Aim

Beyond making nice-looking pictures it is important to have a solid idea or concept behind them. This subject will look at various aspects of contemporary photographic culture, and how various artists have responded to a variety of issues. It will encourage students to think differently about their work, about what ideas inform the work and to create images that are meaningful rather than, say, just being correctly exposed.

This subject will involve making a photographic series, as well as research and discussion, so come prepared to participate.

Topics covered

• Plastic cameras, mobile photography
• Reading a photograph
• Authenticity in art
• Form and context
• Remixing
• Pornography & censorship
• Artist statements
• The immediate environment
• Photography as process
• Still and moving images
• The new aesthetic

Mike Lim teaches this subject and says:

“I love this class because it allows people to put aside their obsessions with technique and play around with different ways of seeing the world. It gets students to ask questions about what their pictures are saying and how they are saying it, and this ultimately results in a stronger body of work. The students really jump at the opportunity to look at and appreciate what’s going on in photographic culture today.”

Important Dates

Please view the calendar for key dates at the CCP.

Early Enrolment Discount

A $40 discount applies if full payment is made before the Term Census Date.

Class Prerequisites

• Introduction to Photography
• Camera 1

The following subjects are not compulsory pre-requisites, however students who have completed them are likely to get the most from this class:

• Camera 2
• Introduction to Darkroom
• Studio 1
• Photographic Design

• Duration

9 weeks, 3 hours per class. Students should expect to do an extra 6 hours a week of their own work.

Required Materials

• It is possible to do this course entirely by remixing images from other sources, so a camera is not actually required. If you do use a camera it could be anything from a DSLR to a Polaroid. The subject is not exclusively film or digital based.
• Not compulsory, but it would be helpful to have something that shoots video, like a smartphone.