FH1S49 - Photographer as Observer 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: FH1S49
Module Title: Photographer as Observer
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Fashion, Marketing and Photography
Faculty Sub Group: Photography
Module Leader: David Barnes, Eileen Little
Module Team: Steven Wright, Karin Bareman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100632 - visual communication
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

  • Identify the documentary photographer as a curious and inquiring practitioner and focus that curiosity through photographic conventions, foregrounding the formal and informal processes of observation and composition whilst introducing some key picture making strategies that can be used to construct the narrative.
  • Introduce and consider the implications of the camera’s unique ability to describe and record the world.

Content Summary

This module is designed to introduce the student to the specific challenges of photographing people in social situations. It seeks develop an understanding of strategies necessary to clearly articulate specific information in a visual form

Beginning with the deconstruction of the photographic narrative, the module addresses the component parts of the narrative which are the fundamental building blocks on which storytelling and the communication of ideas are created visually. The module then takes the student through to a more complex way of seeing and in parallel to the making of pictures introduces you to the many forms of communication and research you will need to enable you to proceed through to the end of the module.

Research methods and the tools integral to the development of the curious and engaged practitioner are introduced and explored. The module enables the student to engage in various picture-making strategies leading towards their understanding of what constitutes the narrative.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 10
Seminar 24
Tutorial 6
Independent Study 124
Directed Study 36
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Illustrate debates surrounding contemporary social situations through the production of documentary photography.
LO2 Control technical and creative processes essential to photographing people in documentary contexts.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Portfolio 1 Edited from a body of work produced during the module, the student will submit a portfolio of high-quality photographs relating to a range of social contexts, as outlined in the Module Brief. 0 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Portfolio 1

Reading List

Lubben, K. (2011). Magnum contact sheets. London: Thames & Hudson

Taylor-Lind, A. (2014) Maidan - Portraits From The Black Square: Gost

Brandt, B. (1997).Shadow of Light, London: Gordon Frazer,

Bresson, H. C. (1969). The World of Henri Cartier Bresson, London: Thames and Hudson,

Steel, A (2009). Photojournalism: the world’s top photographers and the stories behind their greatest images. Hove: Rotovision

Stacey, N. (2013). Women and Work, 1975. Aperture magazine, (213).

Fox, A. (1987) Workstations. Camerawork

Freed, L. (1991). Photographs 1954-1990, Manchester: Cornerhouse,

Manchester, W.(1989) ‘In Our Time’ The World Seen by Magnum Photographers

Sander, A. (1974). Photographer Extraordinary, London: Thames and Hudson.

Magnum (1989) Jean Lacouture, Fred Ritchin. In Our Time. Manchester: William .

Salgado, S. (2005) Workers: New York: Aperture.