Photography Studies College - Blog

"The most rewarding moment at PSC was probably when I realised that my work could contribute to something bigger than just making an image.
It could tell a story, create emotion and feeling."

PSC Alumni, Teagan Glenane shares how she turned her creativity into a career.

 What inspired you to study photography?

Since I can remember I loved making things, and all things creative bought me so much joy. I love art, magazines, books, movies, all things visual, but it turned out I was actually pretty crap at painting and drawing. My studio arts teacher in year 11 took the paints away and lent me an old film camera instead. The first photos I took were pretty crappy, but they felt good to make. Watching those images form from nothing but light and chemicals in front of my eyes, was magic. 

"I wanted recognition. Proof that I could be a photographer. A degree gives you that and it also opens doors in the future. It could be the one deciding factor to getting a job."

Did you have a career change? If so, what were you doing prior to photography?  

Yes, it was a career change. But not a massive leap from what I have already done in the past. I’ve always been a creative. I’m a qualified graphic designer and I’ve made a living through photography and video in the past. Before going to PSC I was 50% owner of a design agency with 15 staff and a studio in Southbank. But the bigger the company grew the less happy I became. I wasn’t creating anymore. I was managing mundane issues, dealing with finances and fixing IT problems. So, I sold my shares to my business partner and went travelling. I took my family back to my homeland in Wales, and we spent 6 weeks hiking mountains and trying to rekindle my grasp of the Welsh language. 

"Photography nourishes your soul. That’s essentially what it has done for me. You can’t place a monetary value on your creative soul. I am so glad to see Melbourne grow as a creative hub and really happy to be on my creative journey at PSC."

It was a wonderful moment to have PSC Alumni Takeshi Miyamoto visit our shores from Paris, to attend the Photobook Making Workshop, here at the college.  
We seized the moment to catch up with Takeshi to ask him about the international photography career he has forged since graduating.

Takeshi has travelled from Paris especially to attend the Photobook Making Workshop with book designers- Teun van der Heijden & Sandra van der Doelen from Heijdens Karwei in Amsterdam. 
This workshop attracted many prominent international, national and local photographers to PSC over a five day intensive program in December 2018..

Welcome back to Melbourne and PSC Takeshi! 

Tell us how you ended up living in Paris from growing up in Japan?

Thank you. It is very special to be back here and to see many familiar faces.

After graduating from PSC, I worked in Tokyo for about 4 years working for travel magazine, and I thought it was a time to discover new things in my life. I never lived in Europe before, and I was interested in the diversity of art & culture in Paris , so I lived there for one year and ended up staying.

PSC student Stavros Messinis was recently awarded the Ilford CCP Salon Best Photobook Design Award for his title "Dream State".
We recently caught up with Stavros to ask him about his recent success and his love of creating photobooks.

Congratulations Stavros. You must be very pleased with the outcome.

How did “Dream State “come about?

Thank you. Yes, the award was a wonderful surprise which I did not expect. I was just happy to present my work at such a great photography exhibition.
The "Dream State" started as a personal style development project at PSC. Working on this project, doing research, shooting, editing and presenting photos in the class and with the feedback I was getting, I believe I finally found a new way to express myself poetically through photography. This project is inspired by Surrealism, like my poetry. So, working on this project was an exciting experience.

"The main purpose of my work is to bring human rights issues to the forefront of public awareness with the long-term intent of changing governmental policy. I find that as a photojournalist I am perfectly placed to do this by telling the stories of those that otherwise wouldn’t have been seen or heard." 
- Chris Hopkins

Photograph by Chris Hopkins © 2018 for SBS Online 

Firstly, congratulations from all of us at PSC on your recent award and your amazing career to date!
Thank-you!


Can you tell us about the 'Nikon/Walkley Photographic Essay Award' and how it came about? Do you enter every year?
I enter most years and won a Walkley slideshow in 2012 but this is the first time I have won one of the major awards. I was commissioned by SBS in June to work with the small Rohingyan community living in Melbourne. In particularly we were following Yunus' story as he resolved to find a place in Australia whilst helping his family who were still in the camps in Bangladesh. Yunus left the violence in Burma a few years back, so not only was he living an uncertain future as an asylum seeker, he had to deal with the unknown of what was happening to his family last year (during the genocide) from afar.

"Every day I get up and do something I love which is pretty amazing."

Sean McDonald decided to study photography part time just to learn the basics. 10 years on he now runs a rocking portrait /wedding/commercial /documentary photography business in Melbourne ! 

Did you have a career change? If so what were you doing prior to photography?

Sure did! I went from working in a marketing team at a big corporate company, doing 10 hour days while sitting at the same desk every day. Now I work all sorts of strange hours but it’s for myself and I love it. Very different lifestyle! 

"The opening night for Fresh 18 bought together the varied work from the Art Major class all in one place. From the emotionally charged portraits on silk by Susan Humphries to the large photo mosaic house by Peter Riordan.

With about 300 people coming through the door to see the work, there was lots of compliments, many laughs, great speeches and a lot of chatter. Overall the perfect end to the year. "

Jacalyn Mann | Exhibiting student at Fresh

Photo: Susan Humphries and Peter Riordon with their photographic installations.

There's still time to check out our Bachelor of Photography Graduate Exhibition
'In Light '
at the  Centre for Contemporary Photography

The opening night was a huge success, attended by family, friends, the photographic industry and the PSC community.
A great way to celebrate the end of an era and the beginning of an exciting new one for our Photography Graduates!

Graduating students from the Fine Art, Photojournalism and Commercial Majors
CONGRATULATIONS!
Here are some highlights from the show...

       Photo : Jim Davison – Chair, Higher Education Council, Robin Williams - Chair, PSC Academic Board & Member of PSC Higher Education Council, Gigi Williams-Professional Photographer, Julie Moss- Managing Director and Daniel Boetker-Smith-Higher Education Course Director.

Q. How is it that people can photograph an ordinary scene and make it look extraordinary?

A. Well it's not about having the most expensive gear. It's about having the skills, knowledge and creativity to see things differently and produce eye catching and expressive images that make people stop and take notice!

Joining a Part Time Photography Course at PSC is a great way to improve your camera skills. You will learn to create images you can be proud of and impress everyone around you whether family, friends or potential employers! (We won't tell your boss you are looking for a career change)

You'll get mountains of useful feedback from your tutors who are expert industry professionals. 

You will feel really supported in a fun and friendly learning environment welcoming all ages and skill levels.

Join an upcoming informal and fun

Part Time Course Info Sessions

and enjoy:

# EARLY BIRD FEE DISCOUNTS including great savings at the event

# A special Info Session Door Prize to inspire your creativity

# Meet staff and students and ask them the tough questions

# View our student work and take a tour of the college

# Take home goody bag