Photography

BA (Hons) Photography scored 96% overall student satisfaction for NSS 2020.

The rising popularity of photography has seen a wealth of opportunity spring up for creative photographic practitioners. A degree in photography from Solent University will help position you at the cutting-edge of this medium, preparing you to enter the world of work with highly developed and refined creative and technical skills.

Throughout the course you will be supported to develop your creative, imaginative and critical abilities – skills that are essential in a creative career – you’ll also explore a range of photographic subjects and will embed photographic skills through dynamic projects.

Solent’s experienced teaching team will guide you in creating a rich and varied professional portfolio, and will ensure that you have the creative freedom to make a portfolio that best represents your own unique style, while at the same time demonstrating that you are a competent, adaptable and employable practitioner.

Regular course lectures are supported by a programme of industry guest speakers, which in the past have included appearances from Richard Billingham, Catherine Yass, Charlotte Cotton, Ori Gersht, Brian Dillon, Peter Fraser, Dan Holdsworth, Chrystel Lebas, Jeremy Millar, Sophy Rickett, Margaret Salmon and Tom Hunter.

Your studies will take place in the multi-million pound Media Academy – featuring state-of-the-art teaching and photography facilities including digital and analogue studio spaces. You will also learn in the Photography Base Room – a dedicated, flexible teaching space.

Think a career as a photographer might be for you? With first-class facilities and a unique emphasis on freelance work, Solent University’s photography programme is a great first step towards your dream career.

The course team offers a blend of skills, knowledge and expertise; they have a rich breadth and depth of experience and backgrounds. As such, they are able to support students and their development.

What does this course lead to?
Many graduates have gone on to work in commercial, editorial, fashion, portrait, documentary, photojournalism, landscape and fine art photography. Graduates also enter related fields, including post-production, museum and galleries, book and journal publication, picture editing, education (FE and HE) and have also gone on to postgraduate study.

Who is this course for?
Solent’s photography degree is ideally suited to students who are interested in developing their technical skills, working on creative and challenging projects, and developing their knowledge and understanding of photography and visual culture.

Students will consider theory and practice across a range of briefs from set tasks to self-initiated projects. Applicants will have ideally studied a previous creative subject and will be required to show a portfolio and developmental work at interview.

YEAR 1 - CORE MODULES
Image Lab
Orientation
Photography History and Theory I
Photography History and Theory II
Representation
Visual Exploration

YEAR 2 - CORE MODULES
Image Text Analysis I
Photographic Concepts and Themes
The Figurative Image
Image Text Analysis II
Photographic Methods and Approaches
Photographic Ecologies

YEAR 3 - CORE MODULES
Contemporary Photographic Practice
Contemporary Photographic Journal
Professional Practice
Final Major Project

The course is assessed through a structured combination of project work (including portfolio, book and film outcomes) and written work.