MASeeker (Offline)

Hi, I left a message about your friend hearing voices. I'm going through the same expirience, so I think it would be important for her health if you have a look at my post. I hope she gets better soon.

Many thanks for replying! I live abroad and it's difficult for me to get any first-hand information about Photography courses in the UK, so I really appreciate your help. I have only two mates, one studying in London and the other one in Dublin, and they absolutely hate it. I understand that every course is different, but they both say that all they do is write long essays and there's not much useful practice.

I don't want to write 3500-word analysis of some guy's photo or make toilet paper sculptures to show how artsy-fartsy I am. What I'm looking for is a course where I get very strong technical knowledge and lots of professional training. I wouldn't mind any business classes either.

I'd be really grateful if you could tell me anything you know about ECA, Napier or GSA. I don't want to end up hating photography like some people who study it in a bad place. Napier's Film & Photography course seems great, but I heard "this university is a dump". OH LORD HELP ME.

Thank you!
S.

Hi there,

So sorry to bother you, but I'm really desperate to get some help... I'm a student from Denmark, applying for Photography at ECA and Napier. Could I ask you a few questions about these courses?
Thanks a lot, I'll be really grateful for your time.

S.



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I did the photography degree at Edinburgh ( I assume you mean the art college which is now merged with the uni). Just so you know it leans heavily towards "fine art" rather than commercial work. People who get 1sts at Edinburgh college of art in photograpy always do Installation or Video art etc and most people who graduate who become successful go on to become "artists" rather than professional photographers, I know a few who did but most of us who are still working are not doing commercial work.

If you want something more commercial then go for Napier or if you want to so "art" photography then go to eca. You will need to tailor your portfolio to each course depending on it's bias. Also ECA tend to give precedence to students who have done the 1st year at the art college. You will be expected to be an all rounder i.e. to good at other forms of visual art and not just photography (especially these days when so much can be done on a pc). They will also expect you to be well read in photography theory and beyond. ECA is not an easy course to get on to so you need to make sure you stand out. Also the aren't the best of giving you a lot of technical or professional training as the focus is on you developing your own artistic voice as opposed to coming out ready to do fashion photography etc.

It's a great course for the right person but I am sure many people who have done it wish they had done something where they had more professional and commercial training.