Photography
At Murdoch…
Photographers create images that define our world and record our time. The Photography major provides students with a comprehensive set of practical photographic and digital imaging skills in combination with theoretical knowledge to enable them as photographers to develop their vision and progress their career as creative professionals. Students will have their creative practice informed and enriched by an in-depth study of the power and meaning of images within a cultural-historical context. Throughout the major, students develop a thorough understanding of critical photographic design and theory and learn how to apply this at a practical level in their work. Students will develop strong technical camera and lighting skills through the rigorous development of numerous photographic projects.
Our “Students”
Their “Stories“
Want to see what it’s like to study here?
Watch the video to hear from our students
and discover their stories.
Morgan
Howrie
Our Student’s Work
CRE313
Creative Media Project 3
Creative Media Projects 3 is the first of two units designed to bring together the key skills from the Creative Media degree in the form of a real world complex project. It allows for students to determine an individual research project to further their understanding of, and develop skills in, their creative media discipline.
The Pinjarra Project
Student Name: Samuel Inglis
‘The Pinjarra Project’ is a photographic series combining macro, wildlife, landscape, and aerial photography to document both the biodiversity of the Dwellingup region and the environmental degradation associated with Alcoa’s Huntley bauxite mine. The project aims to raise awareness of the clear-felling and habitat disruption caused by ongoing mining activity, focusing on its impact on the survival of native fauna.
CRE314
Creative Media Project 4
This unit builds on the work undertaken in CRE313 to complete an individual or group-based production This unit requires creative thinking, problem-solving and communication skills which are applied in a project-based learning environment to work toward the production of a creative piece of work. It will encourage you to question, listen and act ethically; tolerate ambiguity, embrace openness, curiosity and intellectual risk-taking; to make connections within and between disciplines; and to work collaboratively.
Less
Student Name: Jayson Huang
‘Less‘ reflects my intent to develop a consistent visual style grounded in minimalism; one defined by precision and attention to detail. For me, minimalism is the art of refinement: removing the unnecessary to strengthen what is essential. By removing narrative cues, props, and elaborate environments, each image directs the viewer toward form, tone, and gesture. The goal was to create portraits that are introspective rather than performative, finding emotion not through exaggeration but through stillness.
Night Walk
Student Name: Josh Clark
‘Night Walk‘ is a monochromatic photography project that outlines one of Australia’s most iconic landscapes in a different light. Many of us know the sunny beaches of Australia but neglect the dark world that exists just as prominently. Using alternative visual techniques, I attempted to express the beauty, emotions and magic that occurs in one of Australia’s most popular natural landscapes once the sun goes down.
Morgan Howrie
Morgan Howrie
Samuel Inglis
PHO305
Photographic
Culture
Photographic Culture is an opportunity for final year students to explore their individual photographic practice, informed by cultural and conceptual research. It is a theory unit supported by practical photographic exercises and research. Students will engage with a range of theoretical perspectives that have emerged since the invention of photography, especially those identified with major photographic schools, genres and movements. This knowledge is then applied to a final portfolio in an area of interest identified by the student.
Australian Life in Hong Kong
Student Name: Riley K Davis
Despite spending much of my early life in Hong Kong, I moved to Australia at an age when my identity could develop more as an Australian rather than someone from Hong Kong. Ultimately, the Hong Kong that I experienced in my youth wasn’t the full extent of the country and its beauty. As a place to grow up, Australia is much more welcoming and accepting, making it easier to acclimatise to. One of the beautiful things about Australia is that it constantly evolves, adapting to the lifestyles of its people. This series aims to highlight the contrast between Hong Kong’s rigid, business-driven lifestyle and Australia’s more laid-back approach through Post-Photography. However, the viewers’ interpretations and experiences of both cultures dictate how they converge and diverge from one another.
A True Australian
Student Name: Taariq Mamun
As a Rural Australian of migratory Anglo-Asian descent, my work aims to challenge masculine identity and social expectations. I use self-portraiture and textural landscapes as a way to understand my relationship to societal values. The series is a postmodern subversion of pictorialism and modernist techniques.
Anew
Student Name: Aleisha Woods
This series of self-portraits represent personal transformation and reflect on the growth that is required to embrace change, while also letting go of the past. Throughout this series I also questioned at what point a photo is no longer a direct record of reality but rather a new visual statement. Is this series still photography or is it toeing the line towards graphic art? Is there a line between the two, or has the availability of technology and cultural acceptance of photo-manipulation now blurred any clear distinction?
Joshua Pendleton
Joshua Pendleton
Courtney Vamvas
Courtney Vamvas
PHO306
Photographic
Studio
Photographic Studio covers major aspects of controlled lighting and studio-based photographic practice. The unit focuses on the use of artificial lighting techniques with a focus on still-life and product photography. The student will be introduced to how light is affected by the unique characteristics of objects, such as form, texture, colour and shape. The emphasis is on the development of studio-based technical skills central to the advancement of the student’s portfolio work.
Namsay Dorji
Jayson Huang
Josh Clark
Taariq Mamun
Dominique Benson
Dominique Benson
PHO312
Commercial Photography
In this commercially orientated unit, students work on a client-directed project. In addition, students identify and develop their personal and professional photographic aspirations and learn to market their work through both online and printed mediums. An online presence is developed through development of a website. Students also learn about photo-printing skills required to output work to a professional standard.
Courtney Vamvas
Catherine Montgomery
PHO202
Photo Documentary
The unit focuses on key practical and theoretical skills to produce photo-based documentary projects. Practice is informed by a knowledge of key movements and tendencies in historical and contemporary documentary photography, as well as an understanding of professional standards of the discipline and its related industries. Students will hone their camera skills and enhance their visual narratives by learning to combine the use of text and introducing an element of sound to their stories.
Thomas Locher
Laylah Garner
Raie Rivalland
Jasmine Fraser
William Humphries
PHO203
Photographic
Lighting 1
Photographic Lighting 1 focuses on the use of artificial lighting in both the studio and on location. The characteristics and qualities of light are investigated both theoretically and technically, and proficiency in various lighting systems is developed. Students will be introduced to the conceptual and technical methods required to plan and develop substantial project work.
Grace Robertson
Grace Robertson
Narelle Fouche
Tristan Fleming
Tristan Fleming
Megan McClare
Georgia Goodin
Choki Dechen
Sydnee Hopkins
Bronte Page
PHO124
Introduction to Photography
This unit is a practical introduction to digital photography and the digital imaging workflow. It provides a foundation for students wishing to pursue studies in photography, graphic design, cinematography, multimedia & journalism, or as a first-year elective for a broad range of students who are interested to learn more about photography for professional or personal aspirations. Students are also introduced to some of the essential historical, theoretical, and ethical implications of image-making and apply this understanding to their own practice.
Anran Li
Anran Li
Leilani Ngeru
Leilani Ngeru
Elif Salis
Elif Salis
Martina Bei
Jai Simpson
Albert Eyssautier
Jack Driscoll
Shelby Nicholson
Bailey Robertson
Bailey Robertson
PHO101
Photography
Post-Production
and Design
This unit provides a practical introduction to digital photographic processes as a foundation for students wishing to pursue studies in photography, multimedia, cinematography & graphic design. The emphasis of the unit is on the creative possibilities of post-production techniques, and students are introduced to the production methods of photographers who utilise digital technologies in their work.
Alongside the development of practical skills, students gain an overview of theoretical debates relevant to the practice of photographic editing and compositing, especially those identified with major photographic schools, genres and movements.
Ciara Mack
Namsay Dorji
Isabella Edwards
