Academics

PHOTOGRAPHY:  The Open Window way of seeing 

The Photography Department at The Open Window is dedicated to realising the following vital goals:

• Our vision is to furnish students with technical competence and artistic sensitivity in the various genres of photography.
• Our aim is to create cutting-edge tasks and assignments in a curriculum continually adapting to fulfill industry demands, bridging the gap between an academic and professional environment.
• Our objective is to deliver thinking photographers who possess a visual literacy as well as industry-standard technical craft, originality and diversity.

What is Photography all about?

Photography remains a powerful medium in visual communication with its abilities to capture moments in split-second instances and construct meticulously detailed set-ups.  The American landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said: You do not take a picture – you make it. At The Open Window, we share this notion as we encourage students to realise this ideal: to create images that communicate clearly and are limited only to one’s own imagination.  Thus, incorporating the necessary technical rigour paired with a strong conceptual basis, the most powerful and effective photographs can be created.

What will you do in the course?

• Learn how to use the camera appropriately, effectively and professionally.
• Learn how to effectively use imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Bridge and Camera Raw in order to deliver photography that is sensitive to each unique end use and can be matched to industry standards.
• Learn and apply photographic techniques specific to each photographic genre.
• Execute a practical portfolio that covers a wide range of photographic genres, such as portraiture-, fashion-, product-, glamour-, advertising-, food-, fine art-, architectural-, corporate- and industrial photography.
• Learn how to professionally liaise with and quote a client.

Career possibilities?

Photography offers a diverse range of career options, including:

Commercial environment: 

Photographers work on a freelance or contract basis in the following fields:

• Corporate
• Industrial
• Architectural
• Automotive
• Food
• Fashion
• Portraiture
• Product
• Advertising
• Events

 Editorial environment: 

Magazine and press photography ranges from any of the above commercial fields, and may include the following additional fields:

• Photojournalist
• Pictures editor
• Art director
• Image retoucher

 Specialised environment:

Photographers may specialise in a niche market or fill permanent posts in the following fields:

• Forensic
• Wedding
• Fine art

Photography equipment required

Foundation year: 

• A D-SLR 35mm camera with an interchangeable lens (we recommend the ‘kit lens’ that comes standard with the camera body – a 18 – 55 mm lens).  Please note that a ‘point-and-shoot’ camera will not suffice.
• Memory cards – 1x 8 GB or 2x 4 GB.

TIP:  The curriculum accommodates foundation year Photography students to acquire a camera within the first 3 weeks of class – camera deals for enrolled Photography students are far more cost effective than purchasing a camera beforehand.   The Open Window is proudly associated with NIKON who, on an on-going basis, provides student specials on the above requirements.

Second year:

• A sturdy tripod (we recommend Manfrotto).
• A shutter release cable or shutter release remote.
• A hot-shoe or handle-mount flashgun.
• A flash slave / remote flash trigger.

Third year:

• A 50 mm ‘prime’ lens (fixed focal length).
• Macro photography accessories.