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Photography

Top: Digital Photography Suite
Bottom: Lighting Studio

Artists have been using photography as a creative medium for more than 160 years. Never during that time have the methods of practice varied as much as they do now. Photography has shaken off the restricting confines of what were once its narrow parameters, and artists today use photography in applications that range from the traditional to mixed media and digital technologies.

In Photography we deal with the medium of photography as a vital component of contemporary art practice, from the principles of black and white to colour, digital and alternative processes. Students are able to present work in more traditional formats, but opportunities exist for them to take an experimental approach in their work.

Students are encouraged to develop both conceptual and technical skills to help them facilitate an understanding of photography's place in contemporary visual culture and develop confidence in their ability to formulate and implement ideas. The philosophies and working methods of historically significant and contemporary photographers are discussed in depth and students are encouraged to make individual links with issues of theory and practice. Graduating students have moved into a wide variety vocations that cross from visual arts practice through industry application. Photography at the South Australian School of Art emphasises visual literacy as a cornerstone of its course structure.

 

News and events

Aurelia Carbone

Craftsouth has commissioned Aurelia Carbone to deliver a lecture to Craftsouth members about artists' websites.

Toby Richardson

Recent exhibitions

  • In February 2007 Toby had a successful opening to his first solo Sydney exhibition entitled 'More couples than singles' at the Depot Gallery, Danks Street Sydney.
  • Toby was a finalist in inaugural The William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize (2006). Finalists were selected by Bill Henson and work was exhibited at the Monash Gallery of Art.
  • Toby's work was recently selected for the group exhibition in the world: Head, hand, heart -17th Tamworth Fibre Textile Biennial (2006), curated by Vivonne Thwaites. This exhibition officially opened September 2006 and is touring regional Australia for next 18 months.
  • Toby was a finalist in the City of Hobart Art Prize (2006), selected exhibition jewellery/printmaking, Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery.
  • Toby participated in Concord 2 (2006), selected group exhibition South Australian School of Art Gallery.

Recent awards

  • UniSA Supported Teacher Award 2006
  • The Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association Finalist Award 2006. Publications Category
  • Distinction Award 8th AGDA National Biennial Awards 2006, Publications Category
  • Judges Choice Award 8th AGDA National Biennial Awards 2006
  • Design Institute of Australia Awards 2006, Commendation Award for Daycorp Property Development publication.
  • Design Institute of Australia Awards 2006, Award of Merit for Adelaide Symphony Orchestra's 2006 Season brochure.
  • Design Institute of Australia Awards 2006, Award of Merit for the publication Singles, couples and queens.
  • Publication 'Singles, couples and queens' awarded 'In-Book' at the D&AD Global Awards 2006 (United Kingdom).

Recent initiatives

Toby was responsible for initiating ArtWest a series of curated student exhibitions that utilise shop windows, vacant facades and trader's walls within the West End of Adelaide and fills them with innovative artwork. ArtWest provides students with an opportunity to showcase their work in non-traditional spaces and contribute to a positive cultural experience for everyone frequenting the area. ArtWest is a collaborative project between the South Australian School of Art and the Adelaide West End Association (AWEA). ArtWest Invited students from all of the Helpmann Academy visual art partner schools: the South Australian School of Art, Adelaide Centre for the Arts, Adelaide Central School of Art and Vizarts, O'Halloran Hill.

Recent acquisitions

  • Art Gallery of South Australia
  • Artbank

Mark Kimber

  • Mark is currently exhibiting at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Victoria, in 'Perfect for every occasion, Photography Today' curated by Zara Stanhope. Exhibition opened Monday 16 March 2007.
  • Selected as a finalist in the 2006 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award. The exhibition opened on 8 April at the Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland.
  • Participated in a group exhibition at Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Victoria. The exhibition titled 'Ability to Lie' showed until 2 April and included contemporary photo-based work by international and Australian artists.
  • Exhibited in a solo exhibition at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW. The exhibition opened Friday 16 February and concluded 25 March 2007.
  • Was a finalist in the City of Perth Photography Award 2006 which opened on 4 October at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.
  • Two artworks by Mark were recently acquired by Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG), NSW for their collection. Mark will be exhibiting in a solo exhibition at Maitland Regional Art Gallery in 2007.
  • Selected as a finalist in the 2006 City of Perth Photo Media Award at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
  • Selected as a finalist in the 2006 Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award at the Gold Coast City Art Gallery, Queensland.
  • Mark was awarded the annual Advertiser newspaper 'OSCART' for the Best Photographic Exhibition of 2005 for 'By the dawns early light' at Greenaway Art Gallery Adelaide.

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Staff in the Photography Studio

Studio Head: Mark Kimber
Lecturers: Di Barrett, Toby Richardson, Aurelia Carbone
Technical Officers: Stephen Beckett, Steve Wilson

Studio Specialisation courses

Photography: Black and White A (VSAR 2069)

A basic introduction to black and white photography including 35mm cameras; films; light meters; tripods; darkroom materials; equipment, printing procedures; visual literacy; art-based concept development, critical and theoretical thought; presentation of work. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Photography: Black and White B (VSAR 2070)

Prerequisite: Black and White Photography A. This is a consolidation and extension course, building upon the skills and insights gained in Black and White Photography A, with which it may be taken simultaneously. All students intending to major or minor in photography must take these two courses. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Photography: Colour (VSAR 2071)

Prerequisite: Black and White Photography A and Black and White Photography B. On completion of this course students should be able to competently use the equipment and materials basic to colour photography and produce high quality colour negatives and colour prints. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Photography: Experimental Processes (VSAR 2072)

Prerequisite: Black and White Photography A and Black and White Photography B. An in-depth introduction to alternative photographic processes including: hand colouring, lith-film methods, cyanotype, Liquid Light, hand-made books, print toning, gel medium, solarization, photograms; visual literacy; art-based concept and development. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Photography: Studio Lighting (VSAR 2073)

Prerequisite: Black and White Photography A and Black and White Photography B. An in-depth introduction to studio-based photography including: the use of basic lighting studio equipment and materials; tungsten lighting; electronic flash; rear-projection; visual literacy; art-based concept development, critical and theoretical thought; significant presentation of work; an introduction to the history of studio photography and its interaction with the visual arts and the broader cultural context. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Computer Manipulated Photography A (VSAR 2067)

An introduction to the basic principles of Computer Manipulated Photography. It will demonstrate the use of conventional photographic images as source material for digital manipulation through the Photoshop program. It will demonstrate a resolution of ideas in the interplay between conventional (wet processes) photography and digital image manipulation. Students will produce images in negative form for conventional black and white or colour printing. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)

Computer Manipulated Photography B (VSAR 2068)

Prerequisite: Computer Manipulated Photography A. A basic understanding of B&W Photography and Photoshop 3-5 is assumed. An in-depth development of the notion of using digital imaging in a photographic context including scanning, image manipulation, quality printing techniques, presentation of work; an introduction to the history of experimental photographic practice and digital imaging's place in the visual arts. More details (timetables, unit value and learning resources)


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Studio facilities

At the start of 2005 we moved into our new site in the city of Adelaide. Our new facilities are the most advanced in Australia and combine the very best of both the wet process and digital worlds. At the very heart of our approach is a commitment to all forms of historical and contemporary photographic mediums.

The Photography Studios offer a wide of range of courses that introduce students to the areas of digital, black and white, colour and alternative process photography.

Black and white darkrooms

There are 48 black and white enlargers covering 35ml to 5x4 formats with full developing facilities for producing wet-process prints from small scale up to one-meter square.

Film processing

There is a fully equipped film processing room for all black and white film types.

Colour darkroom

There are 24 colour enlargers and an automated colour print processor for producing both C41 and Ciba colour prints up to 30cm wide.

Lighting studios

There are two fully equipped lighting studios offering both tungsten and flash systems. Each studio has an infinity screen wall, rear-projection equipment and tabletop lighting facilities. The larger studio features an entire sidewall of floor-to ceiling windows and lightproof shutters that can provide superb filtered daylight as well as a controlled lighting environment when closed.

Digital studio

Our digital area offers a suite of Mac and PC computers, large-scale archival inkjet printers, scanners and high-resolution digital cameras.

Alternative processes

We have a dedicated darkroom in which students can work with hand colouring, lith-film methods, cyanotype, Liquid Light, hand-made books, print toning, gel medium, solarization and photograms.

Camera equipment

We have a wide range of conventional and digital cameras and equipment covering 35ml, 6x6cm, 6x7cm, and 6x9cm and 5x4 types. There is a diverse choice of lenses, flash equipment and light meters on offer to students working within the photographic studios and on location.


Useful links

DBVS Bachelor of Visual Arts (Specialisation) (UniSAnet)
Internet resources for Photography (UniSA Library): this site contains links under headings such as databases, discussion lists, electronic journals, artists and studios, methods and materials, museums and more.
Internet resources on Australian artists - Photography (UniSA Library)
General Art Glossary (UniSA)

 

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