Photography
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio
Located in downtown Atlanta, the Photography Program at Georgia State University offers a comprehensive course of instruction that provides broad exposure to the possibilities within the medium, including interdisciplinary and non-traditional experimentation. Our multi-faceted program is designed to push the boundaries of conventional art education by organizing programs and events that focus on both practical and critical concerns in contemporary art. Our program facilitates interaction between artists, students and the Atlanta arts community. The educational component includes an emphasis in the theoretical and critical concerns of contemporary art practice.
Program Description
The B.F.A. Photography program begins with a fundamental course that provides a strong technical grounding and progresses to an array of intermediate level courses designed to expand and enhance skills while giving precedence to creative concepts. The advanced photography courses emphasize self-directed study and encourage exploration, experimentation, and the refinement of technical skills and ideas. Support is given for any exploration and experimentation in photography as a social, cultural and/or fine art medium. Students work in a variety of media including installation, performance, video and digital. The backbone of all courses is the critique process, which provides the opportunity to reflect upon the work and to pose possibilities for growth and development. The program is enhanced with specialized workshops conducted by guest artists, a variety of internships available in the Atlanta community and the visiting artist lecture series sponsored by the Art Students’ Union. Cross-registration is possible with Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Georgia.
Transfer Credits
Upon acceptance into the University and before initial registration, students who wish to transfer credit for art courses taken elsewhere must bring a copy of their transcripts with a GSU transfer evaluation to the School of Art and Design undergraduate advisor in room 117 Art and Humanities. A catalog description, course syllabus, or portfolio review may be required for course evaluation. The photography faculty must review photography courses taken elsewhere before transfer credit is granted.
Course Requirements for the Concentration – Area G (60 hours)
1. Photography Requirements (37)
2. Studio Electives (12 - 17)
3. Art History Electives at 4000 level (3)
4. Art 3400 Space, Scale, Time:Digital Possibilities(3)
The Portfolio Review Process
In order to be accepted into the photography major, students must pass through a portfolio review. The portfolio review process involves presenting portfolios of work from four Core Art Foundation courses and two Photo courses for evaluation by a committee of photography faculty. The required six courses are: Drawing I, Introductory Studio, 2-D, 3-D, Photo I and Photo II. Students must first complete Photo II before going through review. They cannot go through review while enrolled in Photo II. Portfolio review days are scheduled every semester, approximately at mid-semester.
Photography Facilities
The photography lab is open 24/7 and includes a black and white gang darkroom, individual color darkrooms with a 27” Colex color processor, an alternative process studio, a shooting studio, and accommodations for mural black and white and color printing. Studio equipment available for check out includes large format cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, and portable floods and strobes.
Digital Facilities
The Creative Media Center is a diverse multimedia facility that provides students with access to an array of state-of-the-art technologies. Each professional-level computer workstation offers a wide variety of software for the creation of photographic and graphic images, interactive and web media, digital video and sound. Specialized hardware, including high-end printers and scanners, allow for professional output. Designed as both a Digital Classroom and an Open Access Laboratory, the CMC insures that students are provided access to the technological tools necessary for them to thrive professionally in any fine or applied arts field.
Student Photography Group: ExLucis
The Photography Program is enriched by the activities of ExLucis, the chartered student photography group at Georgia State University. ExLucis operates as an advocate for the photography program and organizes activities such as professional exhibitions of student work in the city, guest artist lectures and workshops, fundraising events, and field trips to museums and conferences outside the city. Past ExLucis projects include the Bi-Annual Exhibition and Silent Benefit Auction for AIDS Survival Project in Atlanta, student exhibitions curated by New York art critic Jan Avgikos and High Museum of Art photography curator Julian Cox, Visiting Artists and Scholars such as Dinh Q. Le, Donald Morin, Danwen Xing, Janine Antoni, Paul Shambroom and Gregory Crewdson.
