Award in Photography – Introduction

This course aims at encouraging students to explore the photography world in terms of content and contexts, and its role within the media industry. The students will be given the opportunity to understand the relationship between basic photography practices and theories in order to have a better understanding of this medium.

Students will be able to test their knowledge and understanding through multiple practical sessions tackling different contexts and scenarios. With this course, students will be guided into practising a full photographic project – starting from producing well-exposed images, selecting the right sample of photos, applying basic editing techniques and finally showcasing their work to fellow classmates and being able to critically evaluate their own work.

Career Paths

The target group for this course may be media literacy students who continued their studies and would like to take photography as a side study, photography enthusiasts who would like to train their photography skills into becoming more technical and understanding about theories of photography and perhaps also workers from the industry who would like to gain a qualification in photography.

Structure and Assessment

Course delivery is blended, and includes on-line or face-to-face lessons along with practical assignments where applicable.

Duration – 13 weeks (2-hour lecture per week)

Lecturing Schedule

Part-Time Evenings or Saturday Morning – 1 Sessions of 2 Hours each Weekly Mondays plus 18:00-20:00 hrs of lectures

Note: Additional hours as directed by the Lecturer need to be dedicated by way of Self-Study / Research / Assignments / Projects / Presentations / Group-Work or similar.

Assessments

These may be either Home-Based Assignments or Time-Constrained Assessments, on both an Individual Basis, as well as on a Group-Level Basis according to the Units being assessed, and may also include evaluation of hands-on practice.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify basic photography techniques and equipment.
2. Practice good use of photography composition rules.
3. Demonstrate good use of light whilst producing well-exposed images.
4. Produce a series of good quality photographs and apply basic retouching techniques.
5. Evaluate own work whilst giving critical feedback to others.

Entry Requirements

Participants should have a good knowledge and understanding of Maltese and/or English

Maturity Clause:

Students who satisfy the following conditions may apply for consideration to join MCAST programmes as mature students:

• Be in possession of the School Leaving Certificate

Have, by the end of the current calendar year:

• Attained the age of 23 years for entry to programmes at MQF Level 5, Level 6 and Level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework.
• Attained the age of 21 years for entry to programmes at MQF Level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework.
• Attained the age of 19 years for entry to programmes at MQF Level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework.3
• Demonstrate that they stand to benefit and show that they are able to follow the programme through an interview held for the purpose. The Interview Board may require candidates to undertake additional studies as part of their acceptance. The Board may recommend an alternative programme where it considers it appropriate. The Board reserves the right to evaluate the prospective candidate’s competences through an assessment. Students are advised to contact the Office of Part-Time Courses to clarify any queries.

Certification:

Course participants may be awarded either an MCAST Certificate of Attendance or an MCAST Certificate of Achievement.

MCAST Certificate of Attendance

· An MCAST Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those candidates who attend at least 70% of the lessons.

MCAST Certificate of Achievement

· An MCAST Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to those candidates who satisfy the 80% attendance criteria AND ALSO choose submit course assignments / or sit for assessments and achieves a Pass mark or higher.

· Students who opt not to submit assignments or sit for the assessments or fail to achieve a Pass mark will however be awarded an MCAST Certificate of Attendance provided that they fulfil the minimum attendance criteria as stated above.