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MA Photography Welcome Guide : Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Black and White photography of a lady in front of a backdrop with a high-rise block of flats in the background.

Welcome to the MA Photography course

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you.

A message from your course team

I would like to welcome you to the MA Photography course at Arts University Bournemouth.

Through the advanced study of Photography you'll link your practice with theory and develop an understanding of what it means to be a professional in the field. Through lectures, seminars and group discussions you'll explore photography and what it means to you.

We're proud of our community of photography students at AUB and as an MA student you'll engage with and work alongside this community.

– Professor Paul Wenham-Clarke, MA Photography

Before you join us

Essential

To give you a foretaste of the ethos of the course, we would like to suggest that you take a look at the reference material below. We suggest that you find as much online as possible rather than buying multiple publications.

Key

  • Bates, D. (2016). Photography: The Key Concepts. London: Bloomsbury.
  • Bates, D. (2015). Art Photography. London: Tate.
  • Sontag, S. (1977). On Photography. London: Penguin.

Recommended

  • Barthes, R. (1993). Camera Lucida. London: Vintage.
  • Modrak, R. & Anthes, B. (2011). Reframing Photography: Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.

Research Texts

  • Collins, H. (2010) Creative Research: the Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries. Lausanne: AVA Academia.
  • Gray, C. and Malins, J. (2004). Visualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Aldershot: Ashgate.
  • Rose, G. (2012). Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Material. London: Sage

What to bring on your first day

Ideas for your research projects that we can discuss.

Course equipment

Essential

  • Academic diary (can be electronic e.g. Microsoft Outlook version, generally found on many smartphones and as standard on laptops and tablets).
  • DSLR camera (21 megapixels or above, preferably Nikon or Canon).
  • Portable hard drive (preferably 500 MB to 1 TB).

Useful

  • Apple MacBook or PC Card Reader
  • Flash (Metz or dedicated detachable flash).
  • Tripod (portable, but heavy enough for medium format cameras and DSLRs with telephoto/zoom lenses).

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