Photography BA(Hons)

Why choose this course?

This course is ideal if you would like to explore a broad range of approaches to photography and if you are interested in the potential that a background in fine art photography offers. You will explore ideas and develop skills applicable to contexts such as advertising, architecture, documentary, fashion, contemporary art, interiors, publishing and travel photography.

What will you study?

You will develop your creative ability and technical skills through a series of set and self-initiated projects. Your work will become increasingly independent as you progress through the course, and you will have opportunities to work creatively with your peers on other art and design degrees at Kingston. Your practical studies will be underpinned by modules covering the critical and historical contexts of photography, together with career-focused modules that highlight professional opportunities across the creative industries.

You will also have the opportunity to consolidate your awareness of contemporary photography and gain professional feedback on your practice through a programme of lectures and tutorials delivered by visiting photographers.

Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.

Year 1

• Concept and Enquiry

• Concept and Enquiry

  This module introduces the course and includes technical workshops in key areas:

  • black and white processing and printing;
  • colour negative printing;
  • using studio lighting;
  • the photo studio; and
  • the digital suite.

  It introduces learning through combined technical and conceptual projects. We will encourage you to learn to creatively develop your ideas which address your personal concerns and the development of your photography skills and awareness.

  Each project will have a written introduction and group seminar, and a group project review. Summative assessment will take place at the end of the first semester.

  
   
• Photography and Form

• Photography and Form

  In this module you develop independent photography and examine the implications of different modes of presentation on your photography. You produce photographic books, and choose from four subject options – including, for example, 'time-based/moving image photography' or 'research into practice'.

  At the beginning of each semester an introduction is given (photographic books in semester one, subject options in semester two) and each period of study concludes with a group review.

  
   
• Development

• Development

  In this module, students will develop a body of work that is 'personal photography': an independent practice rather than a response to set project briefs. This photography work should develop from personal concerns which students may have engaged with during the set projects or which may come out of work made independently. Students are responsible for keeping a reflective journal which shows the background to the development of their photography and personal work, in which thoughts, processes and research are complied. Students will also develop appropriate methods of presentation for their personal photography through tutorials, workshops and their contribution to the seminar programme where they show and discuss work-in-progress to their peer group.

  
   
• Introduction to Current Issues in Art Practice, Theory and Display I

• Introduction to Current Issues in Art Practice, Theory and Display I

  This module introduces the various ways of interpreting, analysing and presenting specific trends in the visual and live arts.

  Through a series of lectures and case studies, you will examine the historical, theoretical and critical debates central to current issues in art theory and practice, including live arts, text-based art and electronic arts.

  Designed to help you to develop a critical approach towards the main art institutions, study visits to important exhibitions in leading London galleries will support your lectures. This will lead to an understanding of the relationships between art, space, place and audience, and will provide the foundation for self-directed research on a theme related to module content.

  
   
• Introduction to Current Issues in Art Practice, Theory and Display II or

• Introduction to Current Issues in Art Practice, Theory and Display II or

  This module explores the debates and issues central to current art practice and theory. Field visits will develop your critical approach to the main art institutions. You will also improve your understanding of the role of research and essay writing.

  
   
• Language option

Year 2

• Context and Experiment I

• Context and Experiment I

  In this module you will develop a portfolio of independent photography and a journal that demonstrates a growing awareness of the photographic specialism or context to which your photography relates.

  The development of an independent photographic practice is supported through group seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials. You will research the historical and contemporary context of your specialism and deliver seminars in which you visually contextualize their practice.

  Elective 'slide seminars' in which students' work is seen immersed within examples of photography from diverse professional contexts act as a platform for discussion of style, aesthetics and ideas. Students are supported to develop technical skills and participate in an analytical studio based workshop.

  
   
• Context and Experiment II

• Context and Experiment II

  The module extends directly from the first Context and Experiment module. You will further develop your portfolio of independent practice, informed through:

  • a lecture programme and individual tutorials delivered by photographers from diverse areas of practice; and 
  • workshops, seminars and tutorials.

  As part of the development of your portfolio of independent photographic practice, you have the opportunity to participate in collaborative projects in the fields of fine art, advertising, live art and fashion photography. You will continue to use journals as a means of analysing your practice, context, research and making evident their thinking and working processes.

  
   
• Introduction to Professional Practice

• Introduction to Professional Practice

  This module is an introduction to professional development. It is designed to help you start the process of thinking outside the structure of the BA course itself and towards developing the skills that will equip you for professional life.

  It takes the character of a broad survey of the issues and opportunities, with visiting speakers and ex-student speakers picked for their relevance across a range of creative possibilities. You will prepare to make decisions as to what level of the art-world is best suited to their individual skills, understanding the possibilities for success in both continuing as an artist and moving in to other related areas.

  
   
• Re-presentation

• Re-presentation

  In this module you will consider the implications of different modes of presentation on your evolving independent photographic practice. You develop a new body of photographic work, which is presented as part of a group exhibition, and conceive of and participate in the production of a group book.

  Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. A series of theoretical lectures complement the practical aspects of the module.

  
   
• Contemporary Issues in Research

• Contemporary Issues in Research

  This module provides a broad introduction and preparation for the dissertation project. It considers:

  • the role of research within art and design practice;
  • the relationship between primary and secondary material;
  • ways of developing and originating research; and
  • ways of realising the research in a formal written manner.

  The module provides a broad overview of some of the different critical and methodological approaches to researching in art and design culture.

  
   
• Art and Design History or
• Language option

Year 3

• Consolidating

• Consolidating

  In this module you consolidate the theoretical, practical and research processes that are embedded within your individual photographic practice. You will produce a journal (PDP) in which you evidence your working processes:

  • the various stages within the development of your ideas;
  • the development of appropriate technical modes of recording and producing photographs;
  • your evolving research processes; and
  • the ways in which you integrate your individual response to your growing awareness of the contemporary context and research to which your work relates.

  This module dovetails with the Realising module in which students realise their final body of photography.

  
   
• Realising

• Realising

  This module is concerned with realising a coherent body of independent photography. Dovetailing with the 'Consolidating' module (in which you progress and consolidate the thinking, technical production and research processes of your practice), in this module you develop and apply skills of editing, selection, sequencing, printing and presentation to produce a final body of photography.

  
   
• Presentation

• Presentation

  In this module you consider and realise appropriate modes of presentation for your photography. In January you participate in a workshop where you test out presentation modes and examine how these effect the reading of your photography. The module culminates in the preparation of a presentation of your major body of work that will be exhibited at the degree show in June.

  It is concerned with analysing how different modes of presentation for photography are utilised in diverse professional contexts. You develop appropriate presentation modes for your individual practice whilst also considering the wider context of a large, diverse group exhibition in relation to relationship to diverse photographic contexts.

  
   
• Photography in Context

• Photography in Context

  This module will provide you with the skills you need to produce a personal written statement about your practice. This will clarify your position and form the basis for future professional applications. You will develop

  • verbal and writing skills – so that you can confidently articulate the main concerns inherent within your photography; and
  • your understanding of the current professional photographic contexts to which your work relates.

  Students are assisted with the development of a personal written statement that will be illustrated with their photography. The document will form a basis that students can shape to various future professional applications. Students produce an illustrated text (800–1,000 words) that is summatively assessed at the end of the module. The module is delivered through seminar presentations, a workshop and tutorials

  
   
• Dissertation

• Dissertation

  Your dissertation allows you to study a topic of interest within your field of study in greater depth. This will involve scientific detachment, problem-solving and rigorous analysis. It will also help you develop independent learning skills.