Mondays, 29 June to 3 August at 18.30–20.00 BST
Photography shapes the way we see, think about, and represent the world. Across six weekly sessions, Stephen Bull leads an engaging and insightful course introducing key ideas, debates and figures that have shaped photography. Rather than following a linear timeline, each session uses alphabetical prompts in fresh and unexpected ways.
We will cover the medium’s historical development, different movements and styles –from portraiture, landscape and documentary photography to contemporary art and more experimental approaches to image-making– and the influence of technology.
Stephen Bull brings a distinctive approach that's sharp, funny and grounded in years of experience writing and teaching photography Whether you're looking to develop your own practice, refresh your thinking, or simply explore visual culture from a new angle, this course will leave you with a richer understanding of the medium — with a few surprises along the way.
Explore the wide-ranging world of photography — its pasts, presents and potential futures. This is an introductory course, and no previous knowledge is required.
By the end of the course, you will have knowledge of photography’s evolution and cultural impact; explored key ideas, and artistic styles; discovered how photography documents histories, tells stories and expresses vision; and developed confidence in looking at and talking about photographs and their meanings.
Taking place weekly, all sessions will consist of a blend of slide-based lectures, followed by discussion.
Please note: Our workshops and courses are subject to minimum enrolment. Please book within five days of the start-date to reduce the likelihood of course cancellation and to ensure you receive any additional workshop or course information well in advance. Registration will close one day prior to the start date of the session(s).
By booking for this event you agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Bursaries
Bursaries
A number of partial bursaries covering 50 per cent of course fees will be awarded on a first come basis. Applicants who wish to be considered for a partial bursary should submit a statement (max. 500 words) to projects@tpg.org.uk, outlining how An A to Z of Photography would contribute to their professional development. Successful applicants will be notified within a week of submission.
We actively encourage applications from groups who are currently underrepresented in the cultural sector in the UK. This includes people who identify as D/deaf, disabled* and neurodivergent; those with caring responsibilities; candidates from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse backgrounds; and arts and culture professionals whose career development has been negatively impacted by Covid-19, prioritising independent artists, freelancers and those made redundant/at risk of redundancy since 2020.
*The Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment, and the impairment has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Sharing that you are disabled will not be used in any way in judging the quality of your application.
Schedule
**Shhh... the weekly topics are top secret for now!**
Week 1 | A to E on Mon 29 Jun
Week 2 | F to J on Mon 6 Jul
Week 3 | K to O on Mon 13 Jul
Week 4 | P is for Photographer on Mon 20 Jul
Guest speaker to be announced
Week 5 | Q to U on Mon 27 Jul
Week 6 | V to Z on Mon 3 Aug
Biography
Stephen Bull is a writer and lecturer. He is a Senior Lecturer in Photography at the University of Brighton. He is the author of Photography (Routledge, 2010, second edition forthcoming), the editor of A Companion to Photography (Wiley-Blackwell, 2020) and is currently working on the book Photography and Celebrity (Routledge). Stephen has published two photobooks, A Meeting with a Celebrity and Meeting Hazel Stokes. He has also been a regular contributor to Source magazine since 1996.
