Photography

Photography is one of the most culturally pervasive art forms of the modern era, and also one of the most technically complex. Since its invention in the nineteenth century it has transformed how we see the world, how we document it, how we construct identity and how we make and share meaning. As both a documentary and an artistic medium, photography sits across a remarkable range of contexts: photojournalism, portraiture, fashion, commercial and advertising imagery, fine art, documentary, landscape and street photography all have their own traditions, conventions and demands.

Studying photography seriously means engaging with all of these, developing both technical mastery and a mature creative vision.

At Southampton Solent University, this three-year full-time degree, which is available with a foundation year, develops your photographic skills across a broad range of approaches and technologies. You will work with large and medium format cameras alongside digital tools, and the programme includes access to traditional film processing facilities, giving you an understanding of analogue as well as contemporary digital processes. The foundation year is designed to build your creative confidence and technical grounding before you enter the main degree.

Digital editing suites support your post-production work, and you will develop your practice through a combination of guided projects, personal exploration and critical engagement with the history and theory of photography.

Building a body of work that reflects your developing creative identity is central to photographic education at degree level. You will learn to present and contextualise your practice, to engage critically with the work of other photographers, and to articulate your creative intentions clearly.

Graduates from photography degrees move into commercial photography, photojournalism, fashion and advertising photography, documentary, arts practice, picture editing, photo research, arts administration, education, and the broader creative industries. The portfolio you develop during study is your primary professional asset, and postgraduate study in photography or fine art is a pathway for those who want to pursue research or specialisation.