Photography, Video and Digital Imaging BA

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

• Making Photography: Truth and Fiction (40 credits)

Make your own visual explorations, exploring the key differences between objective and subjective photography. Build your experience across different technical skills, including learning to work in the photographic studio and on location, drawing on a range of different cameras. Develop your skills in sequencing and editing as well as your own photographic works through the set brief as truth or fiction.

• Photography Provocations (40 credits)

Break the rules in photography! Be introduced to a broad range of techniques and processes. Be able to explore how meaning can be constructed and controlled, even within more experimental approaches to practice. Through the encompassing of traditional and cutting-edge techniques of image making, you'll be able to develop your skills, challenge the common constraints of the photographic image and explore new ways of provoking photography.

• Investigating Photography (20 credits)

Become fully conversant with the digital resources available across the Northern Centre of Photography and develop your skills as a learner and a practitioner. Begin to develop your own approach to making work informed by different resources, including photographic archives, libraries, regional galleries and museums and the work of other practitioners.

• Creative Moving Image (20 credits)

Explore how the moving image has converged with the still image through digital technology, and make your own moving image work. Develop skills in creating moving image production, informed by both contemporary and early moving image work – from video art to YouTube. Consider how a contemporary photographer might move seamlessly between the still and moving image.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

• Narratives and Story Telling (40 credits)

Learn how to become an engaging visual storyteller and how to initiate and complete your own individual, self-directed project. Employ a professional approach to your working practice through research, production skills, editing and effective time-management. Understand the wider issues raised by the context of your project and its proposed audience. Discover the work of different contemporary artists and photographers who use photography and/or creative moving image to tell a range of stories. Explore different possibilities through editing and sequencing and narrative devices. Present your final work in either book/zine form or a multi-media piece.

• Sites for Practice (40 credits)

Gain real-world experience of researching and developing a photographic or moving image project to completion and for final site-sensitive public presentation. Explore appropriate physical and virtual public spaces and contexts for your work and develop your understanding of relevant ethical, material and audience considerations. Set and manage a creative project budget. Gain experience in producing, presenting and advertising your own work. Expand your understanding of context and audience and how the meaning of your work is constructed. Begin to find a place for your practice in society and start to build your professional profile.

• Issues in Contemporary Photographic Practice (20 credits)

Explore the challenges and opportunities of rapidly changing digital photographic cultures, and the diverse ways in which contemporary photography is disseminated and consumed by a variety of audiences both online and offline. Explore key contemporary debates including inclusivity, diversity and sustainability. Consider the broader social role of lens-based practitioners and identify professional role models to inform your own emerging practice.

• Collaborative Creativity (20 credits)

Negotiate a relevant placement where you will position your practical and creative skills, build networks and begin to identify relevant professional pathways. Alternatively, work with fellow students from across our different Arts disciplines to create a group negotiated outcome.

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

• Practice and Pitch (40 credits)

Identify an individual area of interest and develop an in-depth, practice-led exploration in that area. Take the opportunity to experiment with, challenge and develop your working practice and establish a highly considered and reflective professional approach.

• Publish/Present (40 credits)

Develop an individual self-negotiated final project that is ready for public presentation in an appropriate context, media and format. Produce a fully resolved body of work with detailed consideration of where and how you will reach your intended audience. Celebrate your success at the University Degree Shows.

• Your Research Project (20 credits)

Explore in depth a specific aspect of the theory, history or contemporary practice of photography, video, and/or digital imaging or research and situate your own area of professional practice. Devise and develop your research topic with individualised guidance from our experienced module tutors. Benefit from seminars and workshops that cover advanced research skills, including information search and retrieval, as well as skills in academic writing and referencing, report writing and presentation. Investigate and prepare for your future career or equip yourself with key understanding of research processes necessary for further postgraduate work.

• Your Professional Presence (20 credits)

Advance your understanding of professional photographic practices, creative careers, professional networks and approaches to enterprise. Explore real world case studies and find role models that enable you to develop your own professional skills. Enhance your ability to communicate effectively and reach new audiences, clients and customers in appropriate digital formats.