Photography research
In our Photography research, we're using the photographic image in its expanded field as an investigative tool. We're exploring photography as a medium, and investigating how photographic practices shape individual subjectivity and modernity.
Photography helps to investigate world issues through art practice. Our research highlights important social and cultural issues and makes them visible in distinct ways, drawing on subjects like art history, cultural theory and philosophy.
Photography is constantly evolving in its engagement, interpretation and distribution. Our research adds to current debates in contemporary photographic practice and asks questions like how photography can be used to propose theoretical considerations, how subjectivity is defined through photography, and how photographic practice proposes new ways of thinking about the world.
Our research focuses on the following topics:
- Photographic art practice
- Photographic theory
- Practice as research
- Psychoanalytic theory
- Vernacular photographic practices
Projects, publications and exhibitions
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Camera Obscura International Project
Dana Ariel, Ora Lev, Jan Tichy, Gary McLeod, Toros Mutlu, Odun Orimolade, Jessica Layton, 2015
Research outputs
Our research outputs have been published in leading print journals including Photoworks and Source, and in online journals. Our work has also been featured at conferences on photographic research at institutions such as the University of Brighton, and at photo festivals including the Brighton Photo Biennale and Rencontre d'Arles.
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Format International Photography Festival 2021: The Preserving Machine
Kolker, R. (Author). (2021) "Format International Photography Festival 2021: The Preserving Machine", Exhibition, University of Derby.
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This 2
This Research Group (Author), and Paredaens, R. (Photographer). (2021) "This 2", Artefact, University of Portsmouth.
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Writing Ambiguous Encounters: Punctuated Land
Ariel, D. (2022) "Writing Ambiguous Encounters", Punctuated Land.
Methods and facilities
Our research explores the practices, history and medium of photography in both practical and theoretical ways. Our academic and research staff have decades of professional industry experience – as well as experience with many different photographic techniques and practices – and the methods they employ shape the work we do.
Our photographic facilities include film and digital cameras of all formats, studios, colour and black and white darkrooms, and large format digital printing.
Our members
Our members regularly participate in national and international exhibitions. The dissemination of research also takes the form of workshops, publications and participation and the organisation of symposia and conferences.
Discover our areas of expertise
Photography is one of 5 areas of expertise within our Art and Design: Practice, Theory and History research. Explore the others below.
Fashion, textiles and material futures
Our fashion, textiles and material futures research is addressing important issues around fashion and textile design and its associated industries.
Graphic and communication design
Our research is looking at the history of design, and ethnographic studies in relation to design, design usability, legibility studies, design knowledge, and epistemology.
Histories and Theories of Art, Design, Visual and Material Culture
Our research locates the historical and contemporary production and consumption of art, design, visual and material culture in wider social, cultural, political and economic contexts.
Illustration, Drawing, Artists Books and Zines
Our research explores how self-publishing can allow a more diverse range of authors to communicate with an audience and investigates authorial illustration as an emerging genre.
Interested in a PhD in Art and Design?
Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Art and Design postgraduate research degrees page.