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The B.F.A. program in Photography is designed to prepare students to succeed in the competitive world of professional photography while at the same time maintaining the standards and the aims of a NCA education. The NCA Photography program has an applied emphasis designed to prepare B.F.A. graduates to enter one of several professional fields of photography, including but not limited to advertising, illustration, editorial, portrait, journalistic or a fine art sub-discipline.

Graduates of the program develop photographic skills with fine art aesthetics, visual problem solving, and traditional and digital imaging photographic media as evidenced in their personal portfolios. Students also develop an understanding of both historic and contemporary photographic trends and masters. Collectively these attributes are gained through classroom instruction, work production, exposure to working professionals, and internships.

Students in the Photography program develop quality photographic projects with the final goal of a presentation portfolio.

Course Code VPH005
Fee Code S1
Number of Assignments 8
Duration (approx) 100 hours

Travelling can perhaps challenge photographic skills perhaps more than anything else. This is because there is usually such a variety of photographic subjects and photo opportunities.
There are many considerations, for example:
What to take -too much equipment can be as much a problem as too little
Timing -Climatic conditions as well as events provide different opportunities in different places at different times (eg. Shadows that can be difficult to work with may be more of a problem at certain times of year -or day).
Legal Considerations: laws can vary: in some places, you may need official permission before you can take a photograph of something.

Course structure

There are eight lessons including a special project in this course:
Introduction

To be able to take good travel photographs, the first essential is to know and understand the equipment and materials used in photography. Part of this first lesson is aimed to ensure that you have this basic knowledge.
The Main Principles

This lesson aims to provide you with a firm understanding of how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking travel photographs. It provides a framework, upon which you will base your work in future lessons.
Creating Different Effects

Learn how to achieve different effects with snapshots and scenic shots.
Photographing Natural Areas

Learn how to photograph wilderness shots and seascapes.
Photographing Streetscapes

Learn the two main types of street photography: posed & candid
Photographing Interiors

Look at the difficulties involved in photographing interior subjects and how to overcome them.
Developing Your Photographic Style

By using photographic equipment skillfully and learning how to sense the way different types of film will respond to different colours and different situations (eg: haze, back light, side light, reflected light etc).
Major Project

Aims
Identify the scope of travel photography, and the resources required to take travel photos
Explain how you can work at improving your capabilities with respect to taking travel photographs.
Apply camera techniques including framing, positioning, timing and borrowed landscapes to create various effects.
Photograph natural areas to make best use of their texture, or even give them human qualities.
Photograph streetscapes to create different moods, or capture elements of your choice.
Photograph indoor scenes making best use of available and artificial lighting.
Create a series of travel photographs which contain a single common feature that differentiates them from other photographs, and in doing so, provides an indication that they are likely to have been taken by the same person.

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:
THE INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION COUNCIL
THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR PRIVATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
AGP (ACS GLOBAL PARTNER)
BRITISH INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
STUDY GOLD COAST

Course Code BPH101
Fee Code S2
Number of Assignments 8
Duration (approx) 100 hours

Learn how to make your pictures stand out from the crowd!

This is a great course is for those who want to improve their photography skills and potentially work as a photographer in any field.
You will understand how to tell a story with an image
How to turn your photographic skills into a business
Understand the photographic industry
Special photographic techniques
How to photograph anything well
Produce photos with special effects

This course can help you understand the potentials and limitations of a camera and conceive ideas to find a way around difficulties you encounter. It is designed to assist turning you into a more flexible and skilled photographer.

COURSE STRUCTURE

There are 8 lessons as follows:

Composition

Choosing the subject, Lighting the subject, Placing the subject in the frame, Choosing the medium for recording,

Photographing People

Snapshots, Portraiture, Posing for Photographs, Nude Photography, Fashion, Photography & Wedding Photography

Nature & Landscape Photography

Photographing Water, Plants, Landscapes & other Natural subjects

Colour vs. black & white

Types of film, Analysing photos, Photography for newspapers, etc.

Special Techniques

Creating Effects,Sport Photography, Cropping, Non Standard Film(eg.Lith Film, InfraRed etc)

Illustrative Photography

Telling a story with a photo (eg. advertising, sports event, fashion parade or art exhibition), Streetscape photography etc.

Publishing

Illustrating articles, Analysing photos in magazines, Understanding the industry and photo opportunities

Business Opportunities in Photography

Freelance photography, Commercial photography, Planning a Photographic Session, Studio Photography, What to Charge, Gallery Sales, Written Contracts

AIMS
Compose photographs in a way that matches a predetermined aim.
Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs of people.
Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs of landscapes or other natural subjects.
Differentiate between appropriate use of colour and black and white photography.
Create varied visual affects through the use of special techniques.
Explain a variety of ways to take better illustrative photographs.
Explain a variety of ways to take better photographs for use in print or electronic media.
Determine the nature and scope of business opportunities in photography.

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:
THE INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION COUNCIL
THE AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL FOR PRIVATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
AGP (ACS GLOBAL PARTNER)
BRITISH INSTITUTE FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
STUDY GOLD COAST

Associate of Science degree in Digital Photography

The Associate of Science degree program in Digital Photography teaches students traditional photographic skills as well as emerging technical skills in the ever-changing digital world of professional photographers.
Students enrolling in the Digital Photography degree program will study course content covering career-relevant skills training in commercial, advertising, portrait photography, photojournalism and wedding photography. They will also complete hands-on projects using industry-standard cameras, lighting, grip, software and techniques. Résumé- and portfolio-building opportunities are also emphasized throughout the degree program. The comprehensive course of study is design to provide them with opportunities to:
Create dramatic lighting effects, direct models, organize digital workflow and manipulate images.
Work on creating fashion, lifestyle and advertising images.
Cover sporting events, photograph weddings and create memorable portraiture and product photography.

ARTS 220
Photography Studio I (3)

Camera, film, and darkroom techniques. Development of basic black and white perceptual and photographic skills. Darkroom and photographic field and lab work. 35mm camera required.
ARTS 320
Photography Studio II (3)

Continuation of ARTS 220. Advanced theory and black and white techniques, historic processes and theory. Development of personal aesthetic encouraged. Field work. 35mm camera required. Prereq: ARTS 220.
ARTS 322
Photography: Color Studio (3)

Personal expression through use of color photography. Introduction to color printing and processing techniques. History of the medium. Field and lab work. 35mm camera required. Prereq: ARTS 220.
ARTS 325
Creative Photography (3)

Creative photography through photographing and responding to photographs. The question of self-expression and photographic medium explored in the pursuit of understanding images. Prereq: ARTS 220 and ARTS 320 or ARTS 322.
ARTS 365D
B&W Photography Studio (3)

Advanced black and white problems determined in consultation with instructor. Prereq: ARTS 220 and ARTS 320.
ARTS 365E
Color Studio (3)

Advanced color studio problems determined in consultation with instructor. Prereq: ARTS 220 and ARTS 322.

About the course
The Professional Certificate in Photography builds upon our fantastic reputation and the success of our existing undergraduate and postgraduate photography courses, which have a very high national and international profile.

The knowledge, understanding and skills you will acquire on this course relate directly to professional and work-based practice. You will also develop your photographic skills and expand your critical understanding and knowledge of the contextual aspects of photography.

Students will enter the course with basic digital photographic skills and then study modules designed to help them develop these basic skills to a higher professional level. At the same time they will be challenged to expand their photographic vocabulary.

Benefits
The main focus of this course is not just the expansion of technical skills, it also pays attention to the need to nurture creative and artistic sensitivities, leading students to become stronger image makers.

It is aimed at the practising professional or advanced amateur photographer, and at building and expanding their existing photographic practice and knowledge.

Students will refine established, new, critical and practical skills to develop a well-rounded reflective practitioner approach.

A professional certificate will enable you to:
Experience new and old technologies.
Develop specialist skills.
Critically evaluate historic and aesthetic traditions in light of your own work.
Expand your understanding of professional photographic practice and digital workflow systems.
Produce images that provide imaginative solutions to identifiable needs.

How do you study?
The Professional Certificate in Photography is structured around three, ten credit modules per year, each lasting for a ten week term.

Evening classes allow study to take place in a more flexible manner and can be worked around students’ current work schedules

The curriculum has been designed to teach practicing photographers higher level digital and photographic skills while at the same time encouraging them to fully explore and experiment with the medium, in order to expand their picture making skills.

Each year begins with a module that introduces advanced technical skills. Subsequent modules build on this and broaden learning into other aspects of professional practice.

Year one
Year one will investigate the contemporary stock photography market, encouraging students to evaluate the market potential of their own work and introducing industry-standard digital workflow tools such as Aperture.

Students will explore photography in a more considered way in the studio with associated light and cameras, using both high and low technology.

Within the traditional darkroom, students will learn how to process and print black and white images and work towards making fine prints. There will also be critical analysis of various photographic traditions.

Year two
During the second year students will apply the traditional and digital skills developed in the first year to the production of fine digital prints. They will also explore aspects of the marketing and selling of their work.

Students will also consider different types of genre in photography and start considering the future direction of their practice.

By the final module, there is an emphasis on portfolio enhancement and career development or progression to further study, possibly at postgraduate level. By this stage of the course, the focus is on the development of individual creativity and the identification of future options.

Special features
full access to the School’s photographic equipment stores and laboratories
technical support staff available until 8 pm, Monday to Thursday
latest generation macintosh computer suite (60 workstations)
black-and-white darkrooms
photographic studios (3)
specialist in-house printing bureau
additional library and learning resources
specialist art and design shop
café and social spaces

Selection process
The selection process includes either the submission of a creative portfolio of photographic work or an interview with staff.

The Professional Certificate programme has been developed to provide widening participation entry routes to the School’s postgraduate degrees, particularly for adult learners studying for continuing professional development purposes or taking degrees in a different specialism.

Entry requirements
Entrants will preferably be working with photography, either as professionals, or as skilled amateurs with professional aspirations.

All candidates must demonstrate that they can work to level 3 degree standard, via either a Foundation degree or a Diploma in Higher Education.

The Professional Certificate programme has been developed to provide widening participation entry routes to the School’s postgraduate degrees, particularly for adult learners studying for continuing professional development purposes or taking degrees in a different specialism.

International students who do not speak English as their first language will need an IELTS score of 6, or TOEFL score of 207 (computer based) or 540 (paper based) to be eligible.

This program provides instruction in commercial photographic skills and creative photographic processes. Beginning and intermediate photographic
processes and skills are addressed. Other topics include photographic lighting, photographic commercial/illustration, photojournalism,
color lab technologies and portraiture.
Operate film and digital camera systems both inside and outside
the studio to produce commercially viable images.
• Use supplemental lighting systems and controls to make effective
images.
Produce commercial images in the areas of Portraiture,Weddings,
Sports, Editorial, Product, Forensic, and Photojournalism.
• Develop ability to process images using Photoshop, and produce
prints using digital printers.

The Photography program offers instruction in commercial photographic skills and creative photographic processes. Beginning and intermediate
photographic processes and skills are addressed. Advanced instruction in photographic lighting, photographic commercial illustration,
photojournalism, color lab technologies and portraiture is provided.

Diploma in Photographic Imaging
Level: 5 – This programme is offered as a series of workshops, each based on a photographic genre or set of technical skills. In each workshop you will work on assignments tailored to your individual interests (where possible). Workshops and areas of study will include photographic design, digital imaging, colour management, colour technology, technical practice, available light (portrait and wedding photography), studio photography, photo journalism, image concepts, creative postproduction, contextual studies, physics, philosophy, new media studies, and professional practice.

Diploma in Professional Photography
Level: 6 – This programme is designed to help you develop specialist photographic skills and knowledge in an applied learning environment. Industry based skills are taught in the context of student elected photographic genres (eg studio/location portraiture, studio still life, photojournalism/documentary, fashion etc). All courses are compulsory and include digital postproduction/prepress, digital imaging, creative lighting, technical practice, interactive design, professional and business practice and a major project. Industry contact through membership in a professional association is also included. The programme puts equal emphasis on the development of technical skill, creativity and the understanding of design processes.
In addition you may choose to first complete the part time Photographic Folio Preparation Course. This course will help you assemble an application portfolio for tertiary photographic study, which best shows your artistic strengths. This course covers camera use, darkroom skills, developing a theme and folio presentation; and is limited to ten students.

Why should I take a CPIT Photography course?

Photography is the skill of using light to give expression to the world around us. Light is vibrant, beautiful, emotional and varied in its qualities. It is also one of the most effective carriers of information there is, and has the power to influence our perceptions.

A CPIT photography diploma will give you the opportunity to develop in-depth working knowledge of this exciting and powerful medium, as well as to develop the skills that you’ll need to succeed in occupations involving photography.

Photographic imaging forms an integral part of media such as 3D modelling and animation, film, video, television and computer graphic design.

CPIT ’s photography tutors have industry experience and work collaboratively with professional members of the School’s Photographic Advisory Board. They are therefore well placed to ensure that the standards required by the professional photography community and allied industries are met.
How much work will it be?

You’ll study full time over a 32-week year, divided into two semesters. This represents about 40 hours work each week, including lectures, tutorials, critiques and time spent undertaking independent learning.

Entry for domestic and international students is competitive, and you will need to prepare a portfolio of work as part of the application process.
Where will I study?

As a photography student, you’ll have access to industry standard software and hardware for complete in-house image production to professional standards. The studios are equipped with Bowens and Hensel lighting, and a range of medium format and 4 x 5 format cameras.

Extensive Mac-based computer labs allow for full post-production capabilities. A number of Nikon digital SLR cameras and lenses are also available for you where required.

Additionally, battery powered portable flashlights allow you to extend your creativity in field based photography. However, you must supply your own manually adjustable 35 mm film camera and lenses

About the course

Students learn a wide range of photographic skills and practices from fine art to commercial. Photo-techniques from analogue to the latest digital imaging are covered.

Graduates of this course will have a well-developed aesthetic sense, strong visual problem solving skills and be technically well equipped to produce innovative, exciting and questioning photo-based work.
Where it will take you

Graduates may work professionally as photographers in areas such as:
commercial, advertising, corporate and industrial either for professional studios or freelance
fine art exhibition and installation
media outlets such as magazines and newspapers either on a freelance or editorial basis
galleries, museums and government
Course components

The course consists of a core of eight studio-based subjects in the first two years, and two large studio-based subjects in the third year. These are supported by a contextual theory component of six subjects, and a minor elective sequence of five subjects. In the minor electives, students can elect subjects from other courses in the School of Visual & Performing Arts, such as Graphic Design, Multimedia, Animation and Visual Effects, Television Production, Acting for Stage and Screen, Design For Theatre and Television, and Jewellery.

The emphasis in the first year is on the acquisition of technical and aesthetic skills for the production of photographic works via both digital and analogue mediums. These skills are underpinned by contextual studies in photo-history, design theory and cultural studies.

In the second year the course concentrates on exploring, extending and building upon technical and conceptual skills gained in the first year. Emphasis is placed on students producing creative works of a high standard. Topics such as advanced digital photography, studio formats and lighting, imaging theories and techniques including critical analysis and interpretation of photographic imagery are introduced at this level.

In the third year students identify and investigate areas of photographic practice of particlar relevance to their career aspirations. These studies are linked and supported by a research seminar program.
The latest facilities

To make sure you are experienced using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:
digital photograpy facilities
digital imaging labs
analogue darkrooms
lighting studios
public gallery space
Hands-on experience

Students work collaboratively or individually on a range of photographic projects which may culminate in the production of a book, a CD-ROM or DVD, and a public exhibition of the work.
Graduation requirements

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (normally 22 subjects).