Photography & Image-making

This course serves as a critical and technical exploration of the language and theory of Photography and Image-Making. Students develop their own individual identities as professionals working with still and moving images, placing their work within conceptual and historical contexts. Independent and personalized readings and research projects accompany the work done in the studio, which in the last semester is focused on developing research methodology and methods for the thesis project. The final portfolio can focus on still or moving images, or contain a combination of the two. The outcome is an original and coherent visual project.

The course invites students to explore the critical and aesthetic issues that shape contemporary image-making and photography. Through engagement with current artistic practices and the visual languages of the present, students will examine their cultural, social, and theoretical implications.

The course is also aimed at developing a concrete project while encouraging experimentation and the refinement of a conscious authorial practice, capable of integrating formal execution with conceptual rigor.

The class includes readings and collective discussions, fostering an active dialogue with faculty and peers. Through these exchanges, students are guided in the analysis, articulation, and presentation of their own work.

A hands-on step-by-step technical lab class where inputting images, editing, and printing will take students beyond the basics to a professional workflow for digital photography. A range of tools will be presented, including advanced film scanning, working with RAW files, masks, compositing and grayscale and color inkjet printing. Students will work with Photoshop for still images. All essential tools and plug-ins (e.g., Portraiture), their options and use, the character of each menu or tool option critical for photographic editing will be covered at a practical level. Students will master advanced color and B&W editing methods, scanning, masks, selections, and layers to establish an efficient non-destructive workflow.

This course will look at both the business and practical side of the photographic market and industry. Students will be introduced to some of the major players within the French photographic ecosystem such as auction houses, galleries and museums, fairs, and some state-funded support for the arts. On the practical side, students will take the first steps towards understanding how to construct a portfolio, pitch a project, submit an application and other examples of professional communication for photographers. They will gain a basic understanding of intellectual property law and the legal framework within which freelance photographers work. The course will also incorporate issues such as ethics in photography and practical considerations such as how to choose a gallery, the role of commissions in the career development of emerging photographers. This overview of the ecosystem should allow for a greater understanding of how to position oneself within a professional environment.

You may select an elective from the many course offerings in your department or in other departments with the approval of your department chair, such as:

• Designer’s Ethical and Social Responsibility
• Digital Fabrication Design
• Design Thinking
• Project Management*
• French
• Drawing Technology and Perception
• Advanced Printmaking*
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Concept Development Storytelling
• Photography as Installation*
• Photography in the Expanded Field*
• History of New Media*
• Educational Principles
• Alternative Processes Image-Making*
• The Art of Code I & II
• 4D Studio I & II*
• The Fashion Editorial
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Project Management*
• Set Design*
• Environmental Graphics*
• Furniture & Display Design*

* Undergraduate level courses

Image-making engages with moving images such as videos, films, clips, reels, etc. The expanded definition of photography increasingly contemplates a dialogue between the different forms of image production. This continuously evolving scenario requires students to navigate technologies, learn post-production abilities, and communication tools. In this scenario, further possibilities open up to think about the creative process dynamically, enrich the making practices, and explore captivating forms of communication and interaction with the potential audience. The course provides a spectrum of technical foundations and creative options to foster video proficiency and literacy.

Pre-requisites: The course is mandatory for Junior Photo students and open to visiting students.

This a year-long course introducing students to the conceptual and practical dimensions of portfolio development, exploring what a portfolio is and how its structure, organization, and presentation shape professional identity and opportunities. Through critical analysis and case studies, the course investigates the multifaceted nature of portfolios, including narrative structures, curatorial strategies, and contextual adaptations for diverse audiences and platforms. Particular attention is given to how design choices, sequencing, editing, and framing influence meaning and reception. The course encourages students to develop a critical and reflective approach to their own practice. Lectures, guest talks, and experiential exchanges with professionals provide opportunities for dialogue and direct engagement with real-world perspectives. These encounters foster an understanding of how portfolios operate within broader cultural, institutional, and professional ecosystems. The course also supports the development of professional communication skills, enabling students to confidently verbalize and present their projects, write compelling statements.

Students will be challenged to advance technical and critical thinking skills in the making of their work, as well as their capacity to engage with and constructively respond to the work of their peers. For the end of the year, students will be expected to finalize the production of a focused and driven body of work (made specifically in the context of this course, which incorporates practical skills developed over the semester) as well as a written statement that clearly communicate their position on relevant contemporary issues and actively consider the way the photographic medium is implemented in their artistic process.

Students will focus on the technical exploration of the language and theory of Photography and Image-making to develop their final degree project (it can focus on still or moving images, or contain a combination of the two.) Emphasis will be on students executing, understanding and discussing quality work, succesful composition, productive conceptualization and creative problem solving.

You may select an elective from the many course offerings in your department or in other departments with the approval of your department chair, such as:

• Designer’s Ethical and Social Responsibility
• Digital Fabrication Design
• Design Thinking
• Project Management*
• French
• Drawing Technology and Perception
• Advanced Printmaking*
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Concept Development Storytelling
• Photography as Installation*
• Photography in the Expanded Field*
• History of New Media*
• Educational Principles
• Alternative Processes Image-Making*
• The Art of Code I & II
• 4D Studio I & II*
• The Fashion Editorial
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Project Management*
• Set Design*
• Environmental Graphics*
• Furniture & Display Design*

* Undergraduate level courses

This course serves as a critical and technical exploration of the language and theory of Photography and Image-Making. Students develop their own individual identities as professionals working with still and moving images, placing their work within conceptual and historical contexts. Independent and personalized readings and research projects accompany the work done in the studio, which in the last semester is focused on developing research methodology and methods for the thesis project. The final portfolio can focus on still or moving images, or contain a combination of the two. The outcome is an original and coherent visual project.

The course invites students to explore the critical and aesthetic issues that shape contemporary image-making and photography. Through engagement with current artistic practices and the visual languages of the present, students will examine their cultural, social, and theoretical implications.

The course is also aimed at developing a concrete project while encouraging experimentation and the refinement of a conscious authorial practice, capable of integrating formal execution with conceptual rigor.

The class includes readings and collective discussions, fostering an active dialogue with faculty and peers. Through these exchanges, students are guided in the analysis, articulation, and presentation of their own work.

A hands-on step-by-step technical lab class where inputting images, editing, and printing will take students beyond the basics to a professional workflow for digital photography. A range of tools will be presented, including advanced film scanning, working with RAW files, masks, compositing and grayscale and color inkjet printing. Students will work with Photoshop for still images. All essential tools and plug-ins (e.g., Portraiture), their options and use, the character of each menu or tool option critical for photographic editing will be covered at a practical level. Students will master advanced color and B&W editing methods, scanning, masks, selections, and layers to establish an efficient non-destructive workflow.

This course will look at both the business and practical side of the photographic market and industry. Students will be introduced to some of the major players within the French photographic ecosystem such as auction houses, galleries and museums, fairs, and some state-funded support for the arts. On the practical side, students will take the first steps towards understanding how to construct a portfolio, pitch a project, submit an application and other examples of professional communication for photographers. They will gain a basic understanding of intellectual property law and the legal framework within which freelance photographers work. The course will also incorporate issues such as ethics in photography and practical considerations such as how to choose a gallery, the role of commissions in the career development of emerging photographers. This overview of the ecosystem should allow for a greater understanding of how to position oneself within a professional environment.

The course provides introductory-to-advanced-level instruction on research methods. It focuses on various methods currently used to inform the research process in the fields of fine arts, photography, and new media. The course will guide students in formulating, developing, and refining a research problem based on their area of interest, and in formulating and supporting claims, arguments, and hypotheses through data (source material).

Students will be introduced to the basic tenets of research and will be taught how to support their reasoning throughout the research and writing process. After conducting preliminary research and formulating a research problem, students will engage in data collection and analysis. They will learn to differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources and how to carry out both quantitative and qualitative research. Finally, they will learn how to properly cite their sources, format their thesis writing according to a chosen citation style, and meet PCA’s standards and requirements.

The course will also introduce students to written research methodologies, stakeholder-centered design methods, ethnographic fieldwork, applied research methods, data gathering and analysis, accurate referencing, and academic integrity. They will develop active listening skills and learn to analyze, critique, and evaluate the writing and speaking of others, notably through peer review.

Weekly sessions throughout the semester, dedicated to group and individual tutorials, will be complemented by workshops led by renowned researchers and specialists. These workshops will focus on key aspects of arts-based research methodologies, ranging from conducting research to communicating findings, including honing presentation skills.

By the end of the course, students will have mastered a range of research methods from which to choose for their subsequent research and methodology courses. They will have identified their research question for the thesis and either selected or been recommended a thesis advisor.

A hands-on step-by-step technical lab class, where editing video will take students beyond the basics to a professional workflow for digital video editing. Students will learn how to produce a professional looking video including – storyboarding, pre-production essentials, shooting scripts, camera movement (theory and practice), sound recording and editing, use of music, titles and credits. Premiere Pro will be the main software for moving images, and all essential tools and plug-ins (like Magic Bullet or After Effects) their options and use, the character of each menu or tool option critical for video editing will be covered at a practical level.

This a year-long course introducing students to the conceptual and practical dimensions of portfolio development, exploring what a portfolio is and how its structure, organization, and presentation shape professional identity and opportunities. Through critical analysis and case studies, the course investigates the multifaceted nature of portfolios, including narrative structures, curatorial strategies, and contextual adaptations for diverse audiences and platforms. Particular attention is given to how design choices, sequencing, editing, and framing influence meaning and reception. The course encourages students to develop a critical and reflective approach to their own practice. Lectures, guest talks, and experiential exchanges with professionals provide opportunities for dialogue and direct engagement with real-world perspectives. These encounters foster an understanding of how portfolios operate within broader cultural, institutional, and professional ecosystems. The course also supports the development of professional communication skills, enabling students to confidently verbalize and present their projects, write compelling statements.

Students will be challenged to advance technical and critical thinking skills in the making of their work, as well as their capacity to engage with and constructively respond to the work of their peers. For the end of the year, students will be expected to finalize the production of a focused and driven body of work (made specifically in the context of this course, which incorporates practical skills developed over the semester) as well as a written statement that clearly communicate their position on relevant contemporary issues and actively consider the way the photographic medium is implemented in their artistic process.

This seminar provides the theoretical and methodological foundation to conduct research and writing in the departments of Photography, Transdisciplinary New Media, and Fine Arts. The seminar consists of a series of workshops which provide hands-on, practical research and writing exercises–all of which have the potential to be integrated into the student’s graduate thesis in Photography and Image-Making, Transdisciplinary New Media, or Drawing. The exercises’ content will lead to regular in-class oral presentations of the student’s research. In this manner, the course builds on knowledge and skills acquired in the first semester’s introductory research course, and provides a dynamic continuity of the student’s research and writing throughout this second semester of the MFA program. The work conducted here in the Intermediate Research course will serve to build toward the culmination of the student’s thesis; the writing of which will begin in the latter portion of the semester for all formats.

The course focuses on various methodological exercises that propose critical approaches which can be used to investigate creative practice and theory alike. Knowledge of materials, techniques, processes and theoretical methods in relation to past and present contexts play a key role. In-class writing workshops serve as practical spaces for the student to research, write and revise writings to be reviewed, through peer review and individual tutorials. Throughout the semester, the course offers an array of opportunities requiring the student to present their research based on their written submissions. Each session includes interactive work sessions with students reporting on progress and problem-solving, and receiving feedback from faculty and peers. The seminar involves extensive student participation in the form of discussion, debate, and dialogue. Because it is a forum for the exchange of work in progress, the seminar allows students to share their ideas and receive feedback on the development of their research.

In sum, this course seeks to provide the necessary theoretical, methodological and practical basis to enable a student to conduct efficient arts-based research and writing. It also offers the student multiple opportunities to orally–and visually (through projections of work and/or installations in situ)–present their research within the confines of the three-hour weekly seminar. The student’s work on all three facets–research, writing, and presentation–are viewed as being crucial to the successful development of their Master’s research project.

Finally, in proposing a well-rounded approach to arts-based research–one which accentuates the proposed writing and presentation exercises–the class seeks not only to serve as a successful transition to the final phase of the MFA written thesis and oral defense (during the third for the Academic or Monograph formats; or the fourth semester for the Workbook format), but also successfully prepares the student for the eventual future transition to professional roles and/or advanced research studies within the creative sector and/or academic community.