What Is Photography?
Photography is the art and process of producing images onto a permanent surface. Traditional photography used celluloid coated with photochromic chemicals that was then developed. This highly sensitive and easily damaged process has largely been replaced with digital photography. By linking a digital camera up to a PC, you can produce photographs within seconds of taking them. The digital images can also be easily stored, altered, copied, sent, enlarged and "touched up" far more easily than using traditional methods.
Digital Photography Programs
Whether you opt for a certificate or an associate, bachelor, or master's degree, there are a number of photography and digital photography programs to suit your interest in professional portraiture, photojournalism, or the technological aspects of photography. You could choose digital photography, visual communications (with a somewhat broader curriculum), visual journalism, professional photography, digital imaging, and photographic technology. You may even be interested in biomedical photography to create illustrations for textbooks, information sites, or packaging.
What Subjects Do I Need to Study In School?
Photography is an interesting combination of art and science. Certainly an artistic flair is important as is an understanding of the science behind photography. To get an appreciation of form, composition, and color, taking subjects such as design or art would be a good idea. In order to help learning about digital imaging techniques, physics or computing might also be useful.
What Will I Learn?
Individual and collaborative group exercises are designed to encourage you to plan your work, think critically, compose your work, and work with others. Courses vary depending on where the focus of the program lies. You might study the history of photography, composition, optical physics, digital photography, digital manipulation and retouching, photo-editing software, business skills (for those entering commercial photography) photojournalism, or portraiture depending on your program.
What Type of Entry Level Jobs Are Available?
You could become a freelance photographer, but you will need a lot of drive and determination to make yourself known and to succeed. Getting work within a portrait studio, as a commercial photographer, or in advertising might be a good entry point. You might also start as a photographic library curator or possibly work for a magazine or local newspaper. Your photography skills and digital photography skills in particular could be used in a number of different industries since media convergence is occurring rapidly.
Where Can I Get More Information on Photography & Digital Photography?
Look through the colleges offering photography programs on this site and request further information.
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