Sports Photography FT

The story of sport is evolving and the way we interact with that story is evolving too. Spider-cam, Cockpit-cam, Hawk-Eye, VAR and our POV [Point of View] are changing. Realtime data, Predictive Analysis, Artificial Intelligence and Fantasy Leagues mean our experience of sport is no longer passive. We want to get closer. We want to know more. We want to get involved and as the next generation of Sports Photographer it will be your job to enable this.

Using cutting-edge technologies and immersive approaches to picture making, this course provides you with the creative support and professional tools to explore, develop and share your love of sport. You’ll capture moments pitch-side, your drones will get places you can’t, you’ll capture whole games in immersive 3d. You’ll be shooting in-game and your images will become games. You’ll collaborate with journalists, you’ll work with sports-scientists, you’ll learn from technologists and all the time being guided and supported by our award winning academic team. A team who’s client lists include amongst others the FA, RFU, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sony World Photo Org and the World Press Photo Foundation.

Working individually and collaboratively you will experience every moment of the creative process, from concept to competition, from live event to living-room gaming and all the while pushing the boundaries of what the story of Sport can be.

Key features

• Collaborate with real-world clients: Develop your professional skills through live projects, industry competitions, and collaborations with organisations. You will also benefit from our guest lecturer series, with speakers from a range of photographic practices.

• Present your work to industry: During your time here, you will be given the opportunity to showcase your work to members of the creative industries and develop a professional portfolio tailored to your own career aspirations.

• Gain hands-on industry experience: You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.

Employability

The course prepares you for a career in sports photography or photo-related activities. Depending on your particular interest, you will identify your practice, and research picture agencies, image libraries, organisations, and photographers' agents.

You'll learn about proposals and CVs; how to cost your work; how to prepare estimates and invoices; and your rights, responsibilities and obligations as a photographer.

You’ll enhance your employability through things like live projects, guest lectures, industry visits, and work experience.

Students work across a range of creative industries when they graduate. Roles include:

• Sports Photographer​

• In-house Photographer​

• Product Photographer​

• Art Director​

• Director of Photography​

• Art Buyer​

• Photo Editor​

• Content Production​

• Location Scout​

• Retoucher​

• Lighting Director​

• Campaign Designer​

• Visual Strategist​

• Entrepreneur / Business Owner / Change Agent

[Year One]

• History, Context and Near-Future of Photography
• Sport behind the lens
• Sport beyond the lens

[Year Two]

• CoLab: Research, Exploration and Risk-Taking
• Experimental Sports Lab
• Live Sports Assignments
• Optional Modules:
  Telling Stories
  Ethical Design
  Digital Marketing and Communication
  Performance for Motion Capture
  Music Video
  Open-source 3D Art
  Interactive Narrative
  Virtual Production

[Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*]

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year (Sandwich) and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee. For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it’s important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

• If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will still need to apply for this course with the full-time UCAS code: W643

[Final Year]

• Sketchpad
• Launchpad
• The Recent Past and Near Future of Creative Storytelling