Photography Studies College - Blog

PSC's graduate Jo Duck's career is on a roll. After graduating over 12 years ago, she is making a name for herself in the international fashion photography industry and art world. Currently, Jo photographs young up-and-coming actors, models and luxury fashion including clothing by Gucci and Prada. In addition, her images have been published in fashion's most elite magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and GQ. Not to mention, she's photographed advertising campaigns for the likes of Bonds and worked in London, New York, and L.A.

Jo keeps it real and talks about being rejected by magazines and how she stays driven. She also gives us insights into how to get work in the industry, photographing high-end fashion, and sustaining a meaningful and rewarding career doing what she loves.

PSC's graduate Keith Parsons has worked as a photo editor for the Daily Telegraph in London, freelanced as a photographer in Africa, and been a cinematographer/filmmaker on an expedition in Greenland. Currently, he is working for Oxfam in Melbourne, where he is producing mostly video content for their social media.

Keith initially dropped out of an economics course, and followed this by taking a year off to travel, before studying photography full-time with us.

Read about his fascinating career journey since graduating, that time he had to take the 'fake it till you make' approach, and why he thinks Melbourne has a host of opportunities for aspiring photographers. 

This month, we are hosting visiting teachers and students of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for a second consecutive year. Rated one of the top 10 universities in the U. S., the institution has chosen Photography Studies College and Melbourne to run a three-credit Humanities course in digital photography. It's designed to imbue JHU's science major students with a creative skill set for when they graduate as doctors and scientists. 

We talk to one of JHU's program leaders, Phyllis Arbesman Berger from the Centre of Visual Arts at JHU, and Jim Davidson, PSC's Higher Education Council Chair, who explain this exciting initiative and growing relationship. 

PSC's Masters student Andrew Gash is a commercial photographer who worked with some of the world's top multinational advertising agencies, and more recently a fine art photographer who specialises in landscape photography. He is also a tertiary-level photography teacher, and a professional practitioner of Zen-based Awareness work. For his research project, he fuses Eastern spirituality with modern image making of our natural surroundings. The result is a series of images that depict nature in its purest form that are captured in an enhanced creative state – providing a deeper connection to the work, for both the photographer and viewer. 

Read about the concepts behind his work culminating in an upcoming exhibition opening and book launch 'Indistinctive/Distinctive' at SUNSTUDIOS, why as a photography professional and educator he decided to do his Master of Arts - Photography, and the story behind him being a returning student to PSC after a 40-year hiatus. 

PSC's Bachelor of Photography graduate Elizabeth Bysouth completed a commercial major, and work from her final folio is being showcased in our Summer Exhibition. Colourful and fluid, her photos, reflect Melbourne's current streetwear fashion trends.

Elizabeth talks about putting together this series, why she needed a degree to pursue a career in doing what she loves, and starting a new job straight out of college!

Part time first year Advanced Diploma student Oliver Altermatt, won the Dr. Geoffrey Smith Trophy for Best Figure Study 2019 at the Melbourne Camera Club earlier this month. He also featured his work at the 2019 Ilford CCP Salon. Oliver, who is a chef and cafe owner, talks about his trophy winning image, why he got back into photography later in life, and what he's enjoying about his course at PSC.

A backpacker, a washed up old rocker and a lawyer walk in to a pub... Welcome to the St. Kilda that PSC's Bachelor of Photography graduate Sean Fabre-Simmonds finds beautiful about this eclectic community, and has documented in his final year project.

Sean talks about why some areas can look like skid row yet properties sell for millions of dollars. He also reveals why it was important to study something he was passionate about, and how studying photography literally helped him turn his life around. 

PSC's part-time Advanced Diploma student Vanessa Brennan, recently won first place at the inaugural Australian Railroad Photo Competition 'Moving Moments'. The photo selected was one she had submitted for a class assignment.

Vanessa talks about her tears of joy when winning the $6,000 prize money and return trip to China, and why she enjoys studying with us including learning so many new skills and making great friends.