The HNC photography course offers students advanced skills in studio lighting, Black & White darkroom printing, postproduction techniques and alternative processes. It is a Level 4 course equivalent to first year university and is designed to provide all you need to break into the photography industry, by offering in-depth practical investigations into current photographic practices. During the course, which will be delivered over 2 years (part-time), you will build on your knowledge by exploring a wide range of different subject areas such as fashion, portraiture, fine art, documentary, editorial and commercial photography. The theoretical aspect of the course will offer an historical and cultural framework which will provide the ground for understanding photography in a wider context. You will also develop a collaborative working mindset and will enhance communication, planning and problem-solving skills. In small group sizes, you will be supported by a team of lecturers with professional experience as photography practitioners. You will learn actively through workshop-based teaching in our state-of-the-art studio and B&W darkroom. The learning is further enriched with visiting lecturers and a range of study visits to galleries and photography fairs. At the end, you will develop your professional practice in the area of photography you wish to pursue as a career you will produce a strong portfolio that is truly valued by potential clients and employers. This is a current Association of Photographers (AOP) accredited course, that offers all students a free AOP student membership for the duration of their studies.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Use advanced studio lighting techniques to produce powerful photographs
• Create innovative images using a range of up to date post-production techniques
• Apply darkroom techniques effectively to produce high quality Black and White prints that explore the relationship between technique and bespoke output
• Apply research and planning methods to develop a photographic strategy in response to a given brief that explores current trends in photography
• Create and present a strong photographic portfolio in an online platform