Watch this video of the Dudley College Refugee Exhibition Launch at Parliament created by student Elijah Cottingham
Dudley College of Technology Launches Powerful Refugees Exhibition in Parliament
In March 2025, staff and students from Dudley College of Technology marked a momentous occasion with the launch of the “Refugees in Dudley” exhibition at the Houses of Parliament. This ambitious project, two years in development and commissioned by Lord Ian Austin, provided a vital platform for the voices and experiences of refugees through compelling photography and media.
The House of Commons Upper Waiting Hall hosted a stunning display of student portraits, a specially created book, and an impactful film produced by the college’s photography and media students. Alongside their work, a series of poignant portrait paintings by technician and artist Chris Davies were also showcased, attracting significant attention from a diverse audience of visitors and political figures.
Inspiring Speeches at Dudley College Refugee Exhibition
Phil Brooks, Photography Course Leader at Dudley College, reflected on the extensive effort involved. “It’s been quite something to organise!” he shared. The successful launch event featured a dinner, a parliamentary tour, and inspiring speeches. Notable attendees included Members of Parliament, representatives from key refugee agencies, and The Holocaust Education Trust.
Phil also extended gratitude to several key individuals: Lord Ian Austin for personally transporting the entire exhibition to London, MP Sonia Kumar’s team for their exceptional hospitality, and Councillor Keiran Casey for his invaluable help and support.
Collaboration is Key to Refugee Exhibition Success
The success of the exhibition was a collaborative effort, involving many dedicated individuals. Special thanks were given to students like Josh Harper (now at the University of Wolverhampton) who traveled for the event, Chris Davies for his paintings and project support, and Stuart McConnell and his students for their brilliant film featuring interviews. ESOL tutor Sally Hebbard was commended for her role in enabling the project with her wonderful ESOL refugees from around the world, including Ukrainian student Tetiana Vergun, who also attended.
Further appreciation went to Amanda and the Students’ Union team for enabling a coach load of students to attend, Mireille Digard (Sustainability Manager) for generously funding the printing of the exhibition books, and Diana Martin (Chief Executive and Principal) and Claire Millard (Vice Principal Curriculum and Quality) for their presence, making the day even more special.
“This has been our most important and prestigious project to date,” stated Brooks. “Thanks to all who took part and enabled important stories to be heard in our struggle to promote and celebrate the importance of human kindness, community, and resilience.”
This powerful photography and media exhibition undoubtedly amplified crucial messages of hope and resilience.
Dudley College is proud to offer a range of Level 2 Creative Media courses designed to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in the media industry. Among these offerings is the Level 2 Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology, which provides comprehensive training across various media disciplines.
Level 2 Diploma in Creative Media Production and Technology
This diploma focuses on developing practical skills and media knowledge essential for the modern media workplace. The curriculum covers a broad spectrum of media disciplines, ensuring students gain versatile skills that enhance their employability in the sector.
The learning approach is project-based, emphasising real-world experience and professional environments. This hands-on training prepares students for diverse roles within the media industry, from production and editing to content creation and beyond.
T Level in Media, Broadcast, and Production
In addition to the Level 2 Diploma, Dudley College offers a T Level in Media, Broadcast, and Production. This advanced course combines academic learning with practical experience, including work placements and examinations. The T Level is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the media industry, preparing them for higher education or direct entry into professional roles.
By enrolling in these courses at Dudley College, students can expect to receive high-quality education and training that aligns with industry standards. Whether you’re looking to start a career in media or advance your existing skills, Dudley College’s Creative Media courses offer the perfect foundation for your professional journey.
Dudley College’s Level 2 Creative Media courses open doors to a variety of exciting career paths in the media industry. Here are some potential roles you could pursue:
Film and Television Production
Camera Operator: Capture high-quality footage for films, TV shows, and other visual media.
Film Editor: Edit and assemble recorded footage into a finished product.
Director: Oversee the creative aspects of film and TV production.
Producer: Manage the production process, from planning to execution.
Radio and Audio Production
Radio Technician: Operate and maintain radio broadcasting equipment.
Radio Producer: Create and manage radio programs and content.
Digital Media and Content Creation
Social Media Manager: Develop and manage social media strategies for brands and organisations.
Content Creator: Produce engaging content for various platforms, including blogs, videos, and social media.
Multimedia and Interactive Media
Video Game Developer: Design and develop video games, combining coding, design, and storytelling.
Multimedia Journalist: Report news and stories using various media formats, including video, audio, and text.
Other Creative Roles
Scriptwriter: Write scripts for films, TV shows, and other media productions.
Director of Photography: Manage the visual aspects of film and TV production, including lighting and camera work.
These courses provide a solid foundation for further study or direct entry into these roles, equipping you with the practical skills and industry knowledge needed to succeed.
We hope you enjoy this gallery of work from this year’s Level 2 Creative Media students at Dudley College of Technology.
Here in Dudley, our students’ journey towards professional image-making has seen them seeking to find their own creative voice, whilst building meaning into their photography, growing in confidence, becoming a supportive community, learning to articulate their work as well as dealing with responses to their work, all whilst maintaining enthusiasm, inspiration, and motivation.
We have sought to promote kindness, community, and diversity. We have continued to strengthen our close relationship with Dudley Zoo, Dudley’s Gentleman’s Songsters and Dudley Remembers and Dudley Holocaust Memorial Day. One of our students is now Diversity and Inclusion rep for the whole college.
As well as exhibiting our diversity project at Dudley Town Hall last October, we have recently had the pleasure of working with local refugees from all round the world, who have made Dudley their home. It has become a local yet international collaboration. This has been our biggest, most important project to date – The Dudley Refugee Project – It was a year in the making – commissioned by Lord Ian Austin – featuring many of our ESOL students and other refugees, including a number from Ukraine.
Our recent exhibition at The Dudley Archives was attended The Mayor of Dudley. This work exposure involved students working alongside art photographer Anand Chhabra, who won the Mayor’s Civic Award for art last year, for his work with us, which involved a collaboration with Historic England, celebrating High Street Heroes, for our national touring exhibition, featured in the Guardian newspaper.
This year, two students worked in their own time, photographing with Dudley Caribbean and Friends Association, helping them with their own photography and raising awareness of the social welfare needs of the elderly African Caribbean community in Dudley.
During the course, we have raised money for The Royal British Legion, Children in Need and most notably for Ronnie and Friends, for whom we helped raise over £22,000 towards building a baby bereavement room at Russel’s Hall Hospital in Dudley, by abseiling off the college and climbing the highest mountain in England, in winter.
Frequently these students demonstrate their drive and aspiration by staying late and are often still working when the evening class arrive and sometime even help teach them. From our shared induction in the sports hall, on day one, onwards, we try to break barriers between curriculum areas and levels. We have visiting speakers most weeks, often old students coming in, to give back and inspire.
We aim to enable a supportive, intrinsically motivated community. My students don’t need commendations or stickers; they work through their lunch or volunteer to photograph college events at weekends. They feel they are working, not just for their own skill-development, personal experience or portfolio-building but often for the greater good.
A-Level textile design encourages students to work with a wide variety of skills and processes across the fields of textiles, fashion and interiors. This includes printed textiles, constructed textiles, embroidery, fashion construction, weaving and fabric manipulation. Learners are introduced to different techniques which they are then able to develop into personal final work. This can be clearly seen within the variety of imaginative outcomes produced this year.
Learners are encouraged to explore both historical and contemporary techniques and processes and to support their work with research into a range of suitable artists, designers, and trends. They are prepared for industry or Higher Education and all the learners from this year are continuing by pursuing degrees, employment or progressing onto the art foundation diploma course here at Dudley College.
I hope that you find the work inspiring. I am very proud of what the learners have achieved this year.
Clare Buchanan, A level Textile Design Tutor
Anmolprit Kaur
Through my project I explored the theme of spring contrasting with the season of winter. I looked at how the season of spring is slowly disappearing due to the climate change as the transition of the weather is starting to go from the cold winter weathers to the humid summer temperatures skipping the warmth of spring.
To develop this idea, I wanted to look at a form of ‘solution’ to this by creating a garment suitable for both winter and spring weathers by utilizing layers of thinner fabrics combined with thicker fabrics and colours of spring to showcase this. Moreover, by creating different layered garments which can be easily added and taken off the garments would be functional in both weathers.
Erin McCabe
My component one topic is Urban and Rural. This topic came from my love of streetwear and subcultures such as grunge and the fashion found within these further induced the idea of urbanism. Rural came from my love of nature and the impact which urban fashion has upon the rural environments. This was the key focus of my project to explore the differences and also to find a solution to sustainable urban fashion.
To represent urban style, I chose denim as my material, the brown on the jumper came from earth tones such as tree bark. I weaved denim through my knit to represent how these ideas can be complimentary. My garment is fully sustainable as it is made from secondhand materials. The silhouette of the garment was inspired from the 90s grunge scene.
wanted to create a dramatically oversized jumper to reference the style of grunge singers such as Kurt Cobain.
Eve Oram
This project is themed around jellyfish and inspired by their vibrant colours and patterns. The piece is a 3-piece set including a skirt inspired by the body of a jellyfish, slash and stitch arm cuffs and a beaded top with smocked/ stitched fabric inside.
The patterns on the skirt are inspired by pollution and include bubbles made from a paper straw, dyed bubble wrap under a heat press and dyed string. The inside of the skirt was stuffed with recycled plastic bags. The outer layer of the skirt is made from organza which shines which reflects different colours in the sun mimicking neon jellyfish.
Gracie Roberts
For this project I explored the use of recycled materials, experimenting with ways of reusing and upcycling to promote ideas of sustainable fashion and more thoughtful design. I used a combination of everyday recyclables like plastic bags mixed with old clothes, of which I focused on my use of denim, sourced from old jeans.
For this I was inspired by the ethos of Maison Margiela’s spring 2020 ready-to-wear collection, where designer John Galliano created and used a concept he termed “recicla”, which focuses on giving garments a new life through restorative design, each item in the collection was created from second-hand garments.
I was also inspired by the silhouette and use of raw weaved edges from Viktor and Rolf’s “vagabond” collection from autumn/winter 2016, in this collection they used scrap fabrics from past collections and worked them together in a new way.
experimented with various techniques to combine as many scraps of fabric as possible, focusing on maximising my use of materials and ensuring my project was entirely zero waste, I concluded by using weaving as well as taking inspiration from the creation of rag-rugs and using both within my final piece.
Mya Lee Round
My topic for component 2 was faces and I worked round the inspiration from famous pop artists such as Roy Lichenstein.
My piece is to overall show women empowerment by featuring girly expressions and symbolism. I worked off images I took to create the printing screens and therefore it allowed me to personalise my own work whilst adding key symbols of pop art into them.
Arwen Wilson
I was attracted to the themes of ‘Make Do and Mend’ and the historical context of the usage of the phrase. After a visit to The Imperial War Museum in London I was further inspired by a book, written during World War Two, of tips on how to care for clothing. Using free-machine embroidery techniques, I incorporated some of the text from the book into my own work.
I also researched traditional patchwork techniques and experimented with a range of mixed media such as rust dye, teabags dipped in wax, and stitched paper. For my final piece I decided to focus on everyday domestic items, an apron, oven glove and peg bag. A washing line seemed a fitting way of connecting and displaying these everyday items.
Finally, I felt it was important to use materials that were upcycled or readily available at home, therefore, I combined vintage fabrics from charity shops with teabags and old dress-making patterns and used tea, coffee, red wine and rust to add subtle colour to the fabrics.
My final project, “The Youth” explores the theme of today’s teenage culture. Inspired by Brandon Wilkins, I aimed to capture typical moments of youth having fun. The rise of social media and widespread communication has meant that young people are staying indoors more than ever and not experiencing what it’s like to be young. Instead of climbing trees, taking risks and making friends, it is now more common to play games and scroll through social media in isolation.
I hoped to motivate today’s youth to get out of their house, spend time with friends, have fun, take risks and experience what it’s like to be young. I used techniques such as fast shutter speeds and wide angles to achieve my goals to ensure that my images are not blurry and have a dramatic feel to them.
Amber Aston
‘Threads of Identity’, explores the theme of personality and individuality, expressed through clothing and physical appearance. Inspired by the works of Christopher Ward, my project aimed to capture the stories reflected in people’s eyes, telling their unique narratives through the lens.
Through these street portraits, I aimed to showcase the beauty and authenticity of every individual, hoping to inspire my audience to see the beauty within themselves. Despite the challenges of fear of rejection and lack of confidence, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone to connect to people and ensure the success of my project.
Ultimately, my hope is that ‘Threads of Identity’, encourages others to celebrate their own individuality and recognise the power and importance of self-expression.
Inderdeep Basra
My work, ‘Frames of Punjab,’ is a visual exploration of the streets of Punjab, particularly the Doaba region, where I document landscapes, people, and daily life. Through my photography, I aim to capture the essence of these spaces—their history, vibrancy, and evolving identity. From the narrow lanes of small towns to the energy of Amritsar and the serenity of the Golden Temple, my images tell stories of culture and transformation.
I was inspired by Punjab’s rich visual and cultural tapestry. Walking through these streets, I felt a deep connection to the people, the shopkeepers, the elders, and the children who define these spaces. I wanted to preserve these fleeting moments, capturing the contrast between tradition and modernity.
I use a documentary-style approach, relying on natural light and spontaneous compositions. Wide-angle shots provide context, while close-ups bring intimacy to individual subjects. Textures of crumbling walls, reflections in water, human interaction, and people driving vehicles define my visual language.
What makes my work unique is its impressive and emotional perspective. I don’t just capture aesthetics—I focus on expressions, gestures, and the energy of a place. My goal was to transport viewers into these streets, making them feel the atmosphere rather than just observe it.
I want viewers to experience a sense of connection—nostalgia, warmth, and the beauty of everyday life. My work aligns with documentary and street photography trends, emphasizing storytelling and cultural preservation.
This work speaks to contemporary photographers’ growing emphasis on storytelling, identity, and cultural documentation. In an age of fast, filtered imagery, there’s a return to slower, more intentional visual narratives—something I strive to reflect in my work.
One challenge was navigating unfamiliar environments while ensuring authenticity. Some people were hesitant to be photographed, so I built trust by engaging in conversations and patiently waiting for the right moments.
‘Frames of Punjab’ is an invitation to step into these streets through my eyes—to preserve memories, evoke emotions, and celebrate the beauty in the ordinary.
Eloise Beard
As a young photographer who discovered my passion during my early high school years, I always found myself trying to capture the best angles when taking any simple photos. This sparked the beginning of my long interest in photography.
I specialise in the genres of portraiture and still life, as I find these styles more enjoyable to photograph, resulting in better outcomes. I typically create darker images rather than brighter ones; however, I still photograph in both styles. I feel my best work has been created in a studio setting, as I like having control over my settings.
Throughout my time at college, I have participated in many exhibitions, such as an exhibition in the archives alongside second-year students’ work. Over my educational years, I have learned to perfect my images and use a range of techniques to enhance my photos.
My project is based on the theme of album covers and how music can be used as an individual’s coping mechanism. To do this, I aimed to make my initial images in the style of album covers. My photos reflect my personal style, as I typically photograph in a much darker style with a hidden message.
Through this, I aimed to convey upsetting emotions, creating a strong response in my audience by raising awareness of the issues I discuss. I faced many problems along the way through the creative process of my work, such as lacking desired items or needed skills, which were all overcome in the end. Overall, my aim in this project was to convey the different issues people face and how music can become a coping mechanism for these, highlighting the importance of being aware of these problems in people’s lives.
Lui Brahimaj
My final project, “Driven by Design,” focuses on capturing cars in everyday street environments. I’ve always been interested in how cars naturally become part of the landscape, how they sit on the street, catch the light, and add a certain vibe to their surroundings.
This project is about showing that even something we see all the time, like a parked car, can have its own style and presence. I focused on the shapes, the setting, and the way the car fits into the scene to bring out its character. For me, it’s about appreciating the everyday details and turning them into something worth noticing.
Danni-Jade Cruickshanks
My final project, titled ‘The Attachment,’ explores the theme of possession and spiritual attachment. I was inspired by the work of Kelly Jean and Fritz Lang. Using editing software to darken the images, I employed low-lighting techniques to create an eerie mood. I also used photo manipulation to fit the images more into the horror theme.
My images and horror trailer reflect my style of gothic horror, as I have a passion for the supernatural. The message I am trying to convey is how powerful spiritual attachment can be. Through this project, I aim to give other people the chance to experience this theme. Despite challenges with timelines and other obstacles, I managed to create a trailer and images that I am proud of.
Tobi Degg
Titled “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder,” my project aims to bring attention to insect conservation and extinction by showcasing taxidermied insects that people tend to fear or freak out about in an aesthetically pleasing way, hopefully shifting the narrative that they are “gross” and making people less uncomfortable.
I believe more people will kill bugs on sight than will be willing to admit it. It doesn’t take much to forget our power over such small, often harmless creatures. Very few people understand the benefits these small creatures provide to us and our planet—they are recyclers, both prey and predator alike, and they often have symbiotic relationships with other living things. All of this benefits us. However, extinction rates of insects are rising.
It is a huge problem, with massive negative impacts on humanity if nothing changes. I hope to show people that the smaller creatures on our planet are just as important as the larger ones—no one thing is greater, and we are all equally important.
My project aims to bring about a sense of care for the things that make the world go round, as without insects, I believe we would not survive.
The moths, butterflies, and beetles were pinned by myself. Insects and insect taxidermy are a long-standing interest of mine, and I’m very fortunate to have been able to incorporate that into my project.
Bonni-Jay Dudley
I have always had a connection and love for art and narrative. I’ve been greatly influenced by my dad’s love of landscape photography growing up; his skill at capturing the passion and beauty of the natural world inspired me to learn more about this genre, translating his work into my own portraiture style.
I’m passionate about documenting real-life experiences and feelings through a model’s beauty and emotion. My style often focuses on the ethereal while blending a model’s natural beauty with otherworldly aspects to ultimately exude whimsy and juxtapose the mundane.
The chance to interact and communicate with clients, however, is what most fascinates me about photography. It excites me to be able to work with others and produce a product where the client looks and feels their best.
‘δυνάμεις της φύσης’ (dynámeis tis fýsis) focuses on showcasing the relationship between humans and nature, the light and dark energies that surround these connections. Through this body of work, I hope to present the importance of a naturalistic lifestyle.
I am heavily inspired by Wiccan culture; the way they honour the elements encouraged me to embrace nature itself in this collection and showcase the juxtaposition between good and evil energies.
This project presents these aspects through the medium of fashion, showcasing looks linked to Viking culture throughout history. By doing this, I am reminding an audience of the history of fashion and showcasing a culture that is widely overlooked.
Connor Griffiths
Ungodly and Divine’ is a visual representation of the religious and societal stereotypes around good and evil, showcased through the medium of original couture fashion. Through this body of work, I wished to celebrate the femininity of the models themselves, embracing their bodies and their natural beauty.
In ‘Ungodly and Divine,’ women are portrayed as ethereal beings, showcasing the common ‘evil is sexy’ trope, juxtaposing the stereotypical innocent, youthful, and good character seen in today’s media.
My work as a whole heavily leans towards presenting fashion to my audiences. Through this body of work, I aim to showcase drag-inspired elements as seen through the models’ makeup, hair, and dresses, to highlight a more youthful approach regarding religion and fashion, showcasing how its ideals surrounding the positive and negative can harmfully affect people throughout their lives.
Lillie Harris
“The Forgotten Pantheon” explores the overlooked or forgotten women in Greek mythology. My aim is to capture their power, natural essence, and etherealness, showing how they became these all-powerful beings through their stories. I intend to spread the message of powerful women and how women are mistreated.
Through “The Forgotten Pantheon,” women are portrayed as ethereal beings, beautiful but formidable. This pairing is a celebration of growth, resilience, and empowerment, mirroring the journey that women embark upon.
Each photograph within this series is a visual narrative of each pantheon story. The pomegranate represents a symbol of inescapable fate; by consuming the seeds, she seals her fate, ensuring she’ll always be tied to the underworld. With my representation of Nyx, the starry night over her face symbolises the celestial connection Nyx, as goddess of the night, has.
I aim to create a sense of understanding of the difficulties some women must go through, which will hopefully help inspire viewers to learn from their hard and traumatic times and become stronger people.
Jordan Hinton
This project explores what it is like to be a child within the foster system and how it affects our physical and mental health. Through my photography project, I intend to spread messages of awareness and support for other children going through or those who have been through the foster process.
Through my own experience of being a child in care, as well as those I have interviewed as part of this project, I have used photography lighting techniques to show the models’ upbringing. Those who struggled within the system were photographed with harsh lighting, juxtaposing those photographed using soft lighting who had a better experience.
Each photograph within this series is a visual narrative of life within the foster system, raising awareness about the physical and mental impact it has on us as children. I aim to create a sense of realisation, informing viewers that the life of a child in foster care is not what it is made out to be.
Madison Holleron
‘Captured in Crime’ explores the intersection of society, justice, and the human experience through visual storytelling. Inspired by Arthur Fellig, I aimed to capture the raw and gritty essence of life by creating carefully crafted studio scenarios that reflect the intensity and authenticity of real-world experiences.
Using dark, eerie lighting as well as handmade props, I was able to create images that resonate with the chilling true crime theme. Throughout this project, I aim to spark thought and discussion about safety, morality, and societal structures that influence criminal behaviour.
Despite the challenges of brainstorming studio setup ideas and ensuring diversity among the images, I found inspiration in the work of other forensic photographers.
Alex Humpage
My photography journey started many years ago when I got my first camera. Over the years, as my skills grew, I shifted my focus from nature and wildlife photography to commercial photography.
My inspirations come mostly from higher-end commercial photographers like Nori Inoguchi. However, each brand has inspired me individually. My equipment and techniques are quite fluid and vary with each photo to create a unique aesthetic, which I feel is a valuable skill as I hopefully progress to working for a variety of higher-end commercial photography clients while being able to share a variety of techniques and skills with others.
Over the last few years, my photography has evolved in many ways. Improving my skills and finding my own niche has helped my work develop. My biggest achievement will be becoming a “Lessons from Auschwitz” ambassador and being able to speak and exhibit my photos in front of hundreds of people, including a Holocaust survivor.
Maria Lateu-Dalton
My Final Major Project is focused on knife crime in Wolverhampton. There has been a rise in knife crime in Wolverhampton and in a small town on the outskirts called Merry Hill. Knife crime is a major issue at the moment throughout the UK. I mainly focused on knife crime in Wolverhampton because it was rarely reported, but since halfway through last year, knife crime in Wolverhampton has become much more common, with many incidents involving gangs.
My inspiration came from Henri Cartier-Bresson, who took a lot of street photography with blurred people in motion, creating interesting photos. I am including this technique in my project, as the culprits of these crimes often have their faces covered with balaclavas or other types of face coverings, or they look down to avoid being seen on camera. The message I want to convey through my work is: “Hand in the knife if you’re thinking of carrying one, as it will save a life from death or injury.”
My work is taken in a contemporary photography style, capturing different environments and versions of street life around Wolverhampton. I take my photos in real-time, in scenes where knife crime typically occurs, such as side streets, underground passageways, or isolated parts of parks. Many knife crime victims are threatened into going to isolated places so that the perpetrator can commit their crime.
My challenges during this project included being careful about where I was taking photos and finding the right time to photograph my models. It took some time to get the statistics on knife crime because they are not readily available, and for a student to be interested, it was seen as more of a concern due to the seriousness of the crime.
To overcome these issues, I had to ensure that I was not intruding on anyone’s privacy and that I was not getting myself into trouble, especially when taking photos in underground passageways, which are mostly used by drug users and people in gangs.
Connor-Jay Lawrence
Unseen Worlds’ explores isolation through documentary photography, capturing modes of transport and portraying living conditions, fashion, and cultures while addressing loneliness, inspired by Martin Parr. I also like to reflect my ideas with architecture serving as a backdrop, mirroring the contrasts of human experience.
My skills will be showcased using the rule of thirds technique while problem-solving to capture the best possible images. Despite the challenge of shooting in crowded areas, I was able to capture solace, which relates to my personal interests and the theme. Hopefully, my project inspires people to absorb the world for what it truly is day to day.
Wanessa Lobodzinska
My name is Vanessa Lobodzinska, and I go by NessasLens_. I am a photography student deeply passionate about fashion, aiming to capture the stories and emotions behind the clothes. To me, fashion is a powerful expression of identity and culture. My work explores the interplay of style, personality, and narrative, creating visually striking and emotionally resonant images.
My goal is to show more than just trends, highlighting the human element in fashion and how it shapes us. I focus on creating a bond with my models to make them feel comfortable while keeping it professional during photoshoots, pushing creative boundaries while maintaining attention to detail. Inspired by the ever-evolving nature of fashion, I draw influences from various sources, from art to street style.
I envision myself contributing to major magazines and big brands, shaping the visual language of the fashion industry. Ultimately, I aim to create compelling, timeless images that reflect the diverse landscape of fashion, capturing today’s stories and imagining the styles of tomorrow.
Sydney Micklewright
The theme I have chosen for my final project is surrealism, using both portraiture and still life to showcase a wide range of this theme. I drew inspiration from surrealist artists like Salvador Dali to inspire individual shoots, given the large differences between ideas in each shoot. I used a variety of techniques to help my process and plan throughout this project.
One of these techniques was conducting a location recce to thoroughly evaluate the different factors I needed to consider for these shoots. I used photography techniques like multiple flash to create my images. The majority of my work focused on post-production, using tools like Liquify, Twirl, and color correction.
I feel that these images reflect my personal style due to my overall artistic background before pursuing photography. This also reflects my style because I created many of the props for these images and manipulated them to fit my vision. I want to convey the theme of surrealism by using very artistic images to reflect elements like the dream world that inspired the surrealist movement.
Bethany Mogg
For my Final Major Project (FMP), I chose to focus on my biggest interest—cars. I had a clear vision from the start, aiming to capture both the main bodywork and finer details like tyres, headlights, and rear lights. I applied techniques I’ve learned, such as the rule of thirds and leading lines, which helped enhance the overall quality of my images.
The goal of my project is to showcase different car brands and highlight how each model stands out through unique design elements. One of the main challenges I faced was dealing with concerns about car owners’ privacy. I remained professional, explaining that even with number plates visible, owners couldn’t be identified, and I also offered to blur them if requested.
This project was deeply inspired by my passion for cars, and I’m proud to say it pushed my skills and exceeded my own expectations.
Madison Mountford
“Fallen Angel” represents the themes of exclusion and diversity within adolescents. I have chosen this as my theme due to my own past, struggling to fit in within society as a child and often being outcast. This is a normal experience and happens quite often.
My project aims to allow those who feel this way to understand and conclude that being different is simply a form of individuality, and you don’t have to ‘pluck your wings’ in order to fit in. Keeping your own strands of individuality will forever help.
Julia Mulewska
This project undertakes an exploration of the Medieval era through photographic means, with the intent to evoke emotional resonance, nostalgia, and visual intrigue. My enduring fascination with the architecture, symbolism, and atmospheric qualities of this period has informed this work. Structures such as castles, cathedrals, and ruins offer rich textural elements, dramatic lighting, and profound historical significance. The inspiration for this project derives from medieval folklore, dark visual tones, and the inherent mystery associated with this era.
Technically, I employ a Canon 4000D DSLR camera equipped with both an 18–55mm and a 75–300mm lens. This configuration enables the capture of expansive architectural forms as well as detailed, intricate elements. I primarily shoot utilizing natural light, capitalizing on the golden hour and ambient illumination to enhance mood and shadow play.
Compositionally, I rely on leading lines, symmetry, and the rule of thirds to establish balance and depth within the images. Post-processing is performed using Adobe Photoshop, where tonal adjustments, subtle sharpening, and noise reduction are applied to improve clarity.
My photographic style is characterized by a moody, minimalist, and atmospheric aesthetic. I employ soft contrast, subdued color palettes, and meticulous framing to underscore the spiritual and emotional resonance of medieval spaces. Emphasis is placed on textures, stonework, and the interaction of light with architectural features such as windows, arches, and carvings. Through this approach, I seek to convey a personal connection to these sites—spaces that evoke a sense of timelessness and profound meaning.
Emotionally, my objective is to communicate reverence, mystery, and awe. I aspire for viewers to feel as though they are entering a different realm, where history, spirituality, and imagination converge. While the subject matter remains rooted in history, my methodology is influenced by contemporary photographic practices, particularly in its minimalist aesthetic and narrative-driven approach. The overarching goal is to inspire contemporary audiences to find renewed significance in ancient architecture.
A significant technical challenge involved capturing images in low-light conditions without the use of a tripod. This was addressed through the utilization of faster lenses, increased ISO settings, and meticulous handheld techniques. Additionally, securing access to certain sites necessitated careful planning and adaptability.
This project holds considerable personal significance, as it integrates my interests in history, storytelling, and visual art. It serves as a conduit between the past and present, transforming ancient architecture into emotionally compelling imagery that encourages viewers to pause, reflect, and establish a meaningful connection with enduring heritage.
Libby-Lee Myring
The concept of this project, The Beauty of Women and Men, is showing beauty standards of women and men. I think this is important to showcase because today beauty standards are so high and it’s showcasing that you don’t have to live up to today’s beauty standards.
What inspired my theme was showing femininity in my previous project called diversity. I thought it was important to show that women in dresses are normal, and they shouldn’t be sexualised or shouldn’t be told what to wear; this also goes for men.
The techniques and processes I used in my work used a mixture of colour and monochrome. The overall message that I have conveyed through my work are in the questioning of beauty standards and that women and men can wear anything they want.
Angel Reynolds-Hailing
My project is about the day-to-day life of living in care, as one of the children raised in the care system. My work closely relates to my life, as I was raised in care since the age of 5. Living in care is a different experience for everyone; it really depends on who their caregiver is.
My idea developed into a project by taking photos of people who have been or still are in care and by projecting lyrics onto people wearing white. The lyrics were written by me and Jordan. My work is different and unique because it’s about life in care and how it affects the children forced into the system.
Mason Wild
This relates to my work as I’m creating a movie and studying Film/TV at university. This will extend my knowledge by giving me experience in the industry and field of work, helping me understand the job and how I can create and produce content.
This will also enhance my creative ability, as I can apply everything I’ve learned from self-taught videos and knowledge, testing what I’ve learned and identifying areas I need to work on.
Emily Williams
I have always had a strong liking for sculptured stone buildings; they tend to draw me in to take a closer look.
For this project, I wanted to put you in my shoes and invite you to dive into my images and see them from my perspective.
Lucy Willis
The concept of my project is to compare and show the differences between rural and urban areas. I wanted to highlight these differences by including the lifestyles, wildlife, architecture, and tourism in each area. I also wanted to interview people about where they live and if they feel a connection to it.
I thought it would be important to interview people to show how the area where they live affects their mental health. Including the effect on people’s mental health based on where they live was important to me because it would show which of the two areas is the best to live in.
My project relates to landscape and documentary photography because it includes photos of rural and urban areas to showcase the differences in architecture and wildlife, and environmental portraits to tell the story of the person who was interviewed about where they live.
I have always had a strong liking for sculptured stone buildings; they tend to draw me in to take a closer look. For this project, I wanted to put you in my shoes and invite you to dive into my images and see them from my perspective.
My personal project is about advertisement photography. I chose this as it’s different to the rest and I found that you can be very creative once the pictures have been taken, and then to use photoshop or other editing apps. I was inspired by Phil Brooks my tutor to choose this theme, because he helped give me ideas to choose the theme and go forward with it. Such as, taking photos of perfume bottles with the light equipment in the studio. Also, changing angles with the bottles to show different lightings such as diffused soft lighting from above, a light tent (soft lighting), black edge and white edge.
I then searched photographers that photograph advertisement products, and I really liked the way they edited their photos after to make the products look appealing and buyable. I created my work by bringing in items from home to photograph and then editing them after. I arranged the items I brought in, in different ways so all my best 6 photos were different. My work is unique because others chose to do outdoor themes such as continuing their landscape project as their personal project. However, I chose completely different and decided to use the studio for my project.
This was so I could use the studio lighting instead of the natural outdoor lighting. As no one else was using the studio I was able to have the space all to myself which let me have lots of time to try different ideas and see if they were successful or unsuccessful. I want viewers to think that I have been creative with my work and tried all sorts of different combinations to see if they worked or not even if they didn’t, they will still be included on my express page as experiments.
Photographs must evoke something more in our imagination than what we just ‘see’ in the photograph. It must take us beyond ‘what we see’ and trigger ‘what we feel.’ Such as interests, curiosity, thoughts, feelings, energy. I would want my viewers to feel this way about my work. My work fits within current trends right now because, advertisement is always on tv, and it will always be trendy as it’s everywhere you go. For example, billboards, lots of social media platforms and on television.
The obstacles I faced when taking my photos was just the placing of my items, I wanted to make sure that my items looked perfectly placed, so nothing looked odd. It took me a while, but I just made some adjustments. Also, I had struggles with taking a photo of a perfume bottle whilst being sprayed. I wanted to make sure it was held perfectly, and I had to capture it being sprayed into the photograph. After a lot of attempts it did finally come out as a successful photograph.
Lexi Aston
With my project, it is about advertising modified vehicles, including motorbikes and cars. I have chosen to do this topic because it is something I am interested in. I have recently started to do it as a main topic with my photographs.
I’ve always had a peak interest in motorbikes and supercars/modified cars. As soon as I stared going to car shows in my own time, I started photographing them for people and my own pleasure. And as I continued to do it more and from having feedback from the car owners and other car photographers, it made me more inspired and made me want to continue my journey of car photography.
I used lightroom to edit my images, blemishing any details that need to be neatened up or removed. I added different colour tints and shades to pop our certain parts on the car. I went around the car in different angles, taking multiple shots of each angle and area, and seeing which lighting and area fitted best with the theme. With each different vehicle, I did daytime and night-time, wet and dry to create a contrast between the two, showing different stories and sides to how people might view the vehicle itself, adding lighting moods to set the final finish.
I think this makes it unique because not many people do projects on vehicles. I want viewers to feel encouragement and excitement whilst looking at my photographs. This is because this is mainly aimed towards bike and car enjoyers, car/bike photographers or people who modify cars for themselves or as a job. I want them to feel proud of their vehicle, whether it is modified or not.
Ebony Belnavis
For my project I will be using the theme of child photography some of my photo shoots will be planned and others will be candid images of them playing outside, this way I get to capture nice throughout images and some of them just being kids. I try to capture them in the outdoors where they can run wild whilst also being their truest self.
For this project my nephews and some other child photographers inspired me to create this work as it’s something I would like to do in the future as a career or a side hobby. In my own work I think its unique as I capture both sides of childhood for example planned photoshoots and candid. During this project I struggled to take photos that I like and would proudly use to display.
Ruby Cartwright
My final project, titled Growth, focuses on the concept of growth in spring, which was inspired to me by the macro photographers Phaethon photography and Julie. I aimed to capture different representations of growth in as many different types of plants frequently using zoom lenses and bright/strong color palettes.
I hoped to convey the idea that everything is always changing to get to where they need to be. Despite bad weather days stopping me from going out to take photos, it resulted in the freshness of new plant life being grown for me to photograph.
Henry Drewery
My final project explores and shows off the life of a local hardcore band called “eviscerated”. I aimed to capture their best moments as a band together causing chaos in the crowd, getting everyone hyped and making sure everyone is getting violent since that is what hardcore is about. I had to overcome the challenge of taking photos in a crowd of people who were going crazy for them, but I managed to effectively get shots which didn’t seem like I had any trouble at all.
I think that my images really convey the energy that the band has as well as their passion for creating heavy music overall. Whether that be in a practice room or on stage in front of an audience. They are always in their element. This is the main purpose of my project, I want to show people that there is a lot of passion and effort that goes into heavy music.
Natasha Edwards
My personal project is nature and macro photography. Inspired by my love of nature and how the small details are often overlooked, I aimed to capture the smaller details within nature and some common wildlife that is found, using the macro setting and a stutter speed of 1/125 and my ISO at 200. My photographs give a sense of serenity and peace.
Throughout this project I hope to create a sense of peace while also showcasing the finer details of nature that are sometimes overlooked. I faced the challenges of finding time to go outside during my day-to-day busy life, yet I overcome this by waking up earlier and heading for a slow peaceful walk before work. Overall, I loved how my images turned out despite the chaos and challenges I faced.
Jessica Fletcher
My final project is based off the 80’s and the appearance of the aesthetics through fashion, way of life and music. My work is propelled by Richard Corman as his pictures bring out the topic of the 80’s through his utilize of polaroids and his consideration to detail by including popular embellishments inside his pictures to permit them to include more objects linking to this period, he moreover takes pictures of cars and settings which appear how life was displayed inside the 80’s.
I aimed to match my images to be in the same form of style he creates his images as they are raw and unedited and that portrays the reality of life within the 80’s as it was more pure and natural in contrasts to today’s life where images are more edited to suit a certain standard. Whilst having viewers on my work, I would like to create a huge sense of nostalgia due to its unique cultural elements and the way they are perceived by people across generations.
Music, fashion, movies, and television shows of the 80s continue to evoke strong feelings of longing and fondness, often associated with simpler times and carefree youth.
Poppy Haney
My theme of my project is about macro nature photography, to be able to show the different flowers created in nature. The inspiration of my work is from the photographer Jacky Parker as I really like her work. The techniques used for my photographs was a low aperture to be able to blur my background and I also did close up macro photography to be able to get the images I wanted. My photographs show a sense of stillness and a peaceful atmosphere. Despite the challenges that came with doing macro photography, overall, I think that I was able to capture the different flowers in nature and to be able to create pictures that link to Jacky Parker’s work.
Lily Higgs
Trinity-Mai Powell
My theme was to focus on capturing the natural bond between dogs and their environment, emphasizing their adventurous spirit and connection to nature. My inspiration for this work came from my love of animals and Tim Jones who is a pet photographer I met to add to my professional development for this project. I used the natural lighting to showcase the earthy tones of the woodland and the textures of the dogs’ fur.
I wanted my photographs to capture candid moments with the use of my telephoto lens which also allowed me to get genuine shots of their movements and expressions. I tried to make my photographs feel timeless and to showcase the dogs not only as pets but as adventurers and companions. Through my images I want viewers to feel a sense of freedom, joy, and connection to nature.
Pet photography is a growing genre within lifestyle and portraiture. I tried to get my work to correlate with current trends that celebrate animals in authentic, natural settings, moving away from studio setups to embrace environments that highlight individuality and personality. A challenge I encountered was getting the dogs to stay focused in a setting full of distractions, such as scents and other animals. To overcome this, I used treats and toys to guide their attention.
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Molly Ross
My work is to represent and empower women and their rights. over many years women have had to protest and fight for basic human right’s and we won but the modern day seems to be taking away what we worked so hard for so I wanted to create something that showed women are still heard. I made signs and imitated a protest to present this and used modern day culture to show what women are both fighting for and going against. I used my phone camera to make it more normal as the people who protest don’t need fancy cameras just themselves and a sense of morality.
Kaysie Russell
My project is about different types of water and how it can change throughout time and in different places. The people that influence me that I have researched is Nigel Waters who took photos of different waterfalls and areas of water like the beach and still water with reflections that shows how water can be different depending on where you are.
I used a mixture of techniques using long exposure to blur the water moving and freeze the surrounding by using slow shutter speeds, a fast shutter speed to freeze the water movement to show how a photo can change the way that something looks and how unique each area of water is. I like this type of photography because I like how not one photo is going to look the exact same. I also like how it can show how something can go from being still and calming to look at and how other areas of water is fast moving and chaotic.
When taking my long exposure photos, I used a tripod so that there is only movement in the water and how the rock in the surrounding is still and vibrant and used a timer so that the camera doesn’t shake when I press the button. The significance of my project is to show how water is never the same and it can change all the time setting the mood of the places you’re visiting or the photo.
Weronika Szymala
My personal project is about Sports Photography. I chose this as my project because I’m interested in sports. I was inspired by Neil Leife as he has taken photos of different sports in portraiture but also in groups. He has used different angles to take them from, and he captured the movements of the players as well as the movements of the ball. I have interacted with a sports coach and asked if I could photograph their sports matches.
Once I took my images, I edited them and uploaded then. Once I done that, I have looked more onto to the different sports photographers to get more inspiration on how to take the images as best as possible. My work is unique as I captured in my image’s movements of the players in action from different angles. I have also taken them inside in the sports hall but also outside on the football pitch. I have taken my images of different types of sports which show my understanding of how to take photos in different angles, but also how to capture the people playing sports in different actions.
I want to inspire my younger generation to look at my work and see if that’s something they would want to do in the future career path. I want them to feel confident in what they are doing or want to do regarding photography, but also for them to see if they are interested particular on sports photography or even doing sports for their course as my images show that there are more than one sport that they could do even if it’s a hobby.
My work fits well within movements as sports photography is more of capturing action within the game. You can capture players while they are running, jumping etc. One challenge I faced was having people sitting in front of me as it was harder for me to capture what was going on in the game. I overcome that challenge by moving around in different places to find the best spot to take images but also tried different angles to get my images to be the best quality as possible.
Atif Taseen
I chose the theme “A Day in the Life” for my final photography project as I wanted to explore the beauty, rhythm, and authenticity of day-to-day moments. We live in a time when we often miss the details of our everyday lives. This theme gave me a chance to pause, watch, and appreciate the tiny stories taking place in plain sight.
Following one day, I documented moments throughout the day, capturing the relationship between the ordinary, the routine, and moments of spontaneity. Each photo depicts an openness to real emotions, quiet moments of pausing, and interaction in the context of a daily experience. I wanted to show that even when we feel like we are living through the most mundane aspects of life, through the lens, those moments are full of meaning, light, and emotions.
I selected this concept because I find it intriguing how taking a picture can elevate an insignificant moment. This project encouraged me to be present and to use my camera, in a protect way, to facilitate connection back into my life and the world surrounding it.
Oliver Thackwray
Lydia Whorton-Williams
“Most humans say they have a dog companion, but does that go for every dog?”
My work is about dogs, and the outcome of the dog’s feelings is in different environments. I did dog’s that have homes verses dog’s that are currently in the shelter. I first needed a contrast to the sadness to make sure they’re understood. So, I specifically used colour for the dogs with homes than in the dogs in the shelter. I used monochrome to show that clear difference and to etherise it. The first image I took; he was just so happy, and the sun light made it so nicely coloured which created this feeling of freedom.
For the other two I used specifically my dog when she was playing ball, so it shows those activities the dogs get to do. However, as in the dogs in the shelter they were all inside. They were sat down, and the last one was next to bars and an empty bowl which etherises the sadness that the puppy should be playing outside with a family but instead it was given up by someone and was ended up in the shelter. I wanted to make the viewers feel sorry and sympathise with the dogs.
I faced challenges with the dogs in kennels because I felt guilty for taking photos of them. In addition, I felt rushed because the worker I asked was unsure of me taking photos but still said yes. In the end, I’m very pleased with my final six and think it went all to plan.
Charlie Wilkinson
Some of my work below is to show off poverty in a passive way by showing off someone who is very well dressed and putting them in an environment that is very unappealing and maybe shows destruction, this can be very effective on the thoughts on people because the contrast between the foreground and background might make people feel differently.
Some of the other images are there to show power and disadvantage to the model which can have a very pleading and powerful effect of the viewer.
I created this personal topic to try and combat poverty by making it more known and clearer through my images.
I was inspired to start this theme from the extensive amount of poverty, homelessness and damage that everyone lives around and hoping that the images can bring light to it and cause it to be more aware and helped.
