PHOTOGRAPHY BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMA L3 2025
YR1 | YR2 | STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY EVENING CLASS | LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY EVENING CLASS
Next year is the 200th anniversary of the first photograph. Despite its recent convergence with the world of ‘high tech’, photography is still essentially about communicating creative ideas eloquently through the capture of light and time. However, with 200 years of photographic history behind us, it becomes increasingly difficult for photographers to surprise us with ‘effective novelty’, as creativity is sometimes defined as.
This year’s large second year cohort has had its share of ups and downs. Last year they had a trip to Ilam in Derbyshire where we climbed Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill, as well completing a 10-mile hike to Thor’s Cave. Many also travelled with me to Poland, where we visited Krakow, the Salt Mine and Auschwitz.
Two students represented the college in the Lessons from Auschwitz program, presenting their findings to 400 people at this year’s Dudley Holocaust Memorial event, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.
In March, we managed to exhibit our positive-image portraits of Dudley’s Refugees in The Upper Waiting Hall of The House of Commons. We were pleased to have exhibited at such a prestigious venue, to reach an influential, wider audience and shine a positive light on the plight of all Refugees. We feel this project is more important than ever now, in order to promote a sense of hope, unity and togetherness.
In addition, current second year students have made a yearbook and a book exploring and conveying positivity and acceptance within themes of diversity, individualism and togetherness, focusing on areas such as age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, hair colour, disability, etc. Again, first years have had their zoo project exhibited at Dudley Zoo. We are grateful also to Dudley Rotary Club for generously funding our ‘Wonderful Water Competition.’
We have been fortunate to work with local art photographer – Anand Chhabra again, on an ‘Exploring the High Street’ project for Historic England. With Anand’s help we have developed the Dudley Photographers Network this year, involving talks by world class professionals such as Andy Kruczek and Rob Hornstra from as far afield as Holland.
We have continued to build close relationships with local universities too, many of whom we visited for workshops, or they visited us. Thanks to Hereford College of Arts for awarding this year’s ‘One to Watch’ awards. Over half of our young people are heading for university, many locally but some as far as Falmouth, with one even studying marine photography there!
We were proud to welcome back Megan Jeffries of the class of 2021, a graduate of Falmouth University, who has worked closely with us in her transition from student to lecturer. In the end, the class of 2025 have solved problems and come together to showcase their creative talents here. Thanks to our wonderful technician – Chris Davies for making this online exhibition possible!
Phil Brooks, course leader, photography
