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.
A stunning gallery of work celebrating diversity by Year 2 students at Dudley College of Technology
A-Level Photography allows learners the opportunity to express themselves creatively while exploring ideas and concepts that are personal and meaningful. This is clearly demonstrated across the wonderful work created by this years A-Level cohort. I could not be prouder of the work and achievements made by each member of the Photography group.
Learners often choose issues within society as a means to connect their Photography to an audience. The course consistently challenges them to problem solve and improve both quality and concept as they progress. This ultimately prepares them for both industry and Higher Education.
Industry-standard software and equipment are embedded throughout the course to again support progression, exploring the Creative Cloud Adobe Suite with programs such as Photoshop and Lightroom for image editing, along with InDesign to create their stunning portfolios and project work. To allow for a deeper understanding of photography, learners are encouraged to work with both modern and traditional techniques such as darkroom and Cyanotypes. This 2-year programme builds theoretical and practical knowledge to allow our learners the creative means to express themselves through Photography.
I hope you enjoy exploring the work from this year’s Photography learners.
Simon Morris, A-Level Photography Tutor, Dudley Sixth
Against the odds, our second years have completed a physical and online end of year exhibition, as well as a yearbook publication; first years and evening class students have showcased their Creative Independent projects here online. In addition, first years are showcasing their animal conservation project online. This marks our 10 year collaborative relationship with Dudley Zoo; for whom second years have created a publication, to be sold in their gift shop.
Our students have again represented the college in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme and Dudley Holocaust Memorial day. In addition, this year we have engaged in a collaborative project about family with Professor Gill Pasternak and Anand Chhabra. We have had attended workshops with the University of Wolverhampton, Coventry University, Staffordshire University and Hereford College of Arts, who have again kindly awarded special ‘One to Watch’ awards to final year students. Look out for the banners next to the recipients’ work.
Many have had work published in the Rotary Club Calendar and we have had students win Dudley Photographer of the year. One of our evening class students was awarded Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society and currently has a solo exhibition at The Dudley Archives. Another has been selected to exhibit her work at The New Art Gallery, Walsall. One of our students is college mental health ambassador, and another is a marketing ambassador. Some second years have even worked with a local butcher, making images for his website. Some first years have been working on an app for students with profound and multiple learning difficulties, to be used by local schools.
We are soon to travel to Iceland for the mid-night sun. Photography students are currently in the process of raising money for Refugee Action. This year we have been supported brilliantly by PGCE trainee teacher Milan Callaghan. We hope you enjoy our exhibition. It’s testimony not only to our students’ determination and resilience during testing times but also to the expertise and support we receive from our brilliant teaching team and technicians! Well done and thanks to all!
Phil Brooks, course leader, photography
For my project I had the intention to display ‘Animals In Britain’ and the beauty surrounding us. I have been heavily inspired by my zoo project and aim to capture photographs of animals in the wild and in farms. This gave me a newfound respect for other animal photographers such as Will Nicholls, who also inspire me. My photographs would be appropriate for wildlife documentaries, calendars and other commercial outlets. It has never been more imperative that we act against deforestation and other forms of wildlife destruction, as so many animals are becoming endangered and are suffering due to our greed; I wanted to bring awareness to this by showing how beautiful nature is in the hope of inspiring others to appreciate what lives along side us.
For my project I wanted to focus on the empowerment of women.
To do this I took a perfume (Daisy by Marc Jacobs) that is stereotypically considered a ‘feminine’ perfume (especially in the adverts that I researched).
I kept to the Marc Jacobs brand and mixed the Daisy perfume with another one of Marc Jacobs perfumes, called Decadence. This perfume is seen and shown as a more mature perfume, meaning more for women who are perhaps of a mature age and with a business / power ethos.
