Former acrobat and PSC graduate Aaron Walker has found his niche in photographing the body and movement. He experiments with complex rigging and lighting mixed with high-end fashion. His work shows the body as almost super human but also fragile. Read about why he changed career from aerial acrobatics coach to professional photographer, how he grew his business while studying, and how he did some of his most physically demanding and emotionally sensitive shoots.

Topics: art photography, Commercial, interview, Part Time Course, photographers, photography competition, photography courses melbourne, Photography Education, Photography feature, photography graduates, photography school, PSC, PSC graduate, studying photography, uni courses, university, Advanced Diploma of Photography, Award winning, career, careers, commercial photography, Digital Photography, fashion, fashion photography, graduates, learning photography, melbourne, Part Time Photography Course, photographer, photography, photography courses Australia, photography studies, Photography Studio, Photography Tips, professional photography, Award winning Photographer, Exhibitions, Latest Blogs, PSC Staff Member, PSC Student

This month Photography Studies College is abuzz with many students and graduates posting about their recent accolades from Capture Magazine's Australia's Top Emerging Photographers list. In the Student Category one of our first year's won the top award (and her image graced the cover), and two more students were listed in the Top 10. A PSC graduate made the top 20 in the Portraits Category, and a PSC tutor who is also a past graduate took out 9th place in the Art Category. And many others have been Highly Commended in various categories of photography. We talk to a few of these rising stars about their award-winning work – and along the way discover why PSC students have an edge of others. 

Topics: art photography, australia, bachelor of photography, photographers, photography competition, photography graduates, photography school, photojournalism, PSC graduate, Street Photography, student bios, timor leste, top institute, Travel Photography, alumni, Award winning, bachelor of art, Bachelor of Art Photography, career, careers, commercial photography, Digital Photography, diploma of photography, fashion photography, fine art photography, full time, learning photography, Part Time Photography Course, photographer, photography, photography studies, professional photography, Published Work, Staff, Student of the year, Students, Master Of Arts Photography, Award winning Photographer, Latest Blogs, Graduate, In the Press, PSC Staff Member, PSC Student, Pro Photography Certificate

World renowned Dutch expert of photography and the photographic book, Corinne Noordenbos, has landed on our shores. For more than three decades, she has drastically impacted the development of photography internationally. Photography Studies College Course Director Daniel Boetker-Smith spoke with her about mentoring her now famous students, her career highlights and visiting Australia for the first time.

Topics: photography school, photojournalism, photobooks, photography studies, Photography Tips, Mentoring, image makers seminar series, Award winning Photographer, Latest Blogs, Presenter, workshops

Confronting and visceral is one way to describe visual artist and Photography Studies College graduate Sophie Gabrielle's haunting series (currently on exhibition via Foam gallery in New York and featured in Foam magazine). While her body of work may tug on our fears of being human lab rats, she says it was all part of her healing process . We talk to Sophie about her experimental work, artist residency in Iceland and how PSC helped nurture her award-winning artistic sensibilities. 

Topics: bachelor of photography, bachelor degree, bachelor of art, Bachelor of Art Photography, Obscura Festival of photography, Obscura Photo Festival, Award winning Photographer, Solo Exhibition, Exhibitions, Latest Blogs, Graduate, PSC Student

It's official! PSC has been rated in the top three higher education institutions in Australia for ‘Overall Quality of Educational Experience’, and No.1 amongst visual arts institutions!  

PSC has just been acknowledged by the Australian Government’s Student Experience Survey (www.qilt.edu.au) as one of the national leaders in higher education. This detailed annual survey asks students to rate and comment on their College/University experience across multiple categories like ‘Teaching Quality’, ‘Learning Resources’, ‘Skills Development’ ‘Student Support’ and more.

 

The survey report just released hails PSC as a ‘site of best practice in the student experience which other institutions may learn from’!

 

PSC Managing Director Julie Moss said: “I am so proud of our talented staff who are all so committed to creating the best experience for our students. Students are rightly very discerning about their education. They know what works for them and what they need in order to have a high quality educational experience. Our students have spoken and given us the highest possible endorsement!”

Topics: bachelor of photography, Open Day, qilt, Award winning Photographer, James Bugg

 

Agata Mayes, is currently finishing her Advanced Diploma of Photography at Photography Studies College. She recently was awarded AIPP Victorian Emerging Photographer of the Year 2018. She took some time out of her busy day to answer some questions about her journey so far:

Were you surprised by your win?

Yes, I didn’t expect it. Before I started at PSC, I used to shoot newborn but found it to be not creative enough and decided to take one year off to find a joy in my creative process again. I decided to be 100% honest with myself and create what is in my head; no boundaries, no expectations. I didn’t want to enter competitions at this stage and to be fair, I wouldn’t have entered if not for PSC. Entry to the awards was necessary as part of my course and I’m very grateful for the process and outcome

When did you decide you wanted to do photography?

Photography has been my passion since a very early age. As a child I watched my dad develop films in our bathroom and I was fascinated with this process. I had not considered photography as a profession at this stage. I graduated in Informatics in 2003 and started my career in the Aviation Sector. After a few years in a highly stressful environment I decided to completely change my life direction. I went back to my passions and photography has been my life ever since. 

What inspires your images and ideas?

Concepts for my series comes from my huge interest in psychology and philosophy. My first series “Inside The Mind” was created to explore the sensation of unexplained, severe fear. My second series called ’Sleeping Humanity” was inspired by a book by Colin P.Sisson which portrays people being in a hypnotic state though their lives.

I read a lot and have music playing while I create. Having a written concept and visual diary is very important, along with music and no expectations. These all create a lovely creative flow. In being creative, its very important to figure out the “what” and “why”. The “how” is the last one and you will figure it out in the end. I tend to avoid looking at other artists for inspiration in concepts, other than things like tone, texture and colour.

Do you have a top “go to” if you have creative block?

Stop trying! Stop putting pressure on yourself! In my case blocks come from unresolved emotions and my perfectionism. I take a day off and calm myself if I need to. 

How has studying helped you with your goals and image making?

The tutors at PSC are incredible. Neil Stanyer especially, helped me with the conceptual side of photography. I understood that creating beautiful images is not enough and he taught us to use photography as a medium to communicate.  The tutors bring the best out of you instead of imposing you to do something. They embrace and encourage your style.

Topics: Part Time Course, Victoria Epson Professional Photography Awards, Advanced Diploma of Photography, AIPP, fine art photography, PSC open day, Agata Mayes, Award winning Photographer

Photo: Louise Kennerley for The Sydney Morning Herald

It is with great pride that PSC announces our 2017 final year student James Bugg has been awarded the $50,000 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize for 2018 for his portrait titled Zach.

Of James’ photography, and his subject Zach, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize judge Jon Jones had this to say:

“...a beautifully observed, subtle and thought provoking contemporary portrait. His direct gaze and awkward stance, surrounded by the discarded pots and garden ornaments that speak of a different time, offers a glimpse of Australian society rarely visible.” 

The portrait is part of a wider series 'The Pines' which James completed as part of his Bachelor of Photography degree last year at PSC.

Topics: photojournalism, Bachelor of Art Photography, Award winning Photographer, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, James Bugg

Joshua Holko, successful award winning wild life photographer and Global Arctic Photographer of the year 2015, was recently awarded AIPP Victorian Documentary Photographer of the Year 2018 for his exquisite wildlife images shot in the most remote and harsh regions of our planet. Joshua started his photographic journey at Photography Studies College many years ago, completing the first semester of the Advanced Diploma (the 20 week Creative Photography Certificate) before embarking on a lifelong career doing what he loves. Joshua, took some time out of his hectic schedule to answer a few questions about his journey.

Image: Joshua Holko APP M.Photog I 2018 AIPP Victorian Documentary Professional Photographer of the Year

What have been your favourite moments on the job?

In the business of photography you are shooting 2% of your time and the rest is running a business. For me it’s the 2%, being out on the ice with the polar bears, with nature. The rest of it is just “waiting”. Steve McQueen once said racing is life and everything else is just waiting around, and it’s like that with photography for me. 

When I'm not out on the ice, I am just counting days until I will next be back doing what I love most.

Topics: Travel Photography, Advanced Diploma of Photography, AIPP, alumni, Part Time Photography Course, Photography business, Award winning Photographer, Creative Photography Certificate, Joshua Holko, Photography expeditions

Topics: student bios, Advanced Diploma of Photography, AIPP, Mentoring, Photojournalist, Victorian Photography Awards, David Callow, sports photography, Nish Paranavitana, Photography business, Award winning Photographer