Second year Bachelor's student Alex Colcheedas was initially studying in the U.S. on a soccer scholarship when back-to-back injuries made him rethink his future. He then returned to Australia and began to follow his dreams of becoming a professional photographer. Read about why adventure ignites his passion for photography,  how he already has a job lined up for when he graduates and where one of his favourite places on earth is to photograph. 

Topics: photojournalism, studying photography, top institute, Travel Photography, uni courses, university, wedding photographer, wedding photography, wildlife, Students, travel, Photojournalist, Master Of Arts Photography, Latest Blogs, PSC Staff Member, PSC Student

Martika Shakoor, PSC Advanced Diploma student, talks about her experience with the PSC/Amnesty International Australia Photographers Network. She is a second-generation Afghan who is specialising in photojournalism and documentary photography. Along with her keen interest in human rights, she was an ideal candidate to be trained by Amnesty International as a volunteer photographer, given photographic briefs and accompany active campaigners to document events. Continuing this year, this initiative aims to provide PSC students with new opportunities to gain experience as working photographers and extend their network. 

Topics: education, interview, Part Time Course, photographers, photography courses melbourne, photography school, photojournalism, student bios, studying photography, women in photography, diploma of photography, Indigenous Australians, learning photography, Part Time Photography Course, photographer, photography, photography courses Australia, photography studies, Photography Tips, professional photography, Student of the year, Students, Mentoring, Photojournalist, sports photography, Latest Blogs, In the Press, 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

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

Meet Steph Doran, our wonderful Japanese based, Australian Photography guide. Steph is a successful Commercial Photographer, fluent in the Japanese language and culture. She is a passionate advocate for empowering people with the skills and knowledge to create beautiful imagery with their cameras. Steph will be accompanying us on our Discover Japan Tour this September, here she gives us a perspective of life in Japan.

What are your favourite thing to do on the weekend or in the evenings in Japan?

I'm glad you started with an easy question- my absolute favourite thing is to go to izakaya with my friends. An izakaya is a kind of Japanese pub, but it's nothing like the pubs we have back in Australia, and the experience is completely different. Back home, I never really liked "going out" or drinking, but going to an izakaya has become one of my favourite ways to unwind. The reason is, you are really there for the atmosphere, and the focus isn't just on alcohol. At an izakaya, of course you can enjoy a drink, but it's also a prime place to sample a variety of small dishes, both traditional and sometimes very modern (and let's be honest, the real reason I go there is to eat!) My flatmate and I love exploring back-street izakaya, especially if we can stumble across tiny hole-in-the-wall type places. Izakaya are best visited in the evening, so if it's still daytime, I love finding some nature and just getting out of the city for a while.

Topics: photojournalism, Travel Photography, steph doran, Japan, Dr Michael Coyne, Discover Japan Tour

The Chilean piper played patiently while we waited for the light to be in the right place. I had allowed an extra  day on this assignment to research the location and determine the best time to make the image.

I arrived a lot earlier than I needed too, a habit I acquired early in my career from watching other photographers  at work. As a young man I assisted a National Geographic Photographer on a project. He asked me to get to the location early in the morning and I thought I had but he was already at there when I arrived, planning and preparing. By the time the talent arrived and the sun was rising, the photographer had everything in place        and was ready to shoot the image.

Topics: documentary photography, photojournalism, Travel Photography, Photography Tips, Mentoring, Dr Michael Coyne, Fuji Cameras

This weekend saw the conclusion of the World Press Photo Awards 2018 held on 13-14 April at Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam.

The winning image of ‘the burning man’ (above) taken by Ronaldo Schemidt from Venezuela as part of a series of images documenting the Venezuela Crisis of 2017 was a popular choice. Ronaldo, who works for Agence France-Presse, is based in Mexico. During his presentation and panel discussion at WPP with his fellow Venezuela based AFP photographer Juan Barreto, he presented images of the lead up to the events documented in his winning image, and spoke of the risks to the photographer placed in an undeclared  ‘civil war’. The victim suffered 70% burns to his body and remains alive and hidden in his home country.

Topics: documentary photography, photojournalism, Documentary, Photojournalist, David Callow, world press award, sports photography, image makers seminar series, In the Press

The smoke was slowly spiralling from the woman’s ear as the surgeon leaned over to complete her work. 

The doctor was performing a middle ear operation for a patient on The Lifeline Express, a train that has been converted into a travelling hospital. The train journeys across India to poor, remote villages, and the medical staff from India and overseas donate their services for free. On this occasion, we were parked at the Wardha railway station in the state of Maharashtra while the medical staff performed surgery and provided treatment for polio, cleft palates, middle ear infections, cataracts and dental conditions. 

Documentary photographers are often accused of focussing on the negative side of life, only taking pictures of dead bodies, conflict and misery. One critic claimed that some photographers climb over loving couples, cooing babies and contented grandparents in order to shoot the only negative aspect of an event. To a certain extent the critics are right but I don’t believe this is always the truth. 

For instance, in my project about Village Life, I am trying to look not only for the challenges facing rural communities but also the joy, rewards and life enhancing moments that can be found in villages.

Recently, I was in Italy photographing Italo Mondovecchio, a farmer from Tuscany. “Can I get my chicken?” Italo asked. He returned from the shed tenderly holding a beautiful looking bird. I lifted the camera to take the portrait and immediately Italo burst into song serenading, with gusto, his best friend, the rooster.

Topics: documentary photography, photojournalism, michael coyne, Mentoring

As part of the 40 years Sister City Relationship between Melbourne City Council and Osaka City Council an Australian delegation visited Osaka last week. One of the highlights organized by Osaka City Council was the Osaka Food and Tourism seminar which explored opportunities for Osaka based on Melbourne’s great success in this area.

Photography Studies College's Osaka-based Japan- Australia Educational Liaison Officer, Steph Doran was one of four guest presenters at the seminar. Her presentation, delivered in Japanese, featured photographs of Osaka and Melbourne, including her own and a number shot by PSC students. She highlighted the food and coffee culture of both cities, their similarities and differences. Her lively presentation was enthusiastically received by a predominantly Japanese audience drawing on her knowledge of the great food culture of both cities.

Other presenters included Professor Shinya Hashizume from Osaka Prefecture University, Councillor Philip Le Liu from Melbourne City Council and Mr David Lawson, Australia’s Consul General in Japan.

Topics: photography graduates, photojournalism, Street Photography, Travel Photography, steph doran, Japan, International Photography Tours, Graduate Exhibition, Dr Michael Coyne, Photojournalist, Osaka City, Melbourne City Council, Discover Japan Tour, Osaka, In the Press