Congratulations to our recent PSC Master of Photography student and teaching assistant, Kaitlyn Church, for being selected as a 2022 Studio Artist with PLATFORM LAB. This flagship artist development program aims to increase the industry expertise and live presentation outcomes for emerging and early-career contemporary artists.
Topics: Documentary, Photojournalist, PSC Student
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
After dropping out of his double degree and taking time to figure out his life's passion, Elisey Agarev, realised that his future was in photography. Now a second year Bachelor of Photography student at PSC, he talks about making the right choices, his love of live music event photography, and his plans to gradually gain a foothold in the industry.
Topics: bachelor of photography, Commercial, interview, photographers, photography courses melbourne, Photography Education, Photography feature, photography school, studying photography, top institute, uni courses, university, bachelor degree, bachelor of art, Bachelor of Art Photography, career, careers, commercial photography, diploma of photography, full time, learning photography, melbourne, photographer, photography, photography courses Australia, photography studies, Photography Tips, Students, Photojournalist, Latest Blogs, PSC Staff Member, PSC Student
Photojournalist and Photography Studies College graduate Darrian Traynor spent the last three years in Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon documenting the lives of displaced post war communities. His latest exhibition 'Occupation Displacement' tells the stories of people who have fallen between the cracks. Darrian talks about his work, why being a photojournalist is never just a job and how Photography Studies College's mentor program was his window into the industry.
Topics: bachelor of photography, documentary photography, photographers, PSC graduate, Sun Studios, Travel Photography, industry partnership, Graduate Exhibition, Photojournalist, Exhibitions, Latest Blogs, In the Press
On a recent assignment in Asia I shot still images, produced video clips and recorded sound bites from the location to be used as a soundscape for a sequence of images.
Technology has rapidly changed the way we think and work as photojournalists. To continue working in this genre many photojournalists have diversified, added extra skills and become multimedia experts. They have learnt to shoot videos, acquired interview skills and been taught how to write articles. All of this helps the photographer to have more control over projects and offer extra value to a media organisation. After all, when you pitch for an assignment you need to offer something that sets you apart from your competitors.
A number of photojournalists and documentary photographers are struggling to earn a decent living and yet they are still not willing to embrace the changes happening around them.
Topics: documentary photography, bachelor degree, Mentoring, Dr Michael Coyne, Photojournalist, Photography expeditions
Final Year Advanced Diploma of Photography student Nish Paranavitana had a chance to kick some of his own goals recently. Nish is majoring in commercial photography, with a keen interest in sports photography. Recently he met up with renowned sports photojournalist and PSC Tutor, David Callow. Here Nish shares his photographic journey and the value of a mentor relationship.
Photo of Nish by David Callow
What got you started in photography?
I loved sport as a kid and was always flicking through sports magazines, mainly to look at the photographs, rather than reading the articles. I’d always thought how cool it would be to be a sports photographer and to capture great sporting moments. I was lucky enough that my Dad bought me an SLR when I was 15, but then when I finished school and wanted to do a photography course, he said it wasn’t the kind of career that I should be aiming for. At that stage I didn’t have the courage to chase my dream and so I took another road. There is a long story that follows from here but it took me another 27 years before I finally enrolled myself into a course and followed my passion for photography.
Topics: student bios, Advanced Diploma of Photography, AIPP, Mentoring, Photojournalist, Victorian Photography Awards, David Callow, sports photography, Nish Paranavitana, Photography business, Award winning Photographer
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
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
Waiting is a big part of my working life as a photojournalist. Waiting to be contacted, waiting for permission, waiting for the light and waiting for the right moment to happen. Recently, I was waiting at a Timor Leste prison for permission to photograph the inmates. I sat behind the metal bars watching the sun going down hoping we could start taking pictures before it got too dark. Getting into a prison as a photographer is not always easy. Permission has to come from the guards, warden and often politicians, all of which takes time. Everyone has a vested interest in what I see and photograph except regrettably the prisoners themselves. Waiting was uncomfortable, the buckled chair wobbled and threatened to collapse each time I moved. Across the compound I could see men with the word prisoner, emblazoned in bold letters on their shirts. I’ve photographed prisons in other countries. Sometimes it’s easy to get in and on other occasions I’ve waited days, weeks, even months to be told no, I can’t come in. Once when I was at a prison in the Philippines a guard with a gun strapped across his chest, performed karaoke for me as I waited to meet the prisoners. On this occasion I was lucky. I got permission, passed security, went through the gates and then I waited for the prisoners, also the captive audience of the guard’s karaoke via loudspeakers. A poorly performed Elvis Presley numbers doesn’t make waiting any easier!
Topics: documentary photography, photojournalism, timor leste, Mentoring, Dr Michael Coyne, Photojournalist
