Details can be used to create abstract photographs by moving closer to our subjects. Alternatively, you can achieve abstraction through movement. Through subject motion, photographer motion, camera movement or a combination of any of these, information gets reduced, and impressions are created. For example, moving the camera upwards or downwards when photographing trees leaves behind colors, patterns, and lines.
5 creative subjects and fields you can pursue
Some subjects and fields are perfect for creative students. We explore some of the most popular and why they might be the course for you.
9 SEP 2022
Save for later Saved! View my reading list
Saved! View my reading list
Some students are designed for the more academic courses, while others lean more towards the creative side of things. If you’re the latter, and have a real talent for creativity, you may be wondering what course is right for you. There are a number of subjects and fields that creative individuals can succeed in, we have taken a look at just a few.
Media
To enter into a career in television, radio, journalism, publishing, public relations or other communications roles, a degree in media would equip you with relevant skills and knowledge. Undergraduate media courses tend to take three to four years to complete so you need to make sure that this is something you want to commit to.
But first, what exactly does a media course involve? While the focus of a media studies degree will differ according to each institution, typical modules might include:
- Film and art
- Entertainment
- Media and society
- Media ethics
- Digital media
- Media technologies
- Radio
- Podcasting
- Photography
- Video
This type of course generally attracts creative thinkers and those who are personable and enjoy storytelling. This degree will also encourage you to gain work experience in a field of your choice as the media industry has a reputation for being highly competitive. It will therefore be hugely beneficial to leave university with some sort of professional experience. Some courses may have a dedicated module for internships where the university can assist with organising a placement.
Media degrees tend to cover a broad range of topics, but you can choose to specialise in certain areas during your degree. For example, you may decide that you want to focus on video production and editing or you might realise that you have a flair for film and want to develop your expertise in this area.
Although media studies has received some criticism over the years, there are lots of employment opportunities within the digital sphere. This can be seen with the rapid growth of global brands such as Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime and more. In fact, new roles are being created all the time and this can be seen with jobs which didn’t exist ten years ago.
Film
Consider yourself a film buff? Want to learn more about filmmaking? A degree in film could be the right path for you. It is an incredibly competitive industry though and requires networking and relationship building with industry contacts. However, if you are driven and can prove yourself, then you should consider a film degree.
Typical modules on a film course might include:
- Film production
- Cinematography
- Film criticism
- Screenwriting
- Critical analysis
- Film history
- World cinema
- Gender and cinema
Common careers to follow a film degree include:
- Film director
- Music producer
- Film producer
- Sound technician
- Film/video editor
- Location scout
- Camera operator
As these roles tend to be highly desirable and therefore competitive, many graduates start out as runners at the beginning of their careers. This involves assisting with the smooth running of a project with different tasks being expected of you. You might be organising props, liaising with actors or constructing a set. This is a great way to make new contacts and learn more about the film or TV industry from behind the scenes.
Pursuing a career in film is of course highly creative, but there is also a large component of logistics and organisation. To be successful in the film industry, you need to gain work experience, show dedication to every task and be ready to work hard. Directors and producers will be looking for people who show up on time, are organised and can use their own initiative. An undergraduate degree in film can set you up with the skills you need within three to four years depending on the university and country. For more insights, check out our interview with an international student who studied production management in Manchester in the UK.
Sharpness and blur
Freezing the action of your chosen subject can be achieved with short exposure times and result in sharper images. Photography doesn’t have to be about capturing the beauty of a scene in its sharpest and most natural form. You can be playful in your creations and apply a bit of artistic blur from time to time. Adding artistic blur is a great way to put some art and movement into your photographs.
Sharp images are dynamic and provide an obvious and real static representation of a scene. However, using blur can make an image more compelling. Using a slower shutter speed helps to provide motion and movement to photographs while adding drama and vitality.
Hyena Pan, Tanzania © Jeremy Flint
Light trails at night
At nighttime, as darkness falls, lights come on and provide excellent subjects to capture. Roads become lit by light trails from vehicles that give unique patterns.
Fairgrounds are great for artistic shots. This is due to their unique atmosphere, as well as the fairground’s color and excitement. Be inventive and artistic in your approach to capturing these scenes. Look for elements such as the vibrant and attractive Christmas lights and car light trails as shown in the image below.
London Xmas Lights © Jeremy Flint
Shoot a silhouette
While many shots taken during daylight hours tend to show all details in an image, get creative by shooting a silhouette. You can achieve a silhouette by mainly photographing a subject’s outline and making it featureless against a bright background.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK © Jeremy Flint
In the image example here, I have used the famous landmark of Stonehenge in the UK with a vibrant sky behind. Make sure you choose a strong subject for a silhouette such as the distinct shape of a person or animal. The best way to shoot a silhouette is to position your subject in front of a bright background and to expose for the background, rendering your subject dark and underexposed.
Silhouettes are an interesting way to convey drama and energy into your images and makes them stand out.
The Art of Photography. A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression — Second Edition
“The Art of Photography…A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression” has now sold over 100,000 copies. It has been translated from its original English into seven foreign languages: German, French, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. Many have labeled it “the finest educational book ever written about photography.”
The book is equally useful for digital users and traditional—film and darkroom—practitioners. Bruce recognizes the value and validity of both approaches, and tells you how to use both to maximum advantage, and he explains it in a way that is straightforward and simple to understand, including easy understand of the Ansel Adams’ Zone system for negative exposure, and use of the histogram for digital exposures. The book covers both color and black-and-white imagery, discussing in depth where and why each one has its place, and how to maximize your image quality in the methods you have chosen.
The fully revised second edition is 10” x 10” in size, 392 pages in length, containing over 175 superbly reproduced photographic images in both black and white and color. It emphasizes the overriding importance of light, compositional relationships, and the importance of your choice of subject matter. It contains step-by-step information on using the digital tools effectively and wisely for expressive color or black and white image files. For film/analog enthusiasts it takes you through the Zone System in an easily understandable way, and details darkroom approaches to produce the richest of all black and white images.
The book’s uniqueness rests on its emphasis of how the reader can produce creative photographs that convey artistic insight, rather than just “capturing” what is before your eyes. It is both a textbook on photography and a photographic art book. It is beautifully designed and printed. It even lies flat when opened to the page you want. All this in a book that retails for only $49.95
Following nine reprints of the first edition, the fully revised 2nd edition goes even deeper into the methods of producing expressive photographic imagery.
The prime focus of the book remains squarely on creative, expressive, artistic photography. The book contains clear technical information—for both digital or analog approaches—in an understandable manner. Yet its emphasis is on guiding the reader toward applying the technical aspects sensibly and effectively for expressive purposes.
Bruce says it has been a great pleasure choosing the most appropriate images to illustrate the book’s text, in order to make this a “living” document. The illustrations include some of his best known imagery, as well as many new images never previously published or displayed. Reviews have labeled this book as “essential” for all serious photographers, amateur or professional.
You can order a personally signed copy of the 2nd edition of “The Art of Photography. A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression” directly from Bruce for immediate signing and shipping. Please see below for complete information on ordering your personal copy, or for a gift to a friend.
Order Now:
You can order a personally signed copy of The Art of Photography…A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression for $49.95 plus shipping. Shipping is $15.00 anywhere in the US, and $45.00 to Canada. Beyond the US and Canada, shipping is $85.00.
You can obtain a personally signed copy of The Art of Photography…A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression directly via this website. Click on “Add to Cart” and follow all instructions. A signed copy of the book will be sent to you quickly.
Alternatively, you can send a check by standard mail for the full amount to Bruce Barnbaum, with the check made out to Bruce Barnbaum and sent to:
BRUCE BARNBAUM
P.O.Box 1791
Granite Falls, WA 98252
If you first wish to ask any questions about the book, or about payment, you can email Bruce at: [email protected] or phone him at (360) 691-4105.
If you order a book by email to Bruce, be sure to include your home or shipping address and your Email and phone contact info.
