BA (Hons) Photography and Imaging 2022/23

This innovative course offers a practical route into the rapidly evolving field of photography and image-making techniques. There will be an inter-disciplinary first semester, where you will work collaboratively with students studying media production, game design & development, and music & sound design to enhance your digital media production skills and to develop your ability to work effectively in a team.

From the second semester onwards, students will have the opportunity to research and experiment with different forms of photographic and other 2D and 3D image creation, as well as to collaborate with students on the other creative technology courses. Aligned with active research and drawing upon technical expertise within the School, students will be able to apply their creative skills and specialist knowledge to a wide range of related industries, such as photography, art and design, fashion, games, tourism, heritage, architecture, and health.

All the time you’ll be developing a portfolio of your own creative work and commercial commissions. Take a look at students’ recent work for some creative inspiration. They’ll be opportunities to showcase your work at exhibitions inside and outside the University.

Modules are assessed by projects, essays and presentations. Methods of assessment for course overall: 100% coursework.

Year 1

• Documentary Photography
  In this module you'll work on projects that involve interaction with people and their environment;  you'll be introduced to visually exploring the world around you, using photography as a documentary practice to communicate to an audience. You'll be introduced to carrying out primary research into the subject of a brief, and visual and theoretical research into ways of using photography. 
• Photo Imaging: Studio and Lab
  This module introduces you to a professional digital work flow, from image capture through to output for screen and print. Through a number of short briefs, based on commercial and editorial commissions, you'll develop their skills with digital SLR's, photographic lighting and digital post production. You'll be introduced to working with both natural light on location, and working in the studio.
• Expanded Photographic Practice
  This module introduces students to an expanded range of imaging technologies and practices including new media, digital and non-digital networks, and innovative interactive public presentation methods. Students are encouraged to extend their research skills to include current and innovative methods and processes, experiment with production processes offered by new and emerging technologies, and engage with possible alternatives to or enhancements of the photographic print in their final presentation or output.
• Digital Image Construction
  This module develops your ability with digital image capture, in the studio and on location. Making use of digital post production techniques you'll develop retouching and image manipulation skills. Responding to briefs, both individually and as part of a team, you'll develop your ability to produce visually inventive, creative imagery for screen and print.
• The Emergence of Photography
  This module offers a thematic approach to studying histories and theories of  photography, from the earliest experiments in the 1830s to the digital forms of today. Photography refuses any attempt to fix its identity, likewise any narration of the photographic is unstable, contested and in a perpetual state of flux. This story is a multifaceted adventure that takes us to the centre of art and visual culture of the last 200 years. The emphasis is on connections between theory and practice, word and image, and developing your abilities to articulate themselves when writing and speaking about images.
• Thinking, Making and Writing in Creative Media
  In this module you will explore synergies and convergences across the disciplines of photography, design, film, music, fine art and digital media. By extending your frame of contextual reference and your ability to engage in critical and creative thinking, the module will provide a grounding in academic writing, production research and idea generation in the context of an understanding of discourse at an academic and professional level.

Year 2

• Fashion, Editorial and Advertising photography
  In this module you'll explore the use of digital photography in fashion, editorial and advertising contexts. You'll generate a project and create a portfolio of images, of a conceptual and technical quality suitable for one of these  contexts. Skills appropriate for commercial uses of photography will be delivered through workshops in medium format digital cameras, digital post production, and output for web and print portfolios. On completion of the  project you'll present your portfolio of work to a panel in the format of a portfolio review.
• Photography and the Gallery
  In this practice based module you'll create a body of photographic work for a gallery context. The module examines the wider political, cultural and social context of the galley and explores photography's relationship to both the gallery and fine art practices. You'll produce work of a conceptual and technical quality to be shown in a gallery based exhibition.
• Self-Publishing and the Photobook
  In recent years developments in digital technology and advances in home printing and print on demand services have led to a rapid increase in photographers self-publishing      books, outside of the traditional publishing models. At the same time independent and mainstream publishing houses have increased their output of photobooks. In this module you'll explore the photobook as a means for disseminating work and creating an audience. Each student will photograph, design and create a photobook. Collectively you and your group host an event at which your books can be seen and purchased by an audience.
• Professional Practice and Promotion
  In the first semester of this module you'll work as a group to explore ways of disseminating their work in a professional context. In the second semester you'll develop a portfolio and undertake a period of work experience. Through the development of a physical and/or online digital portfolio you'll start to bring together different projects including individual practice based work and a record of your group work and work experience. A visiting lecturer  program will support this module providing insight into a multitude of possible career options and different forms of professional practice.
• Contemporary Photographic Debates
  This module explores the critical and cultural contexts for contemporary photographic practice, with an emphasis on the relationship between photography and network culture. Now that the majority of photographs are produced, shared and viewed online, how are the meanings and functions of photography and media changing? How, as photographers, are we responding to and reflecting upon our increasingly online and screen-based lives and realities? In order to answer these questions, you'll be introduced to a range of work by practitioners and writers, and encouraged to reflect on the relationship between theory and practice in your own work.
• Photography Critical Contexts
  This module is intended to prepare students for critically advanced research and analysis at Level 6. It focuses on how to develop an independent research project utilising topics, theories and case studies relevant to contemporary photographic culture. You will be introduced to exercises which will help you to develop and extend your confidence as researchers and writers.

Year 3

• Pilot Major Project
  This module develops your individual photographic practice, and your ability to locate their practice within the contemporary photography industry. Research into historic and contemporary photographic theory and practice enables you to develop a critical framework in which to consider your work. Having chosen a context for your work (e.g. a commercial portfolio, the gallery, the book, the screen) you'll develop and complete a self-directed photographic project within this area.
• Major Project
  In  this module you'll complete a major, self-directed body of work, for an identified context. In the production of the work you'll undertake in-depth research into both the subject of the work, and the contemporary photographic context in which you plan to locate the work. The final presentation will be suitable for this context and demonstrate an understanding of the contemporary photography industry and how their work relates to a particular area of the industry.
• Professional Practice
  In this module you'll develop your professional skills in preparation for entering the industry, or for progression to postgraduate study. Through the development of a physical and/or digital portfolio you'll develop a professional identity and edit different practical work together in a coherent manner, targeted towards identified audiences. You'll undertake a period of work experience and identify a professional mentor and seek feedback on your work from industry professionals. A visiting lecturer programme will support this module providing insight into a multitude of possible career options and different forms of professional practice. As part of the module you'll participate in individual or group projects that will develop your professional practice skills.
• Research Paper
  The  final year research paper module gives you the opportunity to conduct original research in an area of their degree or field of interest. The research paper allows you to use any of the theories, topics and methods encountered on your course. You'll manage your own learning under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Lectures will offer general advice and guidance on research methods and describe different ways of approaching and structuring the research paper. The way your own research paper is organised and structured is best decided in consultation with the your supervisor.

Employability Service

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

• An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
• Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

• A Level BCC or;
• BTEC National Diploma DMM or;
• Access to HE qualifications with 9 Distinctions 36 Merits or;
• Equivalent Level 3 qualifications worth 106 UCAS points
• Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above)
• We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.

Portfolio

Offers for this course will be made on the basis of your UCAS application and a portfolio of work (15- 25 images). You'll be notified by email with advice about how to upload your online portfolio, once we have received your UCAS application. 

When putting together your portfolio think carefully about how best to represent your work and your interests in photography. If possible ask your current tutors for advice when putting your portfolio together. Generally it is best to show work from projects, rather than lots of unconnected images. These could be projects you have completed as part of your education, or personal work that you have done.

We also consider applications from those who have gained relevant skills through a wide range of vocational qualifications or responsible experience.

For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for undergraduate students.

Please check your fee status and whether you are considered a Home, EU or International student for fee-paying purposes and for our regulatory returns, by reading the UKCISA regulations.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).

Possible fee changes

The University reserves the right to increase its fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions.

The fees for international students are reviewed annually and the University reserves the right to increase the tuition fees in line with the RPIX measure of inflation up to 4 per cent.

Scholarships

We offer several types of fee reduction through our scholarships and bursaries. Find the full list and other useful information on our scholarships page.

The individual fee for this course is shown above. For more information, including how and when to pay, see our fees and funding section for postgraduate students.

See our Tuition Fees Regulations (PDF File 201 KB) and Refund Policy (PDF File 775 KB).

We have a range of PhD Scholarships available in partnership with businesses and organisations; read notices of PhD studentships.