At the end of the 6 weeks course you will be able to:

· discuss and analyse your ideas about developing a photographic project

· critically reflect on your creative process and decision making

· demonstrate an understanding of problem solving

· demonstrate an understanding of simple research and documentation methods

· demonstrate a practical engagement with editing techniques

· write a draft statement about your project

· demonstrate an understanding of presentation techniques in relation to

  the context of your work

· produce a photographic body of work in progress

· gain an awareness of yourselves in relationship to photography

The titles of the weekly themes, as presented below, are only an umbrella of the variety of themes that will be covered each week. Although there is a linearity to them, each week we will be revisiting themes and issues discussed the previous weeks as well as bringing up issues which we will be discussing more extensively in the following weeks.

Each session will consist of mainly five parts:

i)     Group discussion,  brainstorming and personal project experience sharing on the weekly theme

ii)   Presentation of tips and techniques in support of the weekly theme. This, depending on the theme, might include a powerpoint presentation, looking at specific projects by well known contemporary photographers with Q&A input by the group, looking at a variety of photographic papers and mounting surfaces and much more.

iii)   Occasional group engagement in practical and creative activities/exercises as further brainstorming of, familiarisation with and application of the new techniques and information presented.

iv)  Looking at each other’s photographs, commenting on them, suggesting new ideas, reflecting on your creative process and progress of your project, discussing any problems encountered and articulating your thoughts into your words. This discussion will be the core of each session, as it will provide you with the opportunity to discuss your project, get feedback and potentially make decisions for its future development. At the same time, I will be answering your questions, helping you to clarify your ideas and giving you suggestions and guidance.

v)    Summing up the main ideas of the session and briefly discussing individual tactics that you might follow until the next session.

During all parts of each session, I will be acting more as a facilitator and less as a teacher to help you take charge of expressing your thoughts and ideas and sharing them with the rest of the group.

I will also be linking one week to the next by challenging you to be creatively alert in between weeks. A blog, a Facebook page or something similar could constitute other potential ways of keeping your mind busy and alert about your project but this will be discussed with you first, so that it can be based on something that you will really enjoy doing and benefit from.

After the end of each session I will be sending you e-handouts by email, which will include the following: