fried, M., Why Photography Matters as Art as Never Before Harvard, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2008.
Parr, M. and Badger, G., The Photobook London: Phaidon, 2004.
Short, M., Context and Narrative London: AVA Photography, 2011.