Our photography program is designed for serious fine art students to experience picture-making shaped by the comprehensive study of the art of photography including its processes and technology, history, criticism, contemporary practices and the expressive potential of its unique visual language.
Requirements Facilities FAQs Photo Sample 4 year plan
We challenge artists interested in photography with a program that is designed to help them encounter their place in life and art, with intelligence, confidence and sensitivity. Each student is given the freedom to pursue their own direction in content and design, through a wide range of genre and media including conventional black and white, color, historic processes, digital imaging, video, and installation.
The Photography Area in the Lamar Dodd School of Art is pushing the boundaries of education in photographic fine arts. Spanning the history of the medium from large format cameras and historic printing processes to the latest in digital technology, mixed media and installation. We have a small, highly selective program, with 50 undergraduate majors and 7–8 graduate students generating innovative new work within the medium.
The diverse and accomplished faculty provides a wide range of views and approaches throughout the course of study. The core faculty includes Marni Shindelman (Chair), Michael Marshall, Mary Ruth Moore, Ben Reynolds, and Stephen Scheer, and is supplemented by recognized visiting professors. Each faculty member pursues creative, personal research and exhibitions along with their teaching.
The small size of our program, with just 10–15 students per class, creates a unique atmosphere. Our close-knit community fosters a supportive environment for experimental work derived from each student's goals and personal inspiration. Each course provides not only the technical tools of the photographic medium but also the conceptual discussions and applications to put those tools into use. One-on-one attention is present at all levels to support each student in their development as working artists.
Course Requirements
Area VI: ARHI 2400, ARST 1040, ARST 1050, ARST 1060, ARST 1070, ARST 1080, ARST 2210
Area Admission Requirements: Portfolio Review for Photography
Studio Electives: 18 hours of ARST courses at the 2000/3000/4000 level
Major Courses: 24 hours of Photography Area courses. 9 hours of Photography Electives. See www.bulletin.uga.edu for full description.
Art History: 9 hrs ARHI 3000/4000 level (take two 3000-level courses before enrolling in a 4000-level course)
Find detailed BFA degree requirements for each area of emphasis here.TOP
Facilities
Housed in the main art building of the Lamar Dodd School of Art, the Photography area occupies over 7,000 square feet, spanning two floors. Constantly responding to changes in technologies is paramount to the program; the department has a deep commitment to analog and digital technologies and the intersections of the two.
The department currently houses five large-format printers, three Imacon scanners, a computer lab with sixteen 27" iMacs, and numerous smaller-format printers and other peripheries. We have one large group darkroom with eighteen stations, six private darkrooms with sinks accommodating 16" x 20" print processing (150 sq. feet each), two JOBO film processors, and a new finishing studio that contains a 44" and 24” Xyron Pressure Laminator and a 60" wall mounted board cutter. Equipment is available for checkout, and contains over 200 items. On the third floor, students have access to a 500-square-foot, north-facing studio, fully stocked with Profoto equipment and seamless backdrops for studio projects. Adjacent to that space is a project space with 30 linear feet and gallery lighting for short-term installations and projects.
See more information about School facilites here.
The equipment checkout for the School of Art houses all of the equipment that is available to students who are majoring in photography. This includes medium and large format cameras and accessories, tripods, lighting equipment – strobes and LED lights, video projectors, and all forms of digital cameras.
FAQs
Application Process
Portfolio Review in Photography
Due to limits in available resources, only a limited number of students can be admitted into the photography major each semester. Before taking any classes in the photography area, prospective majors must first complete the year-long studio core foundation course program and be enrolled in ARST 2210.
Prospective majors are thus encouraged to take the Introductory Photography class as soon as possible following the completion of their foundation courses and acceptance into the Art Department. The Introductory class will help students prepare their application portfolio to be accepted into the Photography Major.
Portfolio Submission
The application portfolio is made up of 12-15 prints of recent photographic work. In most cases this portfolio comes directly from your course work in the Introductory Photo class, with an emphasis on your most recent work. Your instructor will help you prepare this portfolio. In addition to your portfolio, your grade point average, performance in other art classes, and recommendations from your photography course professor will be considered.
The Review
Reviews to be accepted into the photography major are held at the end of each fall and spring semester, along with the school wide portfolio review. The review committee is made up of the photo area faculty and graduate teaching assistants.
For additional information or specific questions contact any of the photography area faculty.
Courses for Non-Majors
Enrollment in ARST 2210 Introductory Photography is open to all students and satisfies Humanites and Arts course from the Core Curriculum. From there students who complete the proper prerequisites may take the corresponding 3000 level courses. Please see the UGA Bulletin for course prerequisites.
