Each year, our photography and graphics students work with Dudley Zoo on a variety of exciting projects aimed at raising awareness of animal welfare and conservation.
This focus of this year’s project was carnivores, with many students making regular trips to the zoo to photograph the animals and learn more about them and their eating habits. Not only is this a good chance to put their knowledge of camera techniques to the test (as animals can be notoriously difficult to photograph) , it’s also a great opportunity to get closer to wildlife in a way that can’t be achieved simply by watching nature documentaries online or on TV.
Below is a gallery of some of our students’ amazing images – we hope you enjoy.
On Monday 13th March 2024, a combination of Photography, Art, Graphic Design, Production Arts, Music and Tourism students, along with the members of staff and the Students Union, took on the challenge of climbing Scafell Pike, despite challenging weather conditions.
Accompanying the group on the day was former Dudley Mayor Steve Waltho. As an experienced climber, he helped the group of 30 reach 1,500 ft from the foot of the mountain.
As the weather took a turn for the worst, achieving this height was even more impressive and a great reflection of the resolve and enthusiasm of our staff and students.
The hike was in support of the College’s nominated charities, Ronnie & Friends and Black Country Mental Health, for which students and staff raised an incredible £1,500 with photography student, Louis Simcox, raising more than £300 through his own efforts.
At last year’s Dudley Holocaust Memorial event, we were commissioned by Lord Ian Austin to explore the life stories of the current refugees and migrants who have sought sanctuary and safety in our community of Dudley.
This project, which included photographs, video interviews and paintings, culminated in an exhibition at Dudley Archives in February this year which celebrated the resilience, diversity, inclusion, togetherness and community of our local refugees.
Dudley College Photography students worked with local art photographer, Anand Chhabra, to produce a compelling set of images, while our technician/artist, Chris Davies, made some wonderful paintings to complement the students’ work.
Our TV and film students also conducted interviews with the refugees featured in our exhibition to explore their individual stories and investigate more deeply their sense of feeling supported and welcomed by the community of Dudley.
Thanks to the Dudley Archives, we also researched some fascinating historical refugees who had made Dudley their home in the past and contributed to society in often very interesting cultural, artistic and scientific ways.
Thanks to all the wonderful people and especially to the refugees who worked with us on the project, many of whom are English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students here at Dudley College. It was an amazing and often humbling experience to meet people from Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Uganda and lots of other places and learn more about their culture, experiences and traditions.
The opening night of our exhibition at Dudley Archives in February was a huge success, with more than 100 visitors who came to see the work on display, talk to the refugees and watch the interviews conducted by our students. It was also featured in local newspaper, the Express and Star.
Chris Davies’ portrait of one particular refugee, Mansoor, was also featured in this year’s highly-acclaimed RBSA Portrait Prize exhibition, which was on show at the society’s gallery in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, recently.
Phil Brooks, photography course tutor Maddison Wellsbury, 2nd year photography student Miah Bryan, 2nd year photography student
Watch the Refugee Project film created by media students at Dudley College of Technology
For as long as I can remember, I have had an absolute passion for baking, so this was the main reason I chose to photograph a selection of my creations as it combines two of my favourite hobbies, baking and photography. Having recently been diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, my eyes have been opened to the possibilities
and endless trial and error that gluten-free baking involves. My project focuses on displaying a wide variety of my favourite baked treats which I have managed to adapt the ingredients of, to show people that being gluten-free does not have to mean boring!
I feel very strongly about this topic as the price of gluten-free products in all supermarkets in comparison to standard products are astronomical. Food intolerance sufferers have no choice but to pay! Furthermore, the majority of supermarket gluten-free treats I have tried are somewhat lacking in taste which motivated me to get in the kitchen and experiment with different flours, raising agents and extras to see what worked and what didn’t. Many alterations resulted in failed attempts but after months of persevering, I believe that I have found many great substitutes to replace ingredients that I would have used before my gluten-free journey.
In a world where dietary restrictions can sometimes feel limiting, I want the world to see that having dietary restrictions is not the end of the world and that it just means you have the opportunity to get creative and experiment with different recipes!
Miah Bryan
My final major project aims to showcase the progress and development of my photography skills. During my time at Dudley College, my confidence levels have significantly increased, leading to an increase in my photography knowledge and proficiency in various techniques.
The theme for my final major project is called Pure Essence. I produced this name because the work uses light painting and expresses the individual’s essence through light. My theme for the final major project highlights the use of light painting to create a spiritual aesthetic in the images. The colours used in the photographs evoke a sense of one’s essence or aura emanating from the body, making each person’s essence unique and intriguing.
My work is characterised by its artistic nature, captivating viewers with its vibrant colours and calming effect. My work was created to appeal to a wide audience. My photographs encourage individuals to interpret the images in their own way which gives a sense of connection and appreciation for the diversity of one’s essence.
Hollie Carrington
Photography, for me, is more than just capturing images, it’s a means of storytelling, a way to freeze moments in time and preserve emotions, experiences, and
perspectives. Through my lens, I seek to uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary, to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us.
My approach to photography is deeply rooted in observation and connection. I am drawn to the light and shadow, the colours, and textures in everyday life, Whether I’m documenting landscapes, portraits, or street scenes, I strive to capture the essence of each subject, to convey its unique character and narrative.
I believe that photography has the power to evoke emotions and provoke thought. Each photograph is a reflection of my perspective, a window into my vision of the world. Through my work, I aim to inspire curiosity, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our planet and its inhabitants.
Corey Challenger
Roots and Reflections: Faces of the Black Country
All my photography is an exploration of the vibrant and diverse community of the Black Country. Through my lens, I seek to capture the essence and spirit of the people who call this region home. Each photograph is a window into the lives, stories, and emotions of individuals who contribute to the rich tapestry of this unique cultural landscape.
In my work, I aim to celebrate the resilience, strength, and beauty of the people of the Black Country. From intimate portraits to candid moments, I strive to portray the authenticity and depth of human experience. Through the interplay of light, shadow, and composition, I invite viewers to connect with the subjects on a profound level, to see beyond the surface and into the soul.
Moreover, each image is a testament to the power of visibility and the importance of honouring and amplifying marginalised narratives. I hope to showcase how great the older generation were and are, in terms of their work and credibility, to the younger generations. I also want to be able to reach to the older generation and have them reminisce on a previous time.
Ultimately, my photography is a testament to the resilience, beauty, and complexity of the human spirit. It is a tribute to the strength and diversity of the Black Country community, a celebration of identity, and a call to action for greater inclusivity, compassion, and social justice.
Joshua Harper
This project highlights the decline of analogue watches in recent decades. Analogue watches have lost relevancy to the youth as learning digital has been the dominant clock face to learn as analogue is left to the dust. The younger generation will look to their phones for the time instead of analogue watches.
This project has been one where I had fun in the creation as it allowed me to play with different aspects of brand photography, especially experimenting with different styles. I think this project has fully engaged my creativity, as it has pushed me to play around with different techniques and has been an adventures experience for me.
The challenges I had along the way were understanding how to approach this style of photography, as it can be very meticulous with its small details. I have taken inspiration from Edward Fury as he has dabbled in this range and has been an influence on me and this project.
Beth Hewitt
This project draws attention to the problematical nature of the world around us and as we see it. Involving different boroughs of the Black Country, the intended purpose of the project was to unite our community by allowing people to be heard and what they feel the United Kingdom could work on. My inspirations come from photographers such as Phil Loach and Daniel Meadows due to their incredible work ethic in terms of social skills and digital storytelling.
The gratification theory has been used to identify the target audience and develop the intentions for the project. This specifically fulfils the needs of others identifying and relating with the work (Personal Identity), learning (Information) and encouraging social integration. The specified target audience is directed at 18+ and aims to encourage a deeper perspective of our country and how it affects everyone.
I have thoroughly enjoyed tackling this final project and seeing everything come together in the end. I am most proud of stepping outside my comfort zone and getting stuck into the humanistic approach most photographers use. I stepped aside from my typical studio photography to focus on the art of documentary and ‘The world we live in’.
I have faced challenges such as a lack of willing participation in communities, which only deepened my appreciation of different areas and supported the nature of the project. This project is a significant step on my journey as it has initiated my path to studying journalism at university and becoming more confident, a great listener, creative, compassionate etc. This project has also helped me fulfil the role of the person I aspire to be.
I think my target audience will take valuable information away from it about the world they live in and how they identify with their community. My project explored a range of topics such as the heritage/history of the people I got to know, opinions on our country and advice for our generation. It is a powerful project as not only were photographs taken, but I also took time to hear the individual’s stories. My documentary images exhibit a place we call home and draw beautiful pictures of the world around us.
Jesse Jewkes
I believe in the power of the still image, I feel photography is a great way of capturing momentous occasions, times of joy and is fundamental to the way we express
ourselves. I enjoy capturing the fun times and taking pictures of deep meaning as well as showing beauty in the ordinary and mundane.
The idea I decided to go with for the final major project was to use a technique called projection image photography, this is a technique where you use a projector to project images on to a subject or model. This is a remarkably interesting type of photography and I think you can get interesting images from it. I decided to give it a go because it was something new that I had not tried before.
I came up with the idea to project colourful words onto someone which evolved into using numbers not words. This project gives the feeling of humans becoming increasingly in contact with technology and how they are starting to almost blend seamlessly with technology as humans technology are becoming inseparable integrated. The target audience for this project is people who enjoy projection image photography.
Grace Jones
In my photography, I strive to capture the profound beauty that resides within the solitary moments of life. My work explores the complex layers of loneliness, presenting it not as a state to be feared, but as a powerful and beautiful aspect of the human experience.
Through intimate portraits, I delve into the inner words of individuals, revealing the silent strength and vulnerability that often goes unnoticed. Each subject, framed against minimalistic backgrounds, tells a story of solitude and introspection, inviting viewers to find a piece of their own reflection in the quiet spaces between light and shadow.
In contrast, my landscape photograph offers a broader canvas, where vast, untouched terrains become metaphors for the expansive nature of solitude. These serene and often desolate environments highlight the inherent beauty in isolation, suggesting that there is a certain peace and clarity to be found when one is alone with the world.
Beauty, in my work, is not confined to the traditionally picturesque but is discovered in the raw, unfiltered moments of life. By embracing both the starkness of empty spaces and the nuance of solitude, I aim to create a visual dialogue that resonates with the universal human condition.
My photography is a celebration of loneliness as an essential, enriching part of our existence, where both portraits and landscapes converge to illuminate the understated elegance of being alone.
Throughout my work, I invited my models to reflect on their own encounters with loneliness and find solace in the shared nature of this deep human emotion.
Megan Nock
My project, ‘See the music’ includes an artistic approach to album covers. Every photographic cover represents a song and its lyrics somehow linking to the image. This project allowed me to step outside the box and think on a deeper level as well as expand my style of photography to a more expressive genre.
My target audience are collectors of album covers, music lovers and people with a creative eye. I want my audience to listen to the music and view the images from my perspective. People outside the intended audience could still benefit from my work as it is an activity for all and can create a brand-new experience for music itself.
Inspirations for this project comes from artists such as Jack Bridgeland on the SN37 Agency or album covers in general because there is always some sort of theme or underlying aesthetic included.
My final project represents all the new knowledge of photography that I have been shown throughout the past two years at Dudley College. It will represent how my editing photography and research has improved and how my ideas have a new perspective. This will benefit me in the future to grow as an artist, not just a photographer and support me to explore new themes.
Sarah Ralph
Product photography is the art of capturing high-quality images of products for use in various marketing and promotional materials. It is a crucial element in magazines, advertisements, and social media campaigns, it showcases products in their best
light to entice potential customers. Effective fragrance photography involves meticulous attention to lighting, composition, background, and post-production to highlight the bottles intricate designs, luxurious packaging, and the brand’s essence. High-quality images can significantly enhance a fragrance brand’s online presence, create a sophisticated and desirable image, and ultimately drive sales by providing customers with a clear and attractive representation of the products.
By accurately depicting the elegance and allure of perfumes and aftershaves, excellent product photography can influence purchasing decisions and elevate customer satisfaction, leading to increased sales and brand loyalty.
From the beginning of my photography journey, I have always had a keen interest in product photography. I find I am often drawn to images that experiment with vibrant colours and unique compositions.
Throughout this project, I have explored and tested a range of techniques and methods to produce images that have the same captivating effects as the ones that inspired me. This included the use of coloured gels, multiple lighting setups such as wrap around lighting and a range of interesting compositions created using a variety of props.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this project and I believe my final images exemplify high-quality product photography and effectively showcase my skills in this field.
Charlie Southwell
My final major project is titled Imagining Tomorrow’s Magazines Today, and it consists of creating magazine covers in the style of well-known magazine brands, putting my own twist on the images. I aim to show magazine covers designed in unique ways that do not correlate with the norms of cover design in today’s media and push people to use unusual techniques more often in the future.
My intended audience includes artists and graphic designers as I wish to inspire them to use unique techniques in their work. Others outside of my target audience can still benefit from my work as they can see the simple aspects of graphic design and photography and learn that it is okay to use different techniques no matter what people think about them.
During the creation of my final major project, I am most proud of planning and executing my first idea and seeing how well it turned out after post-production. The first challenge I had to overcome was during my first shoot, where I did not have access to a black background, so I had to use a white background instead which did not fit with my vision. I overcame this by changing my planned colour scheme so it would fit with the background and not look out of place.
This project has played a big part in my development journey as a photographer as it has helped me to understand the world of fashion photography and how important photographers are for the fashion industry. This work has also helped me develop my skills for my career as a fashion photographer.
My wish is that any artist or designer will view my work and understand that you do not have to abide by the standards of today’s media industry to fit in and that you should follow your own ideas and explore unique styles that suit them.
Maddison Wellsbury
For my final major project, I wanted to explore a theme that I really enjoy doing but will also increase my confidence in my photography skills at the same time. This project has allowed me to edit and manipulate my own images in a way that also shows off my editing skills and also demonstrates my type of photography.
The theme for my Final Major Project is architecture and landscapes. The name of my project is Urban Architecture. I have chosen this theme as I want to display to my audience that styles of architecture and buildings can change over time due to manmade or natural reasons. I have used and applied skills that I have learnt, using Photoshop over a long period of time. While going along with this project I have demonstrated times where I’ve had to solve problems such as how I wanted to achieve types of images and that I wanted to create and show how my images will be manipulated and edited. I hope by creating these types of images it will make the audience appreciate the environment we have around us.
My work is inspired by a few landscape based photographers, such as Paul Brogan who is a town based architectural photographer.
Callum Woodall
The theme for my final project is about hidden disabilities which builds upon past projects such as Diversity. My project, Hidden Surface, encourages the audience to reflect on the subject’s disabilities. I want to show that those with disabilities are not alone, and they should express their differences (where most hide). My aim is to showcase and celebrate these differences through my work. Some of the photographers that inspired me to do this project are Alex Ten Napel and Zoe Proctor because of their cooperation of monochrome to express more details of their subjects’ facial features creating a more emotional connection within their work.
This project has allowed me to become more independent and develop a flexible approach to my work, expressing creativity and maintaining full control over the project, from developing consent forms, holding meetings, and working with models for each shoot.
Whilst studying at Dudley College my three greatest achievements are:
> Working alongside international photographer Rob Hornstra and Arnold Van Bruggen as I received a worldwide published acknowledgement (book about the Black Country) for my assistance and knowledge around the Black Country
> Helping raise over £23,000 for a baby-loss awareness charity by climbing the highest mountain in England (Scafell Pike)
> Becoming the diversity representative for the whole college
Valentina Zivanovic
I think photography is a powerful tool to express yourself – it can help us to appreciate and enhance other people’s work even more. I personally love working with musicians and music, and this is what my project is based on.
I enjoy playing around with Lightroom and Photoshop to enhance my images. I’m pretty good at studio photography, but really, I prefer taking pictures of natural and spontaneous moments. Ross Halfin is a big inspiration for me when it comes to photography. In the future, I hope to work with bands to photograph gigs and help produce images to promote their work.
This project is my interpretation on many styles of album covers, seeing what ground I could cover and what worked best with that. Each piece of media should evoke a different feeling however, most are based around a form of censorship or psychedelia. There is also a use of AI in certain images but not all – for example, some of the borders I created were partially created using AI to make them appear more spontaneous and psychedelic.
I chose to place all of the mock-up CDs into physical cases and place them on a rotating display to give a more tangible feeling to my works. All these works are fictional, although some display actual musicians.
Watch this fantastic video of our Photography exhibition created by our 2nd year students, Josh Harper and Jesse Jewkes
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.
Watch This Video of Our Upcycling Fashion Shoot with Andy Kruczek – January 2023
This creative cohort endured testing times through the COVID-era, at school, but have now built their confidence, cohesiveness and created a collaborative, supportive ethos. In terms of inter-department collaboration, they have photographed most college dance, musical theatre and drama events since the summer. All 2nd years are currently making promotional images for music students. Only one of our students considered going to university at the start of the course. Now 7 or 8 out of 11 are going to university and not only local ones. This year we have organised many talks, including from Gloucester University, Staffordshire University and Coventry University. We have travelled for workshops to The University of Wolverhampton and Hereford College of Arts. Also, previous students from Falmouth University, BCU, etc, have come back to work with us and inspire us.
Since Christmas, we took part in a special cross-curricular upgrade fashion shoot, inspired by Andy Kruczek’s talk and mentoring, later exhibited at the YMCA shop. Recently, we exhibited across 3 campuses for the college’s Equality and Diversity Day, as well as having a Conservation Photography exhibition at The Dudley Archives. Last year’s student Zoo Book raised hundreds of pounds for the orangutans of Indonesia. Following our work with Anand Chhabra, for Historic England, 3 students have been selected to exhibit their High St Heroes work across England, including London and Derby’s Festival of Photography.
This creative cohort endured testing times through the COVID-era, at school, but have now built their confidence, cohesiveness and created a collaborative, supportive ethos. In terms of inter-department collaboration, they have photographed most college dance, musical theatre and drama events since the summer. All 2nd years are currently making promotional images for music students. Only one of our students considered going to university at the start of the course. Now 7 or 8 out of 11 are going to university and not only local ones. This year we have organised many talks, including from Gloucester University, Staffordshire University and Coventry University. We have travelled for workshops to The University of Wolverhampton and Hereford College of Arts. Also, previous students from Falmouth University, BCU, etc, have come back to work with us and inspire us.
We are currently working with staff and students at the IOT, pioneering an educational app for students with communication difficulties, to be used across Dudley Schools. This year, one student won Dudley Young Photographer of the Year and another won a top 10 UK student award, for an image, later exhibited at the national Photography Show. In addition, one student has had a very fruitful work experience engagement with Thomas Dudley. We are currently making a ‘Ronnie and Friends’ Baby Loss Awareness book as well as this excellent yearbook. Following our work with The Holocaust Education Trust and the Dudley Holocaust Memorial, we recently had a meeting with Lord Austin, who together with the Mayor of Dudley, is commissioning us to photograph local refugees to celebrate their contribution to the community, for a forthcoming exhibition. In so many ways, this group have exceeded expectations and we wish them continued success in the future. We’re proud of you! Keep in touch – Class of 23!
Phil Brooks, course leader, photography
Watch this Video Gallery for the Dudley Zoo Exhibition Created by Dudley College Photography Students
Watch this Showcase Video of The Diversity Project
Our recent Diversity project sought to celebrate diversity and inclusion, whilst raising awareness and challenging prejudice. Next year’s Diversity project will be judged by The Photography Show, Europe’s leading imaging trade show.
I wanted to show the rich texture in my images and the depth of nature growing within the empty, destructed buildings. This is because I wanted to incorporate the life of nature in my work, which is shown in my images by seeing the gradual growth of plants surrounding the buildings inside and out.
The abstraction and texture used in my images is the result of experimenting with techniques and colours around this idea – the colours popping out of these images wanting to catch the eyes of viewers, allowing you to place yourself in the environment as you are exploring it yourself in the beauty of nature taking its space back.
Abandoned buildings are a feature of our urban landscape which represent a post-industrial era of abandoned factories. These buildings have a history and a story behind them. It’s like I’m showing an historic landmark that has been standing for years, where the communication has been made accustomed to this and has allowed nature to grow and die around inside and out, year after year. The beauty of this can shout at you.
