Study a Photography Foundation course with OCA
This Open course aims to equip you with fundamental creative, visual and technical skills in photography.
It is a practical, task oriented course filled with creative approaches to making photographs that will help you develop your photography as a means of imaginative self-expression and experimentation.
The course is rooted in the main genres of photography and will provide you with a solid intellectual foundation, in plain language, to pursue photography at Degree level. It can equally be studied as a stand-alone course which will transform how you think about photography and the photographs you take.
Robert Enoch on Open Foundations – Photography
Course Aims
The course aims to:
- Familiarise students with workflow, techniques, experimentation, visual effect and visual strategy.
- Provide a solid understanding of the camera and how to use shutter and lens to creative effect.
- Explain how to use shadows, stillness and movement effectively.
- Explore the portrait through the use of depth, distance, composition and light.
- Examine the role of narrative in photography through the use of series and sequences, staging and juxtaposition.
- Discover the inspiration of visual research in the creative practice of photography.
- Combine images, objects and concepts to create still lives.
Course Outcomes
Through the course, you will:
- Make a large portfolio of creatively diverse projects.
- Develop a productive and positive attitude.
- Understand fundamental visual skills vital for creating effective imagery.
- Gain a knowledge of the fundamental genres of photography.
- Have experimented widely with a variety of visual strategies and techniques and gained those as tools to put to work in new projects.
- Organise your workflow to provide you with a seamless structure and the confidence to create serious work.
- Understand the ways photographs communicate to the viewer and appreciate the viewer’s experience.
Gina Lundy
Unit Leader for Foundations in Photography
“Freelance photographer, visual artist and educational practitioner based in Glasgow.
Interested in social engagement through arts practice, educational outreach programmes and the transforming power of the arts.
Currently concentrating on artistic practice and developing freelance photographic work, through further study, commissions and residencies…”
Foundations
£900
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£4,050
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£3,340
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£3,340
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,350 Per course unit (4o credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessarry 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £440 followed by 8 monthly instalments of £120. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£1,670 Per course unit (6o credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessarry 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £520 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £120. |
Level 3 (HE6) |
£3,340 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given Open degree pathway. Two 40 credit units are studied concurrently and the deposit for these two units is £510 followed by 14 monthly instalments of £120. The only exception to this is the Creative Writing Degree, where Level 3 is split two course units, and the deposit for each is £520, followed by 10 monthly instalments of £120. |
Foundations
£1,050
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£4,500
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£3,690
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£3,690
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,500 Per course unit (40 credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £590 followed by 8 monthly instalments of £120. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£1,845 Per course unit (60 credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £695 followed by 10 monthly instalments of £120. |
Level 3 (HE6) |
£3,690 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given degree pathway, and therefore are varied in cost. For individual pricing, please see the individual course unit pages on this website. Two 40 credit units are studied concurrently and the deposit for these two units is £735 followed by 14 monthly instalments of £120. The only exception to this is the Creative Writing Degree, where Level 3 is split two course units, and the deposit for each is £695, followed by 10 monthly instalments of £120. |
Course Sample
Click below to download an in-depth guide to the course.
If you have any questions before enrolling, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Photography courses
Not sure if this is the course for you? Take a closer look at the other Photography courses OCA has to offer.
Learn more