PHOTOGRAPHY
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There are a number of photography colleges in India, what makes the course offered at SACAC the best photography course in India is that SACAC appreciates photography as a visual language, where photographers master its grammar and craft, explore its numerous dialects and interpretations, and establish a visual conversation with the world around them. We understand photography as a dynamic expressive medium with an ever-evolving set of skills, concepts and aesthetics that both shape and are shaped by the social, political and cultural worlds in which they exist. Our students, therefore, practice the production, presentation, representation and dissemination of photographs as visually literate and socially conscious professionals using photography to examine and better understand the individual and the community.
The Diploma in Professional Photography is arguably the best photography course in India. The course enables students to practice photography as a language and a craft that transcends genres and engages with all areas and branches of image-making. The curriculum focuses on technical and aesthetic expertise; intellectual, conceptual, and contextual papers, like philosophy, history, politics and research; and professional development skills. Through a variety of teaching methods, students are trained to not just create better images, but they are also enabled to articulate ideas, read photographs and write about them. The course, widely acknowledged as the best photography course in India, stresses upon the ability to create new meaningful bodies of photographic work that are socio-culturally and historically informed, and works that can contribute to the development of the art and practice of photography. The course provides students with knowledge and skills to work as professional photographers in diverse genres such as journalism, documentary, editorial, fashion or advertising, and equips students with abilities to launch their photographic practice and careers.
The photography course at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication is designed in a way that recognizes thought to be as important to photography as technique. Unique among professional photography college in Delhi, it is built around a solid core of human interest and documentary photography. Lectures, discussions and expert visits combine with workshops and projects to create a photography curriculum that helps nascent photographers develop purpose and discipline into a professional practice. Equal emphasis is laid on developing personal projects and acquiring skills to be successful in the business of photography. The students also get an opportunity to be part of special guided tours of exhibitions across museums and galleries in Delhi, which provide opportunities to interact with artists and curators.
The 12 months diploma course in photography is spread across four semesters as below:
Semester I
- History of Photography I
- Introduction to Image Making
- Basics of Digital Photography
- Basics of Photoshop
- Street Photography
- Basic Lighting and Flash techniques
Semester II
- History of Photography II
- Documentary Photography I
- Photojournalism
- Research: Theory and Practice
- Writing for Photography
Semester III
- Advanced Lighting Techniques
- Portraiture: Environmental/Location
- Studio Portraiture
- Still Life
- Creative Writing
Semester IV
- Commercial Photography
- Portfolio Production
OR
Semester IV
- Documentary Photography II
- Documentary Research and Project
The course is taught through a mixture of formal lectures, practical classes, fieldwork, film screenings, group and individual exercises, guided assignments, presentations and workshops.
Field Research & Photography Workshop
The photography course at SACAC offers a field research & photography workshop that makes it stand out among photography schools in India. Every year the students travel to a particular destination, away from the dictates of the classroom to immerse themselves into their craft. This program provides the students with opportunities to ideate, conceptualize, investigate and execute a project within a short span under the guidance of a professional photographer.
Jury Review
The last semester of the course allows the students using all the skills acquired during the course to focus on a photo project or portfolio that best defines their understanding of the photographic art form. The students may choose any genre that they feel can best express their ideas. They are required to write a detailed proposal and submit it for approval. Once approved, the students are guided to complete the project/portfolio. The photography course then culminates with a Jury Review of this project or portfolio. The jurors evaluate the photographic work produced by the students. The review gives the students an opportunity to showcase their work in an ‘artist talk’ format to a panel of jurors. During the review, their work is screened with a projector. After the presentation, the jurors engage in dialogues and critiques giving the student photographers sufficient time to explain the work presented. The panel of jurors includes professionals with varying backgrounds in photography, art education, history, curation, and aesthetics.
| Eligibility: |
| Age: Min 20 years at time of applying for the course. Educational Qualification: Graduate in any stream Other Criteria:
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| Attributes |
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NOTE: The course in photography demands complete dedication towards the curriculum and practice. Students who are admitted into the programme will NOT BE ALLOWED to undertake any other courses, activity, or job unrelated to SACAC during the course period.
- Photojournalism
- Advertising / Studio Photography
- Documentary Photography
- Fine Art
- Photo Editors
- Researchers
- Archivists
- Curators
The course provides opportunities of interaction with the industry and professionals, and portfolio reviews by photographers and newspaper & magazine editors. SACAC also facilitates access to organisations, with whom our students can interview and network to get assignments and employment. Alumni from the department are working with AFP, PTI, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Barcroft Media, DK Publications, Spacematters, Mango Data, The Helpage India & PhotoInk.
A number of our alumni have their own independent photography and studio practice, and are well established in the industry. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with the course counsellor and alumni to know more about the career opportunities after completing the photography course.
At SACAC we strive to help our students gain exposure of the work across the globe in order to expand their horizon. To this end we forge partnerships with outstanding academic institutions, faculty members and photographers who come with experience and knowledge that contributes to the growth of our students both photographically and academically.
In 2019, we collaborated with three international faculty members Colette Veasey-Cullors, Christopher Sims and Max Pinckers.
Colette Veasey-Cullors is the Associate Dean of Design & Media, as well as professor of photography at MICA. Before joining MICA's faculty in 2008, she was a tenured associate professor in the undergraduate program in photography at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Colette received her MFA in photography from Maryland Institute College of Art in 1996 and her BFA in photography from the University of Houston in 1992. Colette Veasey-Cullors' photographic work throughout her career has continually investigated themes pertaining to socio-economics, race, class, education, and identity.
Christopher Sims was born in Michigan and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He has an undergraduate degree in history from Duke University, a master’s degree in visual communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a M.F.A. in studio art from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He worked as a photo archivist at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and currently is the Undergraduate Education Director at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University. At Duke he also teaches in the Duke-in-Berlin summer program and in the MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts graduate program.
Max Pinckers (b.1988, BE) is an artist based in Brussels, Belgium. His oeuvre explores visual strategies in documentary photography. Not believing in the possibility of sheer objectivity or neutrality, Pinckers advocates a manifest subjective approach, which is made visible through the explicit use of theatrical lighting, stage directions or extras. Extensive research and diligent technical preparation are combined with improvisation to obtain lively, unexpected, critical, simultaneously poetic and documentary images. His work takes shape as self-published artist books and exhibition installations
ADMISSION
The admission process for Photography Diploma programme is a simple 3-step procedure:
- Submit duly filled Application Form with all the relevant documents.
- Appear for Personal Interview.
- Appear for Final round of Interview.
NOTE: Shortlisted candidates will be intimated via phone and email.
| The procedure for accessing and submitting the application form for Diploma programme is as follows: |
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NOTE: We cannot process application forms that are incomplete or without submission of the Processing Fee.
| TERMS & CONDITIONS |
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| Tuition Fee | ||
|---|---|---|
| Photography Diploma | 12 Months | Rs. 2,78,000/- |
NOTE:
- Applicable GST additional.
- Students need to pay an additional refundable caution deposit of Rs. 10,000/-
| Payment Structure | ||
|---|---|---|
| The payment of course fees has been broken into three installments for convenience during the course. | ||
| At the time of admission | 1st Installment | 40% |
| After completion of 2 months | 2nd Installment | 30% |
| After completion of 4 months | 3rd Installment | 30% |
| Terms & Conditions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fees, once paid, are non-refundable and non-transferable. | ||
| A fine of Rs. 50/- per day will be charged for the first 30 days, post which the student may be barred from attending classes. | ||
| Students failing to clear their dues will not be allowed to participate in final diploma project. | ||
| Photography students need to have a DSLR Camera, flash and other accessories, HDD of 1 TB (minimum). | ||
| The course require the students to go on study tours, film festivals, exhibitions, etc. The students are expected to bear the expenses of necessary transport, lodging and boarding. |
