We are a group of students who come together to help each other through the exciting journey of our photographic studies. On our Discord Channel we offer informal critiques; answer technical questions about cameras and the apps we need for our course; share collaborative challenges; and give support and encouragement to anyone who asks for it.
Monthly virtual events give us an opportunity to discuss the work of photographers who interest or challenge us; to hear first-hand about the practice and creative process of both professionals and past students of OCA; and to consider broader issues around the place of photography in society.
A talk from Lisa der Weduwe from the Museum of Youth Culture, introduced us to the process, challenges and benefits of building and maintaining an archival record. Past student Nuala Mahon gave us an insight into the world of sustainable photography through her use of a handmade pinhole camera and developer made from seaweed. This theme was also the subject of photographer Hannah Fletcher’s talk on the Sustainable Darkroom. Multidisciplinary artist and alumni Anna Sellen shared how learning through her final project helped her to change her location, career and life to start realising her professional dream.
Through the experience of professional photographers, we have seen the different ways they go about creating projects from the meticulous planning of Owen Harvey to identify sites of interest, to the photographing of places around his home and people who interest him developing into fifteen different projects for Justin Partyka.
Professor Anna Fox shared a diverse range of her work with a focus on the use of text and photographs. This included documenting the cockroaches in her rented home, the contents of a box of odds and ends she found when moving house, and My Mother’s Cupboards and My Father’s Words which is a book commenting on her parents’ home life. The text included diary entries and words she scribbled down secretly about her parents’ relationship. The conscious emphasis on the choice of text, the font, the position within the book, and the impact this will have on the reader was illuminating.
Most recently Dr Grant Scott talked to us about the importance of narrative in photography which he describes as a visual language. His experiences as an art director, creative director, author, teacher and photographer gave us an amusing, encouraging and challenging view of how we can consider our own practice.
Through discussion of the work of chosen photographers we get the chance to broaden our research and practice our analytical skills. This year we have discussion constructed images, and the work of Saul Leiter, Francesca Woodman and Stuart Franklin.
We have organised three exhibition visits in the past year to see the Daido Retrospective at the Photographers Gallery, the Saul Leiter Exhibition at MK Gallery, and The Camera Never Lies: Challenging images through The Incite Project at the Sainsbury Centre. Visiting an exhibition with other likeminded people adds a depth to the experience and helps us to get to know people we come across during the course.
Coming up this year
Our next meet up is at the Whitechapel Gallery in London on 16th November – please email jennifer531092@oca.ac.uk if you would like more details.
We have two further talks planned before Christmas: Caleb Weintraub who is going to talk to us on 9th October about AI, photography and ethics, and Dr Susan Bright is going to talk to us on 11th December about curating an exhibition. All the details can be found on the PSG Padlet. You'll also find event information on the OCASA event page.
Everyone is welcome!
If you would like to join our Discord channel then please email luke523038@oca.ac.uk to ask for the link.
PSG Team
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