This course introduces students to fundamental skills, techniques and creative approaches to contemporary photographic practice. Students will acquire technical skills and produce artworks in response to set briefs across the semester, with a focus on analogue and/or digital methods for image capture, development and display. Depending on the class topic, students have the ability to explore Digital SLR and 35mm camera operation; analogue film development and darkroom photography; cameraless photography and alternative photographic processes; digital postproduction with the Adobe Suite; experimental digital processes (including AI). Seminars will introduce students to historical and contemporary work by artists, and key debates in the field.
Students may complete this course twice for a maximum credit value of 12 units, provided they enrol in a different topic in each instance/semester. Please note that the course content, assessment structure, and reading list will change depending on the topic and the expertise of the lecturer convening the course. Please refer to the class summary for the specific term in which you wish to enrol for a detailed description.
Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Introduction to Darkroom Photography
This course introduces students to the concepts and processes underpinning darkroom photography and analogue (chemical) photographic practice. Students are encouraged to develop a critical relationship to the camera and consider how it shapes visual perception, both historically and in the present. While there is a strong focus on acquiring technical skills and practical knowledge, students will use these skills to create artworks which engage with ideas and concerns that are shaping contemporary image making. The course is supported by lectures, group discussions and studio projects encouraging curiosity and experimentation.
- Introduction to Digital Photo-Imaging
What on earth has happened to photography in digital culture? How are we to contend with the strange and succulent weirdness of digital image culture today? How can artists make meaningful work and not reproduce AI slop? How can we have fun with software? This course introduces students to the concepts and processes underpinning digital photography – from scanning, pixel stretching, DSLRS, Photoshop to AI. Through a range of technical exercises and experiments, you will be encouraged to develop a critical relationship to digital image making. While there is a strong focus on acquiring technical skills and practical knowledge, students will use these skills to create artworks that draw on concepts introduced in the class. The course is supported by lectures, group discussions and studio projects encouraging curiosity and experimentation.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify and use basic techniques and principles appropriate to contemporary photographic practice;
- employ safe and professional studio work processes using the specialised equipment;
- explore and evaluate the creative possibilities of materials and techniques in response to set projects; and
- develop works that respond to contemporary photography theories and art practices.
Other Information
School of Art & Design studio courses have a limited enrolment capacity. Students are advised to enrol as early as possible to maximise the opportunity of securing a place.
This course will have a Materials Fee. At the ANU School of Art & Design, each workshop sources appropriate specialist?materials,?which are made available to students?to facilitate their working?effectively,?efficiently and safely?within our programs. The School of Art & Design is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course. The Materials Fee ?is payable for the School of Art & Design to supply consumables and materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art & Design, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU.?These materials are also WHS compliant. The exact cost of the Materials Fee will be updated in the Class Summary for each semester in which the course is offered. The full SOAD policy can be read here: https://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees.
Indicative Assessment
- Portfolio of Studio Exercises (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Brief-Led Project (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Project Proposal, equivalent to 1000 words (20) [LO 3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 48 hours of contact over 12 weeks: lectures, tutorials, critiques and supervised studio practice; and
b) 82 hours of independent studio practice, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
As listed on Wattle
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 12
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.