Department of Art
Explore Analog and Digital Image-Making
Explore Photography Courses
Through studio courses, critiques, and exhibitions, photography students create original work, refine their artistic vision, and build professional portfolios.
View thesis projects that showcase the creativity, research and artistic vision of students in 日韩无码's BFA and MFA programs.
See how a national photography conference inspired new ideas, creative growth and professional connections for 日韩无码 students and faculty.
The turning point during my studies where I felt that I truly found my path was during the spring of 2024. I created a black and white landscape series called The Rally Project鈥 I felt that everything I had learned so far, so the technical aspects of photography and the emotional depth that I wanted to convey in a project, just really came together. Jaylon Pate '25 Art: Photography
日韩无码's Photography Program boasts 1100 square feet of darkroom spaces across campus, including an advanced large format and alternative/historical photographic process lab and learning space in the Rasmuson Library and a newly-renovated classroom darkroom space for our beginning and intermediate courses in the Bunnell Building. Our digital photography lab is one of the most up-to-date graphics-focused computer labs on campus, featuring 16 iMac workstations, high-end Epson scanners and archival printers, as well as the entire Adobe Creative Suite. Additionally, adjacent to our Bunnell computer lab and darkroom spaces is our spacious portrait studio, featuring Godox lighting, various vinyl, paper and fabric backgrounds and drapes, and a large assortment of lighting modifiers. Students in our analog and digital photography courses are granted 24/7 access to these spaces to facilitate their creative requirements when they strike and have access to a wide array of camera bodies, lenses, flashes, lighting modifiers, filters and accessories through our equipment checkout.
Photography students learn from faculty and adjunct instructors who maintain active creative practices and contribute to the field through exhibitions, publications, collaborative projects and community engagement. Drawing on their professional experience, instructors guide students through the technical, conceptual and creative challenges of photography while encouraging experimentation and personal growth. Through mentorship, critique and studio instruction, students refine their artistic vision, strengthen their photographic skills and develop a deeper understanding of contemporary image-making.
Photography students regularly share their work with the campus and community through exhibitions, installations and special projects. Many courses conclude with public showcases, and students can submit work to the annual Student Invitational Exhibition and Juried Student Exhibition while connecting with fellow artists through clubs and departmental events.
Explore the courses that build your skills in digital and analog photography, studio lighting, image editing and visual storytelling.
Offered Fall
Photography fundamentals, including use of an adjustable camera, film and exposure techniques, filters and flash techniques. Darkroom procedures including black and white film processing and printing, photograph design and composition. Students must have use of an adjustable camera.
Offered Fall, Spring and Summer
Introduction of technical and aesthetic aspects of basic digital photography using digital SLR cameras and editing photos through Adobe Photoshop suites. Students are expected to have intermediate computer knowledge. Topics include controlling digital SLRs on manual settings, photographing creatively, basic and advanced editing techniques, negative scanning and digital printing.
Offered As Demand Warrants
Students are introduced to the skills of using an Apple iPhone as a more 鈥渟erious鈥 photography tool. With recent updates to the iPhone, its camera has now become a sophisticated image making tool, capable of producing even large quality prints from its digital files.
Offered Spring
This course refines darkroom methodology and analog photographic skill by introducing students to medium format cameras, larger and archival printing methods, and the development of a signature artistic style through routine critique.
This course expands camera and photographic editing capabilities to develop a unique body of work that reflects the individual artist. Series development focuses on critique while students learn necessary skills to professionally print, mat, frame, display and promote their artistic work.
This course will teach the student who has basic or advanced exposure and printing skills to further their understanding of the principles and techniques of portrait photography. Students will work with SLR or DSLR cameras and editing through a digital photo suite such as Adobe Photoshop.
This course will provide an exploration of the history, impact and development of the photographic process, spanning from the earliest observations of optics, through the development of the first permanent image, and all the way to the most recent advances in digital technology.
Advanced discussion of photojournalism and photographic topics with field, studio and darkroom sessions. Topics will range from the photographic essay to the history of photography and working in series. Weekly classroom meetings will be supplemented by field, studio and darkroom sessions.
Offered Spring Odd-numbered Years
Production of etchings, lithographs and silkscreen prints using photo mechanical processes. Elements of electrophotography and desktop publishing explored. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor.
This course will introduce students to a wide array of historical photographic techniques and alternative processes while also providing contextual historical and contemporary information about each process. Processes covered include: Pinhole Camera Construction, Lumen Printing, Chemigram, Photogram, Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, Albumen and various transfer methods.
This class provides students with the concept of producing a professional digital portfolio of their Commercial and/or Art Photography and/or Photojournalism. Students submit new images each week for editing and critique. Over the semester three smaller bodies of work will become a 20-24 image professional portfolio.
Continuation of ART F283. Emphasis on continuing development of photographic skills by application of basic technical skills to a variety of areas of photography.
Study of techniques needed to produce multimedia content for a special university or community agency project. Digital multimedia may include animation, video, text, audio and/or performance to create interactive or dynamic content for a wide variety of applications. plus some mastery of a specialty in writing, art, or television production.
Students will develop advanced photo editing and digital darkroom skills and create quality prints through Photoshop, Lightroom and other image techniques.
This class provides a foundation of practical information for students as they begin to consider various career options in the visual arts. Topics include documentation, websites, promotion and description, exhibit installation methods, marketing, developing application materials for residencies and grants, as well as issues of health and safety.
Offered Fall Even-numbered Years A forum for discussion of aesthetic and professional problems confronted by artists. Instructor and students moderate discussion and students investigate topics. Past semesters included: approaches to figuration of contemporary painting and sculpture, health hazards for the professional artist, portfolio development, gallery access, production far from major cultural centers, etc.
Offered Fall and Spring
This course is a studio critique for BA, BFA and MFA students. The course is structured as a hybrid seminar/critique, with weekly readings, discussions, and studio critique sessions. The course also includes writing assignments as an integrated element of contemporary studio practice preparing students for their solo exhibition.
Exploration of selected topics in photography, with lectures, demonstrations, independent research and production of photography at a level commensurate with graduate standing. May be repeated for credit.
Mentored teaching provides consistent contact of course-related issues between teaching assistants and mentoring faculty. Graduates are required to be enrolled in a mentored teaching section while teaching.
Explore photography created through studio courses,independent studies and creative experimentation.
Bubble Gum Pop
Sarah Manriquez, Hand Colored Polaroid Transfer
J. Jason Lazarus
Assistant Professor of Photography
RASMUSON 360B
J. Jason Lazarus is an Alaska-based photographer and educator that creates handmade and narrative-driven photographic work utilizing a wide range of alternative and historical photographic processes. Lazarus has served as a photographic educator at the University of Alaska Fairbanks since 2005, teaching and developing a wide range of courses in digital, alternative and traditional darkroom photography. His alternative process work ranges from abstract Chemigram prints that discuss the complex historical legacy left behind by World War II to darkroom-printed Mordan莽age images that show a fragile Western American landscape decaying under the pressures of resource development, economic failures and climate change. Lazarus also spends the lengthy, dimly-lit winter months in Alaska creating unique portraits of its fragile tundra with his Fujifilm xPro-3 digital camera, finding an uncanny beauty among its bleak northern latitudes, as seen in his series entitled 鈥淩esilient鈥.
Ready to create? Apply to 日韩无码 and develop your artistic practice while working alongside faculty and fellow artists.
Have questions about the program? Connect with our department and learn more about degree options, studio concentrations and opportunities for emerging artists.
Explore scholarships and funding opportunities available to art students.
