University News Last updated 23 July 2020
The Association for Photography in Higher Education (APHE), have announced ten winners of the APHE Photomeet bursary award, including two students from Birmingham City University, Ethan Milner and Amanda Holdom.
The bursary gives students the opportunity to attend an all-important portfolio review and discussion with a range of photographers and creative agency representatives at The Offspring Photomeet, an event which gathers experts and representatives from across the industry.
Students from APHE member courses were invited to submit work to an open brief, by form of a PDF portfolio of five or six images, a 100-word biography and a 100-word statement about their work.
BA (Hons) Photography student, Ethan Milner, who recently graduated with a first-class degree, told us about the personal nature of his winning submission, focusing on themes of his self-admitted weird and wonderful childhood, the divorce of his parents and his relationship with his half-brother:
“This project has subconsciously allowed me and my brother to explain emotive responses to our childhood in ways we couldn’t before. It’s a very personal project, and one that has taken me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I feel this work has shaped me both as a person and a photographer, and I have matured as a person and as a photographer because of it.”
“I am very proud to have won this bursary and still don’t fully believe it. It does however fill me with great confidence that other people like my work, and that I am moving in the right direction.” Since receiving the bursary, Ethan has since been selected for the 4th Edition of the Canon Student Development Program, working with Visa Pour l’Image.
Associate professor in Photography, Dr John Hillman added: “Ethan Milner and Amanda Holdom have worked hard, developing their own distinctive style of practice. Being selected for the APHE Photomeet bursary means they will have focused industry guidance on how they can develop their work even further. They have enjoyed a successful three years on the BA (Hons) Photography course and I anticipate they both have well-rounded and successful careers ahead of them. It has been a pleasure for myself and my team to teach them and we congratulate them both on this particular achievement.”
Creative Arts courses
Find out more about our courses